Best shoes for nurses: What are the most comfortable nursing shoes? As a nurse myself, I found myself wondering what were the best shoes for nurses to wear? If you work as a nurse , (or in any medical field position for that matter), then you are probably aware of the trauma your feet can endure after a long 12 hour shift. Standing, walking, and running around for 12 hours straight on a concrete floor can really make your feet hurt!
There are many different brands of nursing shoes such as Dansko and Nurse Mates for nurses to wear and trying to decided which type of shoes is for you can be hard. So it is so important to make sure you get a really comfortable pair of shoes to help cushion your feet, and save you from unnecessary pain, sores, and more.
Here is my nursing perspective on what you need to look for when buying nursing shoes.
Best Nursing Shoes (Most Comfortable)?
First just let me say that ANY shoes that are comfortable are great for nursing. Comfort is the most important factor by far, and name brand isn’t such a big deal.
When I bought my first pair of shoes to wear specifically for nursing and CNA work, I made the terrible mistake of getting the “Walmart special” shoes for about $7.99. They were white, but they weren’t exactly comfortable.
After 1 shift, I realized I needed to do something. My feet were literally killing me. My husband and I went back to Walmart and purchased some of the Dr. Scholls shoe inserts. You can get a gel or foam kind.
This helped out tremendously! I noticed a major difference in the comfort of my shoes, and the next few shifts my feet didn’t even hurt. Then, when I graduated from Nursing School, my mother bought me a pair of Nurse Mate shoes.
Nurse Mates Shoes are great and many nurses and medical professionals love them. They are made with Nurses and medical professionals in mind (hence the name “Nurse Mate”).
*See disclosure at the end of post.
Mine are completely white, and do not have laces (they slip on). They are very very comfortable, and look great too. You can expect to pay more for them (I think they run about $30 or so), but can you really put a price on pain-free feet? I don’t think so =). Amazon.com sells not only Nurse Mate shoes at killer lower prices but other great brands such as Dankso, Skechers, and Cherokee for great prices.
Again, let me stress that you don’t necessarily have to go exclusively with this brand. Any shoes that are comfortable will work. I just happen to like this brand quite well. It did take a day or two to break them in, but once I did, they felt great, and still do after months of 12 hour shifts.
Buying Nursing Shoes: Considerations
Another thing you need to keep in mind is your company’s policies regarding colors (if any). Many nursing facilities or hospitals require all-white shoes. Some are very strict about this, while others may not mind colored trim. In any event, you should definitely keep this in mind before you run out to purchase a pair of shoes.
Also, if your shoes are not comfortable, you can always add some of those Dr. Scholl’s gel inserts. They do work very well, and I would recommend those for anyone who has aching feet at the end of their shift (especially if you don’t want to pay for a brand new pair).
Also, weight is a big factor in your shoes. While it may not seem like a big deal, you need to get the lightest shoes you can get. The lighter, the better! If they are heavy, they will cause your legs and feet to ache prematurely.
Some nurses love to wear the “crock” style shoes, however, I wouldn’t recommend any shoes with holes or open areas. Why not? Well you must consider that we nurses sometimes have to deal with vomit, blood, urine and other “icky” things that we may not want touching our bare feet if it found its way through those holes! So I would steer clear of those if you can.
They make lots of shoes that don’t have laces also. If you can get a pair of shoes that do not have laces, I would recommend that too, just so you don’t have to worry about them coming untied all the time, and so any fluids won’t stain the cloth laces.
Also, I would highly recommend that you wear socks! Socks prevent sweat and bacteria from building up in your shoes, which will help prevent foot odor. It also reduces your risk of getting something such as athletes foot, or other foot infections as well.
How to Treat Your Hurting Feet!
If you still have foot problems after a Nursing Shift, you do a few things to help relieve the pain.
- Get a foot soaking machine. They are relatively inexpensive, and you can soak your feet with salt or hot water. Some even massage your feet. This is a great way to relax your feet.
- Get your spouse to massage your feet with lotion. Jesus washed his disciples feet, so the least your spouse can do is to rub your feet after a tough shift!
Conclusion: Get the Most Comfortable and Lightweight Shoes Possible
When shopping for shoes for your Nursing Career (or clinicals or any medical field), you need to find a pair that are lightweight, proper colors, and most importantly: Comfortable!
You can shop online, or go to your local shoe store (or nursing/scrub store), and they should have a nice selection to choose from. Make sure you get a pair that fits just right.
You can always add inserts to make them more comfortable, but if you take the time to pick the right shoes, your feet will be thanking you. Well, maybe not literally, but you get the idea =).
*Disclosure: The items recommended in this article are recommendations based on our own honest personal opinion and experience. We are an affiliate with Amazon.com, and when you buy the products recommended by us, you help support this site.