20 Best Shoes For Nurses: Men and Women in 2021

Buying Guide Questions

What are the Struggles of being a nurse?

Death is an inevitable part of our life. Sometimes it’s really your time to go and sometimes you’re lucky you get to have another chance at living your life the way it should be. Those people who take care of the sick or save people’s lives, such as nurses and other hospital workers, have got to have one of the most stressful jobs in the world. Imagine having that big responsibility for someone’s life in your hands. Thus, they need to have a clear mind and be at their best all the time. No room for mistakes. What they eat, drink or wear affect the state of their well-being. In this article, we will tackle just how important nursing shoes are, and how to choose the best nursing shoes.

As a matter of fact, no matter what profession you are in, comfortable shoes is very important- especially for whose work requires them to stay on their feet for a long period of time or requires them to run around and be active which is the case for nurses, health workers and etc. Comfortable shoes help support the arch and provide a cushion. This is very important for other parts of the body such as knees, hip, and back. You have to remember that our feet carry all of our weight when we stand that could be pretty stressful during long periods of time.

Being a hospital worker is one of the most admired professions anywhere in the world. It is heroic and selfless in nature. These hospital workers include nurses, doctors, and many others. We all know that hospitals are open 24/7. This is where life and death hang in the balance, literally. These hospital workers work to save lives even at the expense of spending more time with their family and most often, time for themselves. They also often spend special occasions like birthdays and Christmas in the four walls of the hospital. This may sound sad but for them, it is enough. Enough knowing that they can continue to make a living for their family and care for the sick.

Nurses know firsthand how important it is to be healthy and fit. They know that everything that comes in contact with the body can affect how it will be in the long run. For example, the way how clothes make us smell when working for a really long time and how backpacks can affect our backs because of its weight. The same goes for shoes and this is why it is very important for nurses, doctors, and all hospital workers to have the best type of shoes while at work having long hours of standing, walking and the like. Read on as we discuss the importance of having the best nursing shoes.
Importance of nursing shoes

Working in a hospital requires all nurses to be vigilant and quick on their feet. Thus, being active requires a reliable pair of footwear. It helps lessen the stress of their job. Nurses anywhere in the world can attest to the fact that hard and uncomfortable shoes make their job harder than it already is. Since it is a known fact that the feet affect the rest of our body, it is nothing but vital for nurses to wear the best nursing shoes there is.

The best nursing shoes help in maintaining the proper body posture and at the same allows a usual range of motion for the foot which is very important. The best nursing shoes also prevent possible body pains such as in the most common areas like ankles, hips, knees and the back. Most importantly, it helps prevent accidents and injuries that nurses might come across with while on duty. When on the job, nurses need to be fast and patient- great shoes have a lot to do with that. Continue reading as we give you a rundown of all the qualities of the best nursing shoes and in what brands you can find them.

What are the 6 Popular Types Of Nurses Shoes?

There are 6 types of nursing shoes that are most commonly used by those working in the hospital. These are the clogs, sneakers, sports shoes and crocs. These four types of nursing shoes each have their own advantages and benefits depending on the situation of the nurses. Different hospitals differ from what they require their nurses to wear. Some may necessitate nurses to wear closed toe shoes with covered heels that would give foot protection and slip resistance which, as we have established, is very important for nurses.

Another thing to consider is that each of these four shoes is very different from each other. Through this list, we hope to give a more in-depth look at what type is best for you.

1. Sneakers

Casual sneakers are best for nurses who spent not that much tie on their feet. Sneakers include walking shoes or slip-on. They are very comfortable to wear and has this flat, outer sole that is perfect for walking posture. Find a pair that can withstand that kind of requirement.

Sneakers protect the feet from fluid spills and are lighter on the feet than clogs. Also, the lace in the sneakers allows the user to adjust the fit of the shoe. It is also best for nurses who want to look trendy and stylish on the job. It will not only match your uniform but it is also great for your after-work get-up. Like going to the mall, club or coffee shop.

If we’ve convinced you to get a sneaker as a nursing shoe, the casual women’s loafers from Mewow is perfect for you- white and chic.

Depending on which country, state or department you work, some medical institutes are much more lenient with uniform than others. Therefore, if you work in a particularly fast-paced department, or perhaps suffer from back pain, heel pain, flat feet or plantar fasciitis you may want to ask your employer if they’ll allow you to wear sneakers. Nursing sneakers are literally most commonly running shoes or tennis shoes of any brand. They are great because manufacturers have designed and produced these for long lasting and continual usage whilst providing utmost comfort, which is exactly what a nurse needs during those long tiresome shifts.

2. Slip-Ons

Slip-on nurse shoes are perfect for a busy environment where there is no time to worry about tying laces or securing straps. Also, the added danger of undone laces getting caught in casters, or picking up any unwanted spillage in your laces doesn’t sound too appealing right? Whether it’s to wipe them clean before or after shift, or even to just air them for a few minutes whenever possible, swiftly taking on and off is fairly common practice for most nurses. When it comes to footwear, a comfortable and reliable pair of slip-ons are definitely a nurse’s closest friend. They tend to be cheap and effective at providing the required comfort, support and anti-fatigue that’s required to fulfill even the longest shifts.

3. Clogs

Third, let’s take a look at the clogs which is a very classic and most commonly used type of nursing shoes. Clogs are considered to be one of the best nursing shoes because it gives one the convenience of being able to simply get your foot in and out of the shoes. Imagine being able to let your feet breathe while you are resting. Another major advantage of this footwear is that you don’t have to worry about laces or tripping over them. Also, clogs will definitely match with your uniform.

In summary, clogs are a popular choice among nurses because of comfort, arch/heel support, and protective design. Clog manufacturers focus on giving answers to work-related problems in the nursing field. These problems include resisting slippery pathways, spills on the shoes and arch support. Usually, clogs are made of resin, leather, or suede. These materials affect how the shoes function interns of weight, stain resistance, and durability.

For comfortable and lightweight clogs, the nursing clogs from Natural Uniforms might just be what you are looking for.

Immortalized by the likes of Crocs, Alegria, and Dansko Professional clogs, these types are extremely common and for good reason too. Stylish and comfortable due to their open back and spacious front, they allow for plenty of ventilation, provide pressure point relief in the foot, and additionally promote good posture and gait. Also, considering a slightly wider toe box is almost default in clogs, they tend to be among the most popular choice of best shoes for bunions for those experiencing the deformity, which may have appeared through years of previously poorly fitted footwear. Nursing clogs have always been a popular choice throughout history and things don’t like they’re about to change anytime soon.

4. Mary Jane Flats

Mary Jane flats aren’t a bad option when it comes to selecting a pair of good nursing shoes. Generally easy to put on and take off, they are convenient and comfortable too, especially if you have a naturally low arch and flat feet. Although good, they are not exactly the number one voted choice as best nurses shoes, unfortunately, simply because a large part of the upper foot is left exposed due to the strap design. Too much bare exposure can lead to unwanted spillages on your feet which is not advisable. However, if you tend to work as an office or school nurse then these just may be the ones for you.

5. Sport Shoes

We all know that sports or athletic shoes are best for people who lead an active lifestyle which is why sports shoes are considered to be the best nursing shoes. Athletics shoes such as running or tennis shoes give nurses the best of both worlds- comfort and performance. Comfort because these shoes are perfect for someone who has frequent physical contact with hard and dangerous surfaces. Hospitals are designed with hard floors, long staircases, and wide rooms. Walking under these circumstances can be hard on the feet so these sports shoes will come to the rescue.

These sports shoes are built with shock-absorption qualities also. It is also light on the feet and provides flexibility. Perfect for nurses. Each sports shoe is designed with numerous benefits like ankle support, memory foam insoles, ultra-lightweight materials and more.

This will come in handy for those nurses who at the same, lead a very active lifestyle. These nurses are so used to wearing these kinds of shoes so they can definitely attest to its comfort and speed support for foot movements. This Women’s Sure Track Slip Resistant Shoe from Skechers will surely give you that.

6. Crocs

What are the Characteristics Of The Best Shoes For Nurses?

Running around at work on your feet all day can be a real pain, literally, especially if you’re not wearing the correct footwear. There is an old saying that goes “wear the right shoe for the right activity.” That statement can’t be stressed more in this case because whether it’s the emergency room or reception you work in, comfortable shoes for nurses require a specific set of requirements:

There are a lot of things to consider when shopping for the best nursing shoes. You can’t just buy a pair that’s cheap but not comfortable or a nice pair that’s too expensive but not the right fit. Here are some of the qualities one should look for in the best shoes for nurses.

BTW, you can also find a article with similar shoes that would work but also informative nonetheless in this site– check it out here. IT listed down all the best nursing shoes and you might find that useful as well.

– Support and Balance

It goes without saying that the best nursing shoes for women and men alike are ones that provide plenty of support and balance to keep those feet strong, protected and healthy throughout the lengthy shifts. Most footwear designed for this industry has tailored features which cater for moving safely on hard, slippery surfaces, altogether whilst combining each of the other characteristics to deliver a fine medical shoe which is fit for professionals.

– Comfort and Padding

These two properties are paramount because sore feet are usually caused by inappropriate padding and lack of comfort, and so can be avoided if wearing comfortable nursing shoes. Comfort and padding can be achieved in many ways ranging from the kind of material used for the upper to the inner architecture of the heel box, arch support, and size of the toe box.

Did you know that based on research, on average, a nurse or a hospital worker walk more than 4 miles around the hospital in a half-day shift? Yes, that is indeed a lot of walking for a short period of time and not to mention very tiring. For this very sole reason, nurses need the best shoes for hospital workers. Best shoes for nurses that are comfortable are those that have built-in arch support or cushioned insoles. If you want to customize your shoes with orthotics that are specially designed for your feet, get those that have removable inserts. With that being said, biomechanics and arch support is very important.

Also, another aspect of comfortable footwear is weight. Nurses may have different tasks throughout the day like lifting a lot of hospital items, supporting other people when walking or helping patients get out of their bed. Ultimately, they don’t need extra or unnecessary weight to lug around. Shoes can play a large part in this extra and unnecessary weight.

For maximum arch support, you can get the Dakota from NurseMates.

– Easy to Clean

Being a nurse is not always glamorous. As much as possible, they need all the time they have off from the hospital to relax, rest and catch up with their friends and family. Thus, they need things that are not just convenient to use, but very easy to clean. Of course, this applies to footwear as well.

In the hospital, nurses deal with a lot of blood and other medical or bodily fluids that tend to become dirt at the end of the day on their clothes and shoes. Nursing shoes that are water-resistant are very efficient to use. In case they didn’t bring an extra pair when the first one gets soaked in the dirt- they don’t have to spend extra time cleaning when they can spend that for more important things to do. Find a pair that will repel water and other forms of liquid rather than absorb it. Trust us, your life in the hospital would be so much better this way. Especially if you spent a lot of money on that pair, then you don’t want it to be ruined by dirt in the long run.

– Safe Grip and Stability

Reliable slip-resistant outsole grips are essential for wet and dry conditions enabling the ability to move quickly and confidently without harming yourself or others. The most common outsoles are either rubber or manmade (synthetic) but can be polyurethane too. Each is as good as the other; if anything you’ll notice more a difference in price as opposed the noticing a degradation or improvement of grip.

– Good Ventilation

Plenty of airflow is important; for example, wearing the same nursing clogs for 12+ hours in some cases can cause very sweaty feet, which not only could lead to embarrassingly smelly feet but also make way to infections like athletes foot. Odors and hygiene aside, keeping your feet cool is almost paramount for some people, especially for those who suffer from conditions such as burning feet as a result of diabetes or certain vitamin deficiencies.

– Choice of Material

The outer material (sometimes known as the upper) is very important; generally, it’s the white leather nursing shoes which are extremely common as they allow the feet to breathe freely unlike synthetic options. The leather is also very durable and comfortable, plus easily cleaned too. However, if you’re after something cheap with the intention of replacing regularly, leather may not be the ideal choice selection for you. There are also rubber types which are perfect for the medical industry as they are much cheaper and provide better safety for spillages, but on the downside, they’ll offer less ventilation and comfort than leather counterparts. So it is important to find a balance between price, support, comfort, and ventilation.

– Good Fit

The fit should be as expected. What this means is when you buy a U.S size 6 for example to match your sneakers and pumps, the size 6 nurse shoes you bought should have the consistent same fit as everything else in your shoebox. Occasionally with some manufacturers, a U.S size 6 may fit too tight or too loose, so that would mean it’s not true to fit. This characteristic is usually measured as a percentage, and the higher the figure the better, because this means that more people voted for the fit, as opposed to against.

There is more than just the size of a pair of shoes to be considered a good fit. Well, if you are looking for the best shoes for nurses then this one is definitely tricky. One question to consider here is- “should I get ventilated shoes?” For a nurse, you really don’t want to encounter spills even if it means your feet are gonna have to stay cooped up for hours and hours. With this in mind, try a leather nursing shoe that might just be the perfect fit for and at the same time will protect you from spills.

Another major thing to consider when choosing the best nursing shoes that are a good fit- non-slip shoes. As mentioned beforehand, hospitals deal with chaos most of the time and nurses may have encountered a million wet floors in their journey. These wet floors can be very dangerous when one is not in caution. It is the job of these nurses to care for the sick and injured, but it definitely will not do any good if you fall or hurt yourself while or on your way to care for a patient. This is why traction is very important when it comes to looking for the best nursing shoes. Your shoe’s soles must have great traction. You don’t have to worry though because as a matter of fact, most nursing shoes are specifically made to resist wet or slippery floors. Just make sure to ask the attending representative when you buy your nursing shoes or read the product catalog.

Be on the lookout for those shoes labeled with no-slip soles like this pair from NurseMates London available at Amazon.

– Orthopedic Insoles

If you have a foot condition and perhaps already own a pair of the best running shoes which you could potentially wear to work, or maybe your podiatrist recommended plantar fasciitis shoes aren’t suitable healthcare industry attire, ideally you should seek to buy footwear with removable insoles. Most types of footwear nowadays come with the ability to remove the current insole, however, if this is something which you’ll be doing, it’s worth querying and not assuming that the insoles are removable. That way, for example, you can be sure to swap the standard insoles by purchasing your own arch support inserts to compensate buying a pair of plantar fasciitis or flat feet shoes (or wearing the unsuitable ones which you already own). The ability to adjust the interior comfort of your shoes to custom fit is an option you are sure to be grateful for whilst working through those long shifts.

– Look and Color

Well, being a nurse should not limit the fashionista inside you. There are a lot of ways you can spice up your shoes as a nurse to make your look for vibrant and stand out from the rest. But you should keep in mind that while fashion is great and all, it should not become a hindrance to your work or make you uncomfortable in any way. It might reflect on your work and how you treat other people. Anyway, you can always save your glamorous look or style for a night with your friends or a dinner date with your loved one.

Some hospitals can be very strict when it comes to the shoe-color rules because if that is the case then white scrubs are the only way to go. But, you can always spice up the detail like go for those shoes that have lace details without, of course, sacrificing all the qualities that the best nursing shoes should have. However, if the hospital you work with is more open and lenient to the shoe color then you can definitely opt for those that have fun colors and different patterns.

Most of the nursing shoes being sold in malls come in whites or blacks but with enough patience and effort, you might just score the most stylish pair of clogs which are designed in abstract or floral. Just make sure though that they match with your nursing scrubs or else, you might look like anything else but chic. This women’s nursing shoe clogs from Rotan is both stylish and chic.

Color may or may not be of importance. Most health institutes will state that part of the uniform is to wear white nurse shoes. This is most common in school and generally is just tradition which harkens back to times when in the US they wore all white. Lots of places no longer require white footwear, and can often be any color provided they meet health and safety requirements and also have a closed heel. Most branded versions are available in a multitude of colors to cater for everyone. Nurses as a whole tend to desire the ability to express themselves through their shoes. It is not uncommon to visit the emergency room and see a vast number of color variation in the nurses’ shoes.

– Affordability

Last but definitely not the least important attribute, look for affordability in the best nurse shoes. Nurses may make a decent salary but that doesn’t mean they are living lavish lifestyles. There is no shame in buying expensive nursing shoes but it should be reasonable. You get what you pay for. Keep an eye on several mall sales for you to be able to get the best deal possible.
With reasonable price comes durability. You can’t just purchase a pair that will give up on you very easily on the job. The best nursing shoes should last you a couple of months or even for a year. If you keep on buying new pairs every now and then, this will just be an added cost to your budget. There are more important things that you should be spending your money on.
To get the best possible durable pair, always check out the reviews on various websites or do your research on brands. Know how long other users were able to wear the shoes you are interested in. Make yourself knowledgeable about materials and brands and again- keep in mind all the qualities of the best nursing shoes.

There you have it! Those are some of the most important pointers you should be looking at when shopping for the best nursing shoes. Now, we will dig deeper. At this point, we will discuss what types of nursing shoes are commonly used in the field and why.

Conclusion on the Best Nursing Shoes

There you have it! These are just four of the best nursing shoes and of course, each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. We cannot stress it enough that choosing the best nursing shoes depend on one’s health, foot type or personal style. Some people don’t even realize the importance of footwear to how our entire body works in the long run. This is very important especially for those working in stressful and precarious jobs. The best nursing shoes will not only allow nurses to perform their job well but also minimize stress.

At the end of the day, you get to decide what is really best for yourself. The most important thing is to go for what you are comfortable with.