Meet Natalie: Why I Became a Foot Care Nurse

The person behind Sole Renewal — and the "why" that drives everything we do

Every business starts with a person. And every person starts with a story.

My name is Natalie Doucet. I'm a Registered Practical Nurse, the founder and owner of Sole Renewal Footcare & Wellness, and someone who genuinely believes that the way we care for people's feet says a lot about how much we value them as human beings.

That belief didn't come from a textbook. It came from experience — from years of working in healthcare, from watching what happens to people when they receive truly attentive, skilled, compassionate care, and from recognizing a gap that I knew I could help fill.

I've Always Been a Nurse at Heart

Nursing was never just a career choice for me — it was a calling. There is something profoundly meaningful about showing up for people on some of their most vulnerable days, bringing both clinical skill and human warmth to every interaction.

As an RPN, I was trained to see the whole patient — not just the presenting problem, but the person behind it. Their history, their circumstances, their fears, and their strengths. That holistic lens never left me. And it became the foundation for everything I've built.

Why Foot Care? Here's the Honest Answer.

People ask me this all the time — sometimes with genuine curiosity, sometimes with a raised eyebrow. Foot care? Of all the paths in nursing, why this one?

The answer is simple: because it matters more than most people realize, and because far too many people aren't getting the standard of care they deserve.

Foot health is deeply connected to overall health — particularly for older adults, for people living with diabetes, and for those managing complex chronic conditions. Yet for years, I watched people receive foot care from providers who weren't equipped to recognize the clinical red flags sitting right in front of them. I saw ingrown nails become infections. I saw preventable complications arise from a lack of assessment. I saw people shuffled through appointments without anyone ever really looking — not just at their feet, but at them.

That bothered me deeply. So I decided to do something about it.

Building Something Worth Building

Sole Renewal was born out of a conviction: that people deserve foot care delivered by nurses who are trained not just in technique, but in clinical assessment, patient safety, infection control, and the kind of attentive care that actually makes a difference.

But I also wanted to build something that felt different from the moment you arrived. I wanted clients to walk in and feel the difference — a thorough history (including learning about the person – not just their diagnoses), unhurried appointments, nurses who talk to you and explain what they're seeing, what they are doing, and a plan tailored to each patient's needs. An appointment where at the end feels like: you matter here. You were cared for. You can leave feeling better than when you came in.

Merging the clinical and the comforting — medical excellence with genuine warmth — is not something most people expect from a foot care clinic. But it's exactly what I set out to create. And it's what our team delivers every single day.

Beyond the Clinic: Educator, Advocate, and Proud Oshawa Local

Sole Renewal is at the heart of what I do, but my commitment to quality care extends beyond our Oshawa clinic. I also serve as a clinical educator with the AFCN Learning Institute, where I help train the next generation of foot care nurses — because raising the standard of care across the profession is something I care about deeply.

We also hold a contract with the Region of Durham LTC homes as well as several local Retirement communities, providing nurse-led foot care to residents across multiple long-term care facilities. For those residents — many of whom are living with complex health conditions and limited access to outside services — consistent, skilled foot care isn't a luxury. It's a lifeline. And I'm honoured to be part of ensuring they receive it.

What Drives Me Every Day

If you've ever watched someone's face transform the moment their feet are placed into my hands — the exhale, the softening of the shoulders, the quiet smile — you'll understand why I love this work.

People come to us embarrassed, uncomfortable, sometimes in real pain. They leave feeling lighter — literally and figuratively. They leave with clean, comfortable, carefully tended feet. And they leave knowing that someone took the time to truly see them in a non-judgemental environment.

That is what gets me up in the morning. That is what Sole Renewal is built on. And that is the standard I hold myself and every member of my team to — every single appointment, every single day.

Thank You for Being Here.

Whether you're a long-time patient, someone exploring Sole Renewal for the first time, or a fellow healthcare professional who stumbled across us — thank you for taking the time to read this. Knowing who is behind a business matters. And I wanted you to know who I am, and why this work means so much to me.

If you're ready to experience what nurse-led foot care truly looks and feels like, I'd be honoured to welcome you into our space.

Book your first appointment at www.solrenewalfootcare.ca. I look forward to meeting you.

With care, Natalie Doucet, RPN | Founder, Sole Renewal Footcare & Wellness | Oshawa, Ontario