Creating a Path to Success: Nicole Anderson's Journey from Nursing to Entrepreneurship
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Nicole Anderson Created Her Own Career Path and Plans to Take It Provincewide
Confederation College Alumni Nicole Anderson is a great example of exactly how far your College education can take you.
Nicole Anderson is the owner/founder of the successful The Foot Care and Ear Flushing Centre in Thunder Bay. And, as far as Nicole is aware, she is the first Registered Practical Nurse in Ontario to open her own clinic. Perhaps more importantly, Nicole is making her own rules and setting her own hours while filling gaps in primary health care.
It didn’t start this way – in fact in the beginning, Nicole’s nursing career didn’t look much different than any other.
Nicole received her Practical Nursing diploma in 2007 and became a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) soon after. She and her husband Ryan – who graduated from Confederation College the same year – moved to Selkirk, Man. There, she worked in mental health nursing. After five or six years, they moved back to Thunder Bay to start a family. Nicole continued nursing at Balmoral Centre at St. Joseph’s Care Group for a few more years.
Starting a New Path
But Nicole always wanted to do something different with her life. After the birth of their second child, Nicole decided it was time for a change.
So, when the opportunity to open the first Good Doctors Medical Clinics in the area came her way in 2017, Nicole grabbed it. She started up the first location at the Kakabeka Falls IDA Pharmacy, then moved when it expanded to another IDA Pharmacy at 1040 Oliver Road.
After working at these two walk-in clinics for several years, Nicole noticed worrisome patterns among her patients. Foot issues was one area of concern.
“I realized there was a need for better foot care and in-grown toenails in particular,” Nicole said. “They can lead to infections, surgery, time off work, antibiotics and pain medications... And then, after they get it fixed, there is a chance it can start all over again.”
Nicole knew that education and earlier intervention could help break the cycle for her patients. She initially took a course in Advanced Diabetic Foot Care in 2019 at the Foot Care Academy in Toronto -Ajax. Then, Nicole became certified as an Onyfix Specialist, a pain-free nail correction system from Germany that’s like mini braces without the metal to prevent the curling that leads to in-grown toenails.
Since then, Nicole has learned how to use the PODO Expert foam as well to repair dry/cracked heels and skin that can lead to bleeding and infections.
Nicole also noticed the need for better ear care while working at Good Doctors.
“I was doing many ear flushings every day,” she said. “It’s mostly in the older population, where ear wax can be a real problem for people with hearing aids. But there are people of all ages who complain about not being able to hear or building pressure in their ears.”
This time, she had to go international to take a course on ear flushing from Florida.
“I already knew all the proper techniques of ear flushing. A doctor trained me originally and I’d been doing it for years. But getting an official certification was important to me.”
Nicole Opens Clinic with “Strange Business Model”
Nicole opened The Foot Care and Ear Flushing Centre at the same location as the Good Doctors clinic at 1040 Oliver Road in January 2020, initially working at both. Not only does Nicole provide specialized foot and ear care services, she also provides referrals to specialists in town when something doesn’t look right. She is like a primary care provider in many respects.
“I have a good relationship with podiatrists, family physicians, hearing facilities and even the Emergency Department,” Nicole said. “I refer patients to them, and they refer to me.”
Of course, opening any business just before a global pandemic hits isn’t ideal. But Nicole remained open, waiving the initial $25 consultation fee to encourage clients to keep coming.
“I’m a proud Confederation College graduate.”
“I just took it day by day. Even if I had one person per day, I would still show up and help that one person,” Nicole said. It’s gotten much better now – in July, Nicole saw upwards of 10–15 patients per day – but it’s far from stabilized. “It’s still sketchy because of COVID, but I’m not going to stop. I’m not going to give up.”
Despite challenges, the future looks very bright for Nicole and The Foot Care and Ear Flushing Centre. She is currently planning to expand the business model throughout Ontario starting in London and Ajax. The combination of her health care experience and business partners know-how gives her a clear path to success.
“I want to make a dent here, that’s for sure. In the next year, we’ll have another location.”
Part of Confederation College’s mission has always been to “give you the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to succeed”. That’s certainly true in Nicole’s case. And she’s the first to say it all started for her in those hallways.
“I couldn’t have done it without Confederation College,” Nicole said. “It’s a strange business model, I know. Specializing in ears and feet? But thanks to the hands-on learning I had, I was able to focus on the areas that I liked and create a business model from there. Otherwise, I never could have gone on to launch my clinic.”