I have been trying to find a decent pair of shoes to wear on the floor. My search is showing me plenty of options for women, but nothing for the male nurse. The shoes I have now are not agreeing with my back and feet!

What at kind of shoes do you guys recommend wearing for those long 12 hour shifts?

Nothing shorter than a 4inch heel.. for men.

I just wear nikes. It's truly whatever is most comfortable for you.

Check into new balance walking shoes. I wear various pairs of them. I find that at the end of a 12 hour shift my feet still hurt, but not as bad as when I was trying to wear adidas tennis shoes haha

I wear these: Amazon.com: ECCO Men's 571004 Classic Moccasin, Black, 45 EU/11-11.5 M US: Loafers Shoes: Shoes

I went from danskos to these because I kept almost braking my ankles in the danskos and they are too heavy to wear around all day. I don't do running shoes cause blood and fluids drain through the mesh and onto my feet.

Running shoes

Rockports. They are old man shoes. They look ugly, but they were the only shoe that got me through a full shift without pain.

Air Nikes is what I wear. I have flat feet so I need all the help I can get. My feet don't hurt like they used to.

I wear Dansko's (get the oiled leather verson for longer wear); they work well.

Nikes! Can't stand nursing shoes, they make my feet hurt more despite their intention. I'm much more comfortable wearing running shoes I like.

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I've found that the most important quality for me in work shoes is light weight, especially for 12 hour shifts. Most modern running shoes are super light weight, very comfortable, and provide enough support for the job.

I rock assorted Nike Air Maxes. They are sturdy, comfy, and most of them have completely enclosed leather uppers. You can find them all over the place. I get a new pair every 4-6 months or so, spend $100-$120 a pop. They are easily cleaned and have plenty of room if you want to add some insoles. Being stylish (at least in my eyes) is a welcome bonus.

I'm a big guy and fairly young, so I put a lot of emphasis on investing in quality shoes in order to protect my feet and legs. You might look into wearing compression hose as well. You'll feel a world of difference just by wearing compression stockings.

New Balance stores offer free foot mapping, but these stores are pretty few and far between. It might be worth a drive to go get your feet mapped and grab a pair of NB's they recommend just to see if that works for you.

All that being said, in my own personal world, my lower back pain is more directly related to my core strength and my hamstring flexibility than my shoe choices. When I start skipping workouts and my abs get weak, my lower back starts getting sore. Also, if I miss some yoga sessions, the same result applies. Also, taking a few minutes here and there to stretch and touch my toes a few times a shift does wonders for my back.

Most likely, your back and feet issues are caused by more than just your shoe choice. You should look into new shoes for sure, but also consider compression stockings, core work, and stretching/yoga. Remember, your foot bone is connected to your leg bone, your leg bone is connected to your thigh bone, etc.

I like the to use new balance shoes because I am tall and heavy, and they make them wide. I used to always buy a certain brand of new balance trail running shoes and swap out the insoles for some sport greyish dr.scholls insoles. If you feet and back hurt, you might want to try to lose weight or perform core muscle exercises. I've gone through all kinds of nike, reebok, addidas, skater shoes, vans, and I always go back to my new balances. Now I have a sit down job so my feet aren't achy any more.

Not a dude...but I was having the same problem. I could not find a pair of shoes (nursey or otherwise) to handle my 12+ hour shifts of craziness! Then my mom bought a pair of running shoes that she didn't like and asked me if I wanted them since she couldn't return them. Little did I know these shoes were my feet love match! Brooks running shoes have been a God send. I still have to buy a new pair every 4-5 months but they are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. I come home from a long shift and my feet don't even hurt! It's amazing :) Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck!

I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it.

Author: Art Williams