First Taylor'D Health Foot and Nail Care award

It’s no question that Renate Lawrence RN, CFCN of Reno, NV deserves to be honored with the first Taylor’D Health Foot and Nail Care Nurse Award for her proactive and compassionate approach to foot and nail care. This field in nursing is just now being recognized. The needs are evident and the steps for nurses to be credentialed are defined. Communities with an older population, those with diabetes and or lower extremity arterial disease are very high risk for injury and amputation are in dire need of proactive foot care. With the baby boomers reaching their 6th, 7th, and 8th decade of life, the demographics of the USA are changing drastically.

Lawrence, like others in the community who participated in a 3-day foot and nail care course in Carson, Nevada in August 2007, was eligible for board certification through the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society. She successfully passed her boards in January 2008. Board certification allows for the opportunity to serve in the clinical setting, as well as being an entrepreneur and/or a parish nurse with a “hands on feet” ministry in the church or senior citizen center. The nurse works closely with the community, primary care physicians, podiatrists, wound care centers, and others serving seniors to promote comfort and prevent injury leading to wounds and amputations.

Renate Lawrence was recognized for her perseverance, passion, and phenomenal clinical skills. Foot care is an art and she is an artist. Lawrence recently attended the first foot and nail care nurse conference and retreat in San Diego, CA in May, 2009 and may be attending the First Foot and Nail Care Nurses Association Conference in Canada in April, 2010.
In the Carson/Reno area, it is estimated that 12% of the people are between the age of 65 to 85 years old. People with diabetes account for 8% of the population. (Nevada State Health Division, 2008). Damage to the nervous system causing peripheral neuropathy is a frequent complication of poor blood sugar control and expected in 60-70% of the people with diabetes. Approximately 30% of people with diabetes age 40 and older have impaired sensation.  Obesity which contributes to foot care problems, deformities, and pain is also epidemic in the USA.

Board certified foot and nail care nurses are the eyes and ears in the community for proactive intervention. With the promotion of comfort, appropriate referral, education on foot care, foot wear, and lower extremity compression therapy, amputation rates may be reduced by 45-85%. (http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov)

It is opportune time for nurses to take a much more active role and proactive stance in prevention of lower extremity issues. Board certification in Foot and Nail Care is a win-win-win; for the older population, the primary care and podiatrists, and the nurse. For more information on Foot and Nail Care Courses contact Shelly Taylor at www.taylordhealth.com or to find out more about the foot and nail care services in your community contact Renate Lawrence at (775) 772-5854; CEO of Happy Feet II.

Keep the feet safe and comfortable

Shelly Taylor listed in Cambridge "Who's Who"

Michele R. Burdette-Taylor RN-BC, MSN, CWCN, CFCN, PhDc Joins the Ranks of Leading Professionals

SAN DIEGO, CA, June 1, 2009, Michele R. Burdette-Taylor, Curriculum Designer and Chief Executive Officer of Taylor’D Health, has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in all aspects of healthcare education. Michele R. Burdette-Taylor is also a Lieutenant Colonel with the United States Army Nurse Corps

With 30 years of experience in her field, Ms. Burdette-Taylor specializes in the treatment of lower extremities and prevention of amputation. As the curriculum designer and CEO of Taylor’D Health, she is responsible for providing healthcare education for nurses in foot and nail care to supply patient care and education, expanding and developing programs to higher levels, conducting retreats and medical mission trips, and following up on the well-being of patients who suffered traumatic limb loss in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Ms. Burdette-Taylor is a Lieutenant Colonel with the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and has received her 20-year letter. Also a writer, she has won several writing awards and has been team published along with her husband on skin and wound care. She is currently writing a textbook. She attributes her success to the phenomenal support she receives from the people around her.

Ms. Burdette-Taylor is pursuing her Ph.D. in Nursing with a concentration in Traumatic Limb Loss of Soldiers at the University of San Diego. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from California State University, Dominguez Hills and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Central Florida.

She is board certified in wound care management, foot and nail care, and parish nursing and education. A member of the National Nurses in Business Association and the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society, she volunteers her services for the Wounded Warrior Program and the American Cancer Society. Ms. Burdette-Taylor hopes to see Taylor’D develop a huge presence, meet its clients’ needs and take everything to a higher level.

She would also like to continue writing and publishing and conduct annual medical missions to Honduras as well as health, hope and humor workshops for healthcare providers in Tuscany.

For more information about Taylor’D Health, visit http://www.taylordhealth.com.