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After more than 40 years in nursing, Valerie Chisholm still delights in the quiet dignity of foot care, a measure of healthcare she feels sometimes doesn’t get the close attention it should.
Valerie, a registered nurse since 1984, has spent much of her career in rural Nova Scotia, working in emergency departments, diabetes clinics and foot care programs. Though she officially retired in 2018, she continues to “dabble” in the profession, offering foot care services in Guysborough County.
“I started doing foot care in 2010 after taking an advanced course,” she says. “At the time, the Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority was promoting community foot care clinics. We were three nurses—RNs and LPNs — traveling to rural sites like community halls and fire stations to provide free foot care for people who couldn’t afford to travel.”
Valerie believes consistent care made a measurable difference. “For many years, the Strait area had the lowest incidence of lower limb amputations in the province,” she points out. “I think that was due to seeing people every six weeks, dealing with corns, calluses and referring them to a physician when needed.”
The motto, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” guides Valerie’s approach, especially with patients who have diabetes. “When an ulcer develops, healing takes much longer,” she explains. “It can lead to infections like osteomyelitis and sometimes even amputation. That’s why I’m proactive about any kind of wound.”
Regular screening helps prevent complications such as ulcers and lower-limb amputations. Diabetes centre nurses, family practice nurses, physicians and nurse practitioners across the province are trained to perform foot risk assessments, provide education on proper foot care and co-ordinate referrals when needed.
Valerie’s foot care sessions often go beyond clinical treatment. “Patients come in with pain, walking with a limp. After 30 to 40 minutes, they leave feeling better,” she says. “We talk about their feet, but also about life. For some, it’s a chance to connect. They know me well enough to open up.”
She also worked in the diabetes clinic at Guysborough Memorial Hospital from 2023 to this year and previously at the Canso Diabetes Centre before COVID-19. In 2013, she helped launch a more structured diabetes program, offering patients 30 to 60 minutes to review lab results, medications and social concerns.
“There’s often depression and financial stress that comes with diabetes,” Valerie says. “Sometimes just listening is what people need.”
Originally from Antigonish County, Chisholm now lives in Guysborough County. She began her post-secondary studies in geology at St. Francis Xavier University before switching to nursing at St. Martha’s School of Nursing.
“I never took biology in high school, but nursing just came naturally,” she explains. “I thought I’d try it for a while and then life happened. I married, had children and kept going.”
Chisholm continues to work part-time at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Sherbrooke and in community clinics. “It’s been almost eight years since I retired,” she adds with a smile, “and I’m still enjoying it.”
Nova Scotians living with diabetes are encouraged to check their feet daily and receive a comprehensive foot assessment at least once every 12 months, or more frequently if they are at higher risk. It’s recommended patients check with their primary care provider.
Contact your family doctor or nurse practitioner, or to find a Diabetes Centre near you, visit Diabetes | Nova Scotia Health.
November is Diabetes Awareness Month.
Photo of Valerie Chisholm.