Different Styles of Nursing Shoes  

The right type of nursing shoe is very important to a nurse. It will not only protect their feet from accidental spills and cuts. But, the right shoes also have the ability to make standing for 12 hours at a time more bearable. There are a lot of different types of nursing shoes available in the market today. These shoes range from plastic and leather to those made of fabric. The classic closed-type nursing shoe continues to remain a favorite among male and female nurses. However, clogs and athletic footwear are also steadily gaining popularity.  

The Classic Nursing Shoe
 

What is the classic style of nursing shoes? These are shoe styles that have been worn by nurses for years and years. They are the completely closed shoes that are either made of leather, man made material and even fabric. Modern nursing shoes made in the classic style now also come in injection mould plastics.  

Classic style shoes are usually the footwear prescribed for nursing students. They are the archetypal white shoe that alludes more to function than it does to fashion. These shoes have been created to ease the stress of standing long hours and they are also built to last. Most classic nursing shoes are chunky and have sturdy rubber soles that help keep nurses from slipping on slippery surfaces.  

The classic nursing shoe may be a laced up shoe or a step-in shoe. They may also be fastened with Velcro or button snaps. Classic nursing shoes also come in the form of Mary-Janes, Loafers, sling-backs and mules. These shoes often come in either white or black. They also come in a wide variety of colors, but more often than not, they come in neutral shades. Male and female nurses alike will be able to find classic nursing shoes that fit their needs and activities.  

Clogs
 

Clogs have always been a favored form of footwear by all sorts of individuals and it is no surprise. Clogs are extremely comfortable and easy to wear. Plus, they are perfect for jobs (like nursing) that not only require protection – but comfort too.  

In the nursing world, Clogs initially found their way into Operating theaters and Delivery Rooms. They were the perfect type of footwear to protect a nurse’s feet against accidental spills and cuts. They were also very easy to clean – some clogs even came ‘autoclave-ready’. As their popularity in the specialized areas grew, more and more nurses started wearing them – no matter where they were assigned.  

Clogs were classically made of genuine leather and they had wooden soles. Those items were too expensive and were very heavy – not at all ideal for everyday use. As shoe-making technology progressed, clogs were soon made out of fabric or leather (genuine and synthetic) and had lightweight rubber soles. These became the standard for the working clog – that is until the Injection Mould was invented. 

Injection moulds allowed manufacturers to create lightweight, seamless shoes out of inexpensive polyurethane. They were not only virtually weightless – they were waterproof too. Plus, they could be made to withstand a certain amount of pressure in order to protect the feet from pricks and cuts.  

This type of footwear became so popular that manufacturers soon started to create regular looking shoes out of the same injection mould plastic. Nurses also embraced these types of shoes and more and more nurses are venturing into the world on injection mould footwear.  

Athletic Footwear 

Nurses stay on their feet for as long as 12 hours or more a day. They spend their time walking halls in a clam yet hurried pace. In essence, they could be the sprinters or the brisk walkers of the hospitals. With such athletic terms attached to their name, it is only logical that nurses explore athletically inclined items when it comes to footwear.  

Trainers and running shoes have become hospital footwear staples. These types of shoes provide the necessary arc and ankle support to help avoid strains and injuries. Athletic nursing shoes with high necks help maintain the proper muscular and joint alignment of the ankle. Good athletic shoes also come with the proper plantar arc support that helps keep feet from hurting after long hours of standing up.  

Laced up athletic nursing shoes are also preferred. The laces allow nurses to customize how tight out how loose they want their shoes to be. The only problem with laced up shoes is that the laces can get very dirty especially if the ends are left to hang and drag on the ground. That can also be very dangerous because it can cause a nurse to trip and fall. In order to avoid that, laces must be properly tied and then tucked.  

No matter the style of nursing shoes, the important thing is to make sure that it fits and is comfortable. What use is there for a shoe that may look nice, but in reality pinches? No. A good nursing shoe must fit well, be lightweight and comfortable.