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.