How to give foot care
Foot care washes, rinses, and dries one foot, paying special attention BETWEEN the toes. The trick is a single reversal: clean between the toes but keep lotion OUT from between them, and never cut a client's toenails.
Step-by-step
- 1
Explain the procedure while facing the client, speaking clearly, slowly, and directly.
- 2
Provide privacy with a curtain, screen, or door.
- 3
Check the water temperature for safety and comfort and ask the client to confirm it feels comfortable.
- 4
Position the basin comfortably for the client, resting on a protective barrier.
- 5
Put on clean gloves before washing the foot.Critical
- 6
Place the client's bare foot into the water.
- 7
Apply soap to a wet washcloth.
- 8
Lift the foot from the water and wash it, including between the toes.Critical
- 9
Rinse the foot, including between the toes.Critical
- 10
Dry the foot, including between the toes, with a dry towel/washcloth.Critical
- 11
Apply lotion to the top and bottom of the foot but NOT between the toes, removing any excess with a towel/washcloth.Critical
- 12
Support the foot and ankle throughout the procedure.
- 13
Empty, rinse, and dry the basin and place it in the designated dirty-supply area.
- 14
Dispose of used linen in the soiled-linen container.
- 15
Remove and discard gloves without contaminating yourself, wash your hands, and leave the signaling device within reach.Critical
Critical steps (do not miss these)
- Wash, rinse, AND dry between the toes; trapped moisture leads to skin breakdown and fungal infection.
- Apply lotion to the top and bottom of the foot but never between the toes.
- Never cut or trim the client's toenails; report abnormalities such as thick nails, sores, or redness to the nurse.
- Support the foot and ankle to avoid injury.
- Check the water temperature and confirm comfort before immersing the foot.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the skin between the toes damp instead of drying it thoroughly.
- Applying lotion between the toes, trapping moisture.
- Trimming or cutting the client's toenails (out of scope for a nurse aide).
- Skipping the water-temperature check or failing to support the foot and ankle.
Why it matters
The skin between the toes stays warm and moist, the perfect place for fungus and breakdown, so it must be washed AND dried but never re-moistened with lotion. Nurse aides do not cut toenails because a single nick on a client with diabetes or poor circulation can become a non-healing wound, so abnormalities are reported instead. These are the exact judgment points examiners score.