Being a nurse is one of the most beautiful professions you can undertake as it consists of helping not just your loved ones but people you know nothing about. However, the profession comes with its own downsides. One of those many health hazards you’re exposed to as a nurse is that stabbing pain near your heel known in medical parlance as plantar fasciitis. 

Nurses, though caregivers, also need to practice self-care to overcome the physical and mental health challenges they face daily. 

The fact that your working posture requires you to always be on your feet, it’s important that you take the necessary measures to take care of your feet without neglecting your job.

How to keep your hard-working feet healthy

Your job as a nurse comes with a lot of aches and pains because you stay all day- or night-long on your feet. As a result, having the right footwear to carry on your day smoothly is a necessity. You need comfortable and supportive footwear that will protect you from aches and pains. 

Thus, your footwear should be the first thing to consider when thinking of healthy feet while at work. Putting on the wrong shoes will not only cause you plantar fasciitis but you might also suffer from conditions such as bunions, corns, hammer toe, crossover toe, and ingrown toe. 

So, it’s safer for you to wear shoes that give your feet comfort. Shoes that allow your toes to be free and they do not slide up and down when you’re on the move. A perfect shoe among others is the “running shoe.” They are lighter in weight and are shock absorbers.

Use inserts or orthotics in shoes

Another way of taking care of your feet is to enhance your shoes with inserts or orthotics. Inserts that can be gotten from stores help to provide support and comfort to your feet without correcting any foot problems. 

Orthotics, on the other hand, are medically prescribed devices to correct biomechanical foot issues. That is, if you’re having problems with how you stand, walk, or run, you need to get some for yourself. While the right insert can save you from some standing discomfort, orthotics can go a long way to help you with your plantar fasciitis problem.

Stretch and exercise

There’s always a way some exercise can save us from many health-related issues. As a nurse, you cannot deprive yourself of it if you must overcome the many discomforts you face when handling your responsibility.

You need blood circulating properly over your body including those hard-working feet. Make sure you steal out time during your break to do simple stretches such as ankle rolls and calves to keep your feet healthy and active. Meanwhile, at home, you can take out time to do stretches and other exercises in the morning and before bedtime. 

Lift, soak, and moisturize  your feet

After a tedious day at work, it’s normal to feel tempted to take a shower, eat, and go to bed. This is important because you need all the rest to have energy for a new day. However, after standing for 8 to 12 hours at work, there’s a possibility that you’ll experience swelling or pains around your feet. If this is the case, take out some time to relax and elevate your feet above your heart.

Include a foot massage session when you can soak your feet in warm salt water for at least 10 minutes while massaging with a gentle foot massager. You can also roll your feet using the tennis ball. All this can help to ease the pain you feel around your heels.

Sometimes, we often ignore moisturizing the sole of our feet which leads to cracked or dry skin. It’s advisable to apply lotion 2 to 3 times a day to build back the skin of your feet and to keep them healthy, especially for those living in cold regions.

To every problem, there’s a possible solution. If you have been having challenges handling your foot sores or other pains like plantar fasciitis, try these different tips to save yourself from so much discomfort.

Do you have any other tips you use personally to keep your feet healthy? Please, share with us in the comments below.

Featured Image Credits: NursingCenter

Tags: Healthcare, Nurse, Nursing

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