Why should a pedicurist-podiatrist think about their professional attire?
Hygiene in the office begins first and foremost with the practitioner's cleanliness. Indeed, healthcare professionals, to guarantee their own safety and that of others, must adhere to standard hygiene practices related to their profession and apply them meticulously, especially now...
These standards begin first and foremost with wearing appropriate work attire. Healthcare professionals will adapt their work attire for their various activities. In this article, we will present the typical attire of a chiropodist/podiatrist.
Before the outfit, the basics of hygiene
Good professional attire respecting all hygiene rules is nothing if the practitioner does not respect the fundamental hygiene prerequisites.
But what are these fundamental principles that need to be known and applied systematically?
First, the practitioner must have their hair tied back, not wear personal clothing over their work clothes, and meticulously maintain their safety glasses. Second, it is essential to have performed perfect hand hygiene beforehand, with short nails free of polish or artificial nails, and no jewelry. Need a refresher on the steps for handwashing? Check out our article on this topic .
Finally, wearing open shoes and carrying objects in pockets is discouraged during treatments. Adhering to these rules will optimize the hygiene of your practice.
The attire of the chiropodist/podiatrist in the presence of a patient
During the treatment
The practitioner must equip themselves with additional items beyond their basic protective clothing. These are barrier items, which are single-use. When used correctly, these items guarantee effective protection for the healthcare practitioner.
The chiropodist-podiatrist must equip themselves with examination gloves which must be changed at each interruption of treatment and with masks .
During patient reception and clinical examination
The practitioner must wear professional clothing that is sufficiently rigid, non-perforating and washable at a temperature of 60° or higher, in order to eliminate the maximum number of microorganisms and optimize the hygiene of their clothing.
The chiropodist/podiatrist must wear a short-sleeved tunic with easy opening and closing, straight-legged trousers of appropriate length without pockets, and a pair of closed, suitable shoes to prevent accidents involving sharp instruments.
Find a wide selection of blouses, trousers and tunics on our website.
The chiropodist's attire for daily tasks
In the equipment manufacturing workshop
It is obvious that the healthcare practitioner must always, and this is an obligation, adapt the level of protection of their clothing according to the degree of danger of a task they are performing.
In this case, he wears a specific lab coat and , if necessary, an apron to protect him from exposure to material dust. He must also wear a specific type of cartridge respirator, such as an FFAP, to avoid inhaling these micro-dust particles that could cause respiratory problems.
Wearing a face shield or protective eyewear will also be necessary to prevent these particles from coming into contact with our eyes. Finally, wearing protective gloves for workshop work is also recommended.
When managing medical devices
Managing medical devices is a task that podiatrists perform daily, generally at the end of a treatment or the day. After each treatment, it is important for the practitioner to change their treatment attire into appropriate clothing for handling their medical devices.
The professional must wear a gown, disposable apron or overgown, and protective gloves to prevent accidents with sharp or pointed objects. In addition to this equipment to prevent accidents from contact with chemicals, they must wear a mask and protective eyewear.
In conclusion, it's important to remember that protection is essential for healthcare professionals. We come into contact with a huge number of hazardous products and we must protect ourselves. Our work should be a pleasure, not a risk.
Take care of yourself !
