FCN Clinical Course Outline

The Foot Care Nurse Clinical course (formerly FCN Part 2) is designed for nurses (RN’s, NP’s, RPN’s & LPN’s) who have successfully completed the Online Foot Care Nurse Theory course and are ready to practice their Foot Care Nurse skills onsite with the guidance and supervision of a Foot Care Nurse Educator.

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The course uses the Canadian Association of Foot Care Nurses’ National Competencies for Advanced Nursing Foot Care in Canada (2017) as Clinical Performance Standards and teaches a comprehensive, advanced and diabetic nursing foot care curriculum, which follows current best practice guidelines and evidence-based practice.

This course provides in-person clinical foot care nurse skills development and mentorship. Together, both the FCN Theory and FCN Clinical courses are designed to prepare participants to function as a Foot Care Nurse within a health care team.

Foot Canada Training FCN Clinical Course Curriculum

The Foot Care Nurse Clinical course was developed by Foot Canada Training and is administered by Foot Care Nurse Educators, colleges and universities who have a license to access and use Foot Canada Training’s curriculum. Education providers teach and administer FCN Clinical independently from Foot Canada Training. Each of these education providers have access to the same standardized peer-reviewed education guidelines, teaching materials and suggested FCN Clinical Course Outline. Please visit the Clinical Education Providers’ page of the Foot Canada Training website for a list of FCN Clinical education providers using the Foot Canada Training curriculum.

This is the suggested course outline for all FCN Clinical education providers with a license to use the Foot Canada Training Curriculum. An appendix may be added to this course outline by the education provider with location-specific additions/modifications. Students are invited to inquire directly with their FCN Clinical education provider to get a final version of the course outline for their location.

Prerequisites

FCN Theory – Applicants must start the FCN Clinical course within 12 months of achieving a passing grade from the FCN Theory course. Exceptions to the 12-month rule may be allowed in extenuating
circumstances. Applicants are to contact their FCN Clinical location of choice to discuss their unique circumstances and for more detail.
Non-restricted Nursing Registration/License – Applicants must hold a current non-restricted Nursing Registration/License (temporary or full) from the territory or province in which they will be taking the course.
Safety and Ethics – It is expected that nurses participating in this course will:
- follow all applicable legislation;
- use only the skills authorized within their scope of practice;
- demonstrate the entry-to-practice competencies, practice standards and guidelines established by their provincial or territorial regulatory body.
Insurance/ID – Each student will need to bring a printed copy of the following on the first day of class:
- Proof of at least $2 million in personal protective insurance (malpractice insurance).
- Current government issued photo ID.

Nurses who fail to adhere to Safety and Ethics Standards, resulting in safety and/or ethical concerns, will be removed from the course at the Educator’s discretion and marked as Incomplete. Re-entry to the course may or may not be possible based on the Educator’s recommendations. Remedial assignment(s) and additional fees may be applicable.

Required Reading

Students are expected to obtain the following:

Lazenby, Cindy. LM. (2017) Art & Science of Foot Care: A Clinical Resource for Nurses in Canada.
Canadian Association of Foot Care Nurses National Competencies for Advanced Nursing Foot Care in Canada (2017). Canada: CAFCN.

Credit

Students meeting the minimum passing grade requirement will be provided with a Certificate of Completion from their education provider.

Clinical Performance Standards

The 7 Domains of CAFCN’s National Competencies for Advanced Nursing Foot Care in Canada (2017) are used as Clinical Performance Standards for FCN Clinical. Clinical Performance Standards consist of the minimum set of skills and knowledge required to competently practice as a Foot Care Nurse.

7 Domains of CAFCN’s National Competencies for Advanced Nursing Foot Care in Canada (2017)

1. Knowledge-based Practice
  - Theory
  - Practice
2. Risk Assessment & Health Promotion
3. Quality Practice
4. Professional Communication and Relationship
5. Coordination and Collaboration
6. Advocacy
7. Ethical Practice

This course emphasizes professional accountability through resourceful and self-directed learning. Skills and knowledge will be evaluated by the student, their peers, and the Educator.

Evaluation is continuous and will consist of formative and summative methods, including step-by- step guided-learning exercises and return demonstrations. There will be an emphasis on self-evaluation with the use of a personal learning plan, pre and post-tests and reflective practice.

All students must develop a Personal Learning Plan with S.M.A.R.T. goals on exit from the FCN Clinical course that includes Clinical Performance Standards for which they did not receive a full mark.

Evaluation

Passing Grade

Students achieving a final grade of Satisfactory (S) by Day 6 are considered to have met the Clinical Performance Standards for FCN Clinical at an entry level.

Absence

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they arrive on time, and attend all the scheduled hours for each day, and participate in all the exercises in this course in its entirety to receive a passing grade and certificate.

Students will be marked as ‘Incomplete’ if missing a cumulative total of an hour or more of FCN Clinical. Students marked as ‘Incomplete’ may have to register for FCN Clinical a second time to complete the course.

In exceptional circumstances, based on the Lead Educator’s assessment, availability and location-specific policies, students who miss an hour or more of FCN Clinical may be offered the possibility of remedial arrangements to make up the time missed. Additional fees may be applicable.

The FCN Clinical certificate will only be issued once the student has participated in the full 43 hours required for the FCN Clinical course.

Clinical Performance Evaluation

Definition	Detail of Performance
Satisfactory (S)	Performance meets minimum Clinical Performance Standards: Day 1-4: Consistently demonstrates progression towards the achievement of Cinical Learning Outcomes as evidence by integration of established Clinical Performance Standards within clinical performance. Needs Improvement (NI) is used as a warning before progression to Unsatisfactory (U) if no subsequent improvement noted. Day 5-6: Clinical Learning Outcomes achieved as evidence by integration of established Clinical Performance Standards within clinical performance.
Unsatisfactory (U)	Performance does not meet minimum Clinical Performance Standards: Day 1-4: Not achieving progression towards the achievement of Clinical Learning Outcomes as evidenced by an inconsistent or deficient integration of established Clinical Performance Standards within clinical performance. Student will be asked to develop a plan for improvement within the last two days. Day 5-6: Clinical Learning Outcomes remain unachieved with inconsistent or deficient integration of established Clinical Performance Standards within clinical performance, as measured by: Two U’s under one Learning Outcome, or; Three U’s under different Learning Outcomes, or; One single CRITICAL event defined as, but not limited to: a dangerous action that injures or has the potential to injure illegal or unethical behaviour impaired behaviour due to substance abuse, including drugs or alcohol.

Definition

Detail of Performance

Satisfactory (S)

Performance meets minimum Clinical Performance Standards:

Day 1-4: Consistently demonstrates progression towards the achievement of Cinical Learning Outcomes as evidence by integration of established Clinical Performance Standards within clinical performance. Needs Improvement (NI) is used as a warning before progression to Unsatisfactory (U) if no subsequent improvement noted.
Day 5-6: Clinical Learning Outcomes achieved as evidence by integration of established Clinical Performance Standards within clinical performance.

Unsatisfactory (U)

Performance does not meet minimum Clinical Performance Standards:

Day 1-4: Not achieving progression towards the achievement of Clinical Learning Outcomes as evidenced by an inconsistent or deficient integration of established Clinical Performance Standards within clinical performance. Student will be asked to develop a plan for improvement within the last two days.
Day 5-6: Clinical Learning Outcomes remain unachieved with inconsistent or deficient integration of established Clinical Performance Standards within clinical performance, as measured by:
1. Two U’s under one Learning Outcome, or;
2. Three U’s under different Learning Outcomes, or;
3. One single CRITICAL event defined as, but not limited to:
  - a dangerous action that injures or has the potential to injure
  - illegal or unethical behaviour
  - impaired behaviour due to substance abuse, including drugs or alcohol.

Interpretation of Final Grades

Final Grade Satisfactory (S) (Pass)

Competent – Meets expectations for Clinical Performance Standards.
Recommendation – Practice within an agency with an onsite mentor or an easily accessible mentor, for a minimum of two years.

Final Grade Unsatisfactory (U) (Fail)

Not Competent – Does not meet Clinical Performance Standards effectively or consistently.
Recommendation – The student cannot practice foot care. Recommended to get remedial assistance prior to applying for re-entry to the course.

Final Grade (Incomplete)

Not Competent – Student was absent for a portion of the course resulting in skill development and/or skill assessment being incomplete.
Recommendation – The student cannot practice foot care. Student must make remedial arrangements with their FCN Clinical location or must re-take FCN Clinical. Note that additional fees may be applicable. The availability of remedial arrangements will be based on location-specific policies and procedures, the Lead Educator’s assessment of the student’s individual circumstances and the Educator’s availability to accommodate the student.

FCN Clinical Lesson Plan (43hrs)

Mentorship (3 hours) – Students will observe their FCN Clinical Lead Educator or one of the FCN Clinical Preceptors performing 2 nursing foot care clinical appointment. These mentorship hours are to be completed during the hours of the FCN Clinical.

Advance Nursing Foot Care Skills (21.5 hours) – This portion of the course will be taught in a nursing lab or foot care clinical setting and will cover all advanced nursing foot care skills required to complete FCN Clinical, including: risk assessments, treatment, development of individualized treatment plans, referrals and health education. Students will be guided to simulate step by step practical hands on skills on 2 volunteer clients each.

Clinical Skills (18.5 hours) – This portion of the course is offered in a clinical care setting and provides students with clinical experience with 10 -13 volunteer clients, per student group.

FCN Clinical Registration

Tuition for FCN Clinical is not included in tuition for FCN Theory. We strongly encourage all interested students to apply for FCN Clinical during their first month of participating in FCN Theory.

We recommend that students get the following course information directly from their course educator prior to registering for FCN Clinical:

Course Outline
Course Dates and Registration Deadlines
Contact Information
Location(s)
Education Team Biographies
Registration Requirements and Process
Tuition
Tuition Refund, Course Cancellation and Waitlist Policy
Instruments and Supplies
Privacy and Confidentiality Standards
Dress Code
Unique Facility-Specific Policies and Procedures (including location-specific documents and forms, such as client confidentiality agreements).

Foot Canada Training Intellectual Property Policy

The content of Foot Canada Training’s courses and curriculum is copyrighted and cannot be copied, shared or published without written permission of Foot Canada Training’s Director, Cindy Lazenby.

If written permission to copy, share or publish one of Foot Canada Training’s original works is provided by Foot Canada Training’s Director, proper reference to the author must be given when the work is used.