Frequently Asked Questions
Foot Care Nurse (FCN / Advanced Foot Care Nurse):
- A Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) with additional post-graduate training in advanced foot care.
- Provides nursing-based foot care, including nail care, callus and corn reduction, diabetic foot assessments, wound care, education, and prevention.
- Focuses on maintaining foot health, monitoring risk, and preventing complications, particularly for seniors, people with diabetes, and individuals with mobility or circulation challenges.
- Works within a nursing scope of practice and can collaborate with physicians and chiropodists when more advanced treatment is needed.
Chiropodist (or Podiatrist in some provinces):
- A regulated foot specialist with a dedicated post-secondary program in chiropody or podiatry.
- Able to diagnose and treat a full range of foot and ankle conditions.
- Can prescribe certain medications, order diagnostic imaging, perform advanced procedures, and conduct minor foot surgeries such as ingrown toenail removal.
- Often manages more complex or structural foot issues requiring medical or surgical intervention.
In summary:
Foot Care Nurses provide essential clinical foot care, prevention, and ongoing maintenance, while Chiropodists are foot specialists who can diagnose conditions and perform medical or surgical treatments. Many clients benefit from both professionals as part of a comprehensive foot health plan.
A foot care nurse provides clinical, health-focused care, while a salon pedicure offers cosmetic grooming. Although both involve the feet, the training, purpose, and safety standards are very different. A foot care nurse is a Registered Nurse with advanced training in lower-limb and foot health. They assess, provide care, and manage common nail and skin conditions, provide diabetic foot care, and offer education to help prevent complications.
In Short:
A foot care nurse keeps your feet healthy; a pedicure makes your feet look nice.Both have their place—but for anyone with foot concerns, diabetes, or mobility challenges, medical foot care is the safer choice.
See above for the Fort Erie area covered by our foot care nurses.
No referral is required. You can book an appointment directly. If medical follow-up is needed, we will refer to your healthcare provider (with your consent), and/or provide you with the information you need for follow-up with your healthcare provider.
When the foot care nurses visit facilities, they can see multiple clients without having to drive between locations. When visiting a private home, nurses need to drive to the location for one client. The difference in price it due to the time, distance and costs for gas/car/etc...
Accepted Payment Methods
Foot Care Canada nurses accept several forms of payment for foot care services. You may choose to pay by e-transfer, debit, credit card, or cash in person at your appointment. Each method is designed to provide flexibility and convenience to clients.
Receipt for Insurance Submission
After payment is made, you will receive a detailed receipt. This receipt is suitable for submission to your insurance provider, ensuring you have the proper documentation for reimbursement or record-keeping purposes.
Are you Paying on Behalf of a Client?
If you are arranging payment for a client, the simplest option is to keep a credit card securely stored in your Jane App profile. Once the foot care appointment is complete, the nurse will process the payment using the credit card on file. You will then receive an email containing the receipt. This method eliminates the need for an in-person transaction, streamlining the payment process and providing immediate confirmation.
Many extended health benefit plans cover foot care provided by a Registered Nurse. Coverage varies by plan—clients are encouraged to check with their insurer. Extended health plans recognize that preventative foot care by a Registered Nurse helps prevent more serious and costly health complications, especially for seniors and diabetics. Regular foot care can prevent infections, ulcers, and mobility issues, making it a valuable covered service under most comprehensive health plans. Your nurse will provide a detailed receipt with all necessary information for you to submit to your benefits for easy reimbursement. Unfortunately, we do not have direct billing.
*Foot Care Canada Registered Nurses are registered with Veterans Affairs Canada Medavie/Blue Cross, and Green Shield if you are part of those organizations.
We provide care for thickened nails, fungal nails, ingrown toenails (non-invasive), corns, calluses, dry or cracked heels, athlete’s foot, and pressure areas. We also offer diabetic foot assessments, footwear guidance, and compression education.
No. We offer mobile foot care and provide treatment in your home, retirement residence, or community setting. We do not have a physical clinic location.
A typical follow-up appointment lasts 30–60 minutes, depending on your needs and the complexity of care required. An initial assessment can last 60-90 minutes.
Your nurse will complete a foot and lower-leg assessment, review your health history, and provide thorough nail and skin care. You will also receive education on maintaining foot health at home, and referral information if indicated.
Yes. We follow Public Health Ontario Best Practices for Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization of Medical Equipment/Devices. It is the same sterilization standards as dental tools used at your dentists office.
Yes. We offer full diabetic foot assessments, monitoring, and preventative care to help reduce risk of complications.
A Foot Care Nurse can safely assess, clean, dress, and monitor wounds, but will always refer you to a physician for diagnosis and antibiotic treatment if infection is suspected. This ensures you receive timely, appropriate care for the best possible healing outcome.
Most clients benefit from appointments every 6–8 weeks, but this depends on your health needs and how quickly your nails and calluses grow.
Our practice focuses on foot and lower-limb care; however, basic fingernail trimming is part of the care if needed.
Foot care should not be painful. We use gentle, clinical techniques to ensure comfort throughout the appointment.
Not much! To help your visit go smoothly, please have a clean and comfortable place for you to sit with good lighting. The nurse will have their own seat with them. If possible, wash your feet beforehand or remove socks and footwear (if able) so your nurse can begin the assessment right away. You do not need to soak your feet. Pets should be secured for safety, and please have a list of your medications and any recent foot concerns ready to share. Everything else will be provided by your foot care nurse.
Foot care nurses avoid soaking feet because it can over-soften the skin, increasing the risk of skin tears, infection, and breakdown—especially for people with diabetes or reduced circulation. For people with diabetes, Diabetes Canada advises against foot soaking. Instead, nurses use safe, professional methods such as disinfection with 70% alcohol and moisturizers to keep the skin clean and healthy.
