Be Kind to Your Feet and Wear Comfortable
Nursing Shoes
Rarely is a profession more rewarding than nursing.
Nurses have the privilege of being able to help people feel
better. They are present when families welcome new life, there
are also fixtures in scenes where people mourn loss and
celebrate release. A hospital is never complete without a nurse
in white uniform or in scrubs walking up and down the halls
carrying charts, talking to doctors and taking care of
patients. However, all that work and long hours of standing up
can take its toll on the feet and legs. That is why nurses need
to have comfortable nursing shoes.
Having the right nursing shoes is as important for a nurse
as mastering therapeutic communication. The right shoe will
help relieve pressure on the feet and on the legs. As a result,
it will help nurses do their job longer and better. Here are a
few key points a nurse should look for when picking out
comfortable nursing shoes.
The Toe Box
Dainty looking shoes with tapered front ends may look
appealing, but they can be a nightmare as work footwear. Nurses
should pick out shoes that have a relatively wide toe box.
Having a good-sized toe box will make sure that the toes spread
out comfortably. This reduces toe cramping. Having enough space
for the toes is important because the toes carry a majority of
the bodyweight. It also helps in maintaining a person’s
balance. Since nurses spend most of the workday on their feet,
it is important that the toes move as freely as possible.
Wearing closed shoes is also important in nursing. This is a
way to protect the nurse’s feet from blood spills, bodily
fluids and accidental pricks and cuts. Nurses working in the
Operating Room and emergency units may also choose to wear
durable and waterproof footwear.
The Heel Cup
Having a well-constructed heel cup is also important in a
nursing shoe. Nurses would be more comfortable if the choose
completely closed shoes compared to mules and sling back heels.
Mules are sometimes difficult to keep on. Sling backs on the
other hand dig in to the heel and cause discomfort. Clogs are a
great option for nursing shoes - despite its’ lack of a heel
cup. Clogs are comfortable and often stay on the feet without
much problem. They are also easy to put on.
A deeper heel cup will give the nurse’s feet support and
promote proper muscle and tendon alignment. Shoes with
soft or padded heel cups are also necessary in preventing sores
at the back of the ankles. If a nurse cannot find shoes with
padded heel cups, they should go for shoes made of a soft
material such as natural or manmade leather.
The Soles and Insoles
It is important to consider the soles and insoles of shoes
when picking out a comfortable pair of nursing footwear. The
sole needs to be sturdy enough. It also has to be well
constructed and it has to provide adequate traction between the
wearer and the floor. Most hospital floors can get slippery and
wet. That is why nurses need shoes that will not slip. They
should be focusing on the task at hand and not struggle just to
stay upright.
The insoles are also an important factor for comfort. A shoe
must have adequate arc support to minimize strain on the feet.
Purchasing a pair of nursing shoes with padded insoles is
usually the way to go. If nurses still find their feet getting
tired despite having padded insoles, they should consider using
gel inserts.
Wear Leather
Leather shoes are one of the most comfortable footwear
items. Leather provides a lot of give and moulds itself to the
natural contours of the feet. Nurses should consider buying
leather or synthetic leather nursing shoes. Leather shoes also
last the longer and most nurses can attest to the fact that a
good leather shoe only gets better with age.
The Right Size
Buying the right sized nursing shoes is very important. The
footwear must be neither too loose nor too tight. Having shoes
a smaller size that what you actually wear can cause cramping
and sores. Shoes too big for your feet can also lead you to
struggle just keeping them on your feet - that in itself can be
as bad as having too tight shoes.
Trainers
More and more nurses are advocating the use of trainers and
running shoes for work. These types of shoes give the necessary
arc support and toe and heel space. Trainers and rubber shoes
come in all sorts of colors. Nurses have the option of choosing
white or colored shoes. These shoes also come in various
support types and styles. Trainers made for women are usually
made with smaller toe boxes and higher arcs. Before using
trainers at work, nurses should first consult the hospital’s
staff dress code in order to make sure that wearing trainers is
okay.
Buying the comfortable nursing shoes doesn’t have to be so
difficult. All a nurse has to do is to make sure that the fit
is perfect and that it is made of a comfortable material.
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