What Makes A Good Nursing Shoe?

The true test of a nursing shoe is simple - comfort. The more comfortable the nursing shoe, the better. This means that the wearer can do a lot more work without feeling that familiar ache or without pain shooting through the calves. In order to be comfortable, the shoe has to fit right. It has to have a spacious toe box as well as a deep enough heel cup. Nursing shoes also have to be the right size and should be as lightweight as possible. Other than those qualities, nursing shoes also have to be made from the right material. Leather, fabric and plastic are the most common materials that nursing shoes are made of.

These items have their own qualities that make them ideal for making the perfect nursing footwear. Some of these materials are as follows:

Leather 

Leather is the classic footwear material - nursing shoe or otherwise. It has been used for ages and for good reason. Leather is hardy, has a long lifespan and it has the capability to expand and mold itself to the contours of the wearer’s feet. Another reason why leather is preferred in the footwear industry is the fact that it is breathable. That characteristic makes the shoe cooler and minimizes the degree of feet sweating.

The only pitfall for genuine leather nursing shoes is the fact that leather can be very expensive. Most nurses are apprehensive about spending so much money on work-footwear made of leather. But, those who have bought leather shoes in the past can attest to the fact that the shoes have lasted longer than they were expected to. Plus, leather, no mater where it is applied to, has the reputation of getting better as it ages.
Of course, owners have to let go of old leather shoes at some point - but by that time, the shoe would have given more that what the owner paid for.

Nurses who do not have the option of splurging on genuine leather shoes can purchase those made of manmade leather or ‘pleather’. Wearers get the same benefits as leather for a fraction of the price - although it may not last as long as genuine leather.

Plastic

Plastic has come a long way with the application in injection mold technology to shoes. It paved the way for softer plastic and seamless shoes that were extremely lightweight. Plastic was first used in clogs and flip-flops, but pretty soon manufacturers were coming up with injection mould plastic shoes that mimicked the look of leather ones - down to the stitches and the grain of the material.

Nursing shoes made of plastic steadily gained in popularity because they were comfortable to wear and were lightweight. Some shoes even came specifically designed with high arcs and cushioned heel cups. Clogs either came with or without straps - all in a play to accommodate the needs of the busy nurse. To accommodate the seamless design, most injection mold plastic shoes were made with a step-in design. This means that the items were devoid of straps and laces. But, a few clever shoe designers were later able to incorporate straps to the design of these shoes. The straps not only added to the shoe’s aesthetic, it also helped keep the shoe on the nurse’s feet.

Nurses who have never had, never seen or never felt nursing shoes made of injection mould plastic should understand that these shoes are neither rigid nor unforgiving. They are made of the softest expanded plastic that feels more like rubber. It also has the ability of molding into the contours of the nurse’s feet.

The only problem with these injection mould plastic shoes is the fact that they lack breathability. The shoes, especially closed ones, can get very hot and the feet can be sweaty. In order to remedy this, manufacturers have come up with leather shoes that have holes that facilitate airflow.

Fabric

Nursing shoes made out of fabric are also constantly used by nurses because they are cool on the feet and are lightweight too. They are also very affordable. These shoes come in all sorts of designs from step in shoes, mary-janes, loafers, laced and fabric clogs. The only problem with these shoes is the fact that they are rarely waterproof and they do not provide enough armor against cuts and pricks. Waterproof shoes are necessary in the nursing field because it allows nurses to focus on their work and not worry about getting their feet accidentally wet.

Combination Shoes

Combination shoes are also a great option for nurses. These shoes incorporate the different types of footwear material in order to make sure that they comfort and protection is achieved. Examples of combination shoes include trainers and running shoes. Trainers and running shoes incorporate leather, plastic and fabric into their design. These shoes are designed to provide comfort, breathability and the support at the same time. They are easy to wear and nurses can choose from a wide range of different styles.