Policy - Limitations to Practice as a Foot Care Nurse

1. Policy History

Created June 11, 2019. To be revised every 2-3 years.

2. Description

The Online Foot Care Nurse Theory course (FCN Theory) offers a theoretical foundation to nurses preparing to take the Onsite Foot Care Nurse Clinical course (FCN Clinical). FCN (Clinical) provides in-person clinical skills development and mentorship. Together, both courses are designed to prepare participants to function as a Foot Care Nurse within a health care team. 

Given that FCN (Theory) does not provide any practical training in foot care, nurses are not yet qualified to provide foot care to clients after completing the FCN (Theory) course.

3. Scope and Responsibility

It is the responsibility of each nurse to ensure they are working within their scope of practice by following the requirements of their provincial or territorial nursing governing body and national nursing foot care associations as outlined in related policies, competencies, guidelines, standards, acts and regulations (4.1 & 4.2)

To practice as a Foot Care Nurse, nurses must ensure they have successfully completed both theoretical and clinical/mentorship components of a FCN course, such as Foot Canada Training’s FCN (Theory) and FCN (Clinical) courses, or any other equivalent. A certificate of completion is provided to students who achieve a 75% average or higher for the FCN (Theory) course, listing course details and limitations. The certificate can be used as supporting documentation if applying to financial aid. (4.3)

4. Supporting Practice Standards, Guidelines and Competencies

4.1. Canadian Association of Foot Care Nurses' (CAFCN) National Competencies for Advanced Nursing Foot Care in Canada (2017).

4.2. Practice Standards and Guidelines from provincial and territorial nursing regulatory bodies.                                                                                                  

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