[WhatsSoFunny]

I found a place online where I can buy Comfort Clogs for about 12 dollars. I'm in a bit of a financial pinch until I finish my CNA classes (which cost a couple hundred dollars more than I was told they would... grrr) and I need some shoes to get me through the classes, clinicals, and maybe the first month of work until I have some disposable income to buy myself some really good shoes. My husband is supporting us, but with car payment and daycare (and unexpectedly high tuition) it doesn't leave me with about $60 for some really good shoes. But would I be getting what I paid for? Would the skin just peel right off my feet? How necessary is it that I find the money for the really good shoes right away?

Also I'm going to be needing a stethescope. A friend that I used to work with at my last (sales yeuch) job who left to be a medical assistant said she found one for about $18 somewhere but I've since lost contact with her. The cheapest one I've found on my own is about $37. Is there somewhere better online to find these or should I just make my rounds through all the medical supply stores until I find these good deals?

Any help or suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance!

-Heather

[medsurgnurse]

Try www.allheart.com. Some people have had problems ordering form them but I've ordered several times in past few months and received my order super fast with no problem. Stethoscopes as low as $8.98 and croc type shoes for $10.99. Cheap scrubs too. You don't need an expensive stethoscope if its for checking blood pressures. good luck.

[Sweetooth EMT-P, RN]

hi,

Just wear clean sneakers if your allowed. Since I could not wear sneakers in nursing school I bought a cheap pair of nurisng shoes for about 35.00 and then added Dr. Sholls gel inserts, and those were pretty comfy. Also most CNA's do not need stethascopes because most facilities use automatic BP machines, if you do need one just buy a cheap 10.00 to get you through your classes since it will be for BPs only. Good luck.

Swtooth

[WhatsSoFunny]

Originally Posted by Sweetooth EMT-P, RN

hi,

Just wear clean sneakers if your allowed. Since I could not wear sneakers in nursing school I bought a cheap pair of nurisng shoes for about 35.00 and then added Dr. Sholls gel inserts, and those were pretty comfy. Also most CNA's do not need stethascopes because most facilities use automatic BP machines, if you do need one just buy a cheap 10.00 to get you through your classes since it will be for BPs only. Good luck.

Swtooth

Thanks! I have a pair of tennis shoes but they're gray and blue and the department head (whom I met in the interview we all had to do to get in the class) made it very clear to me how she felt about the shoes being all white. Also, stethescope was on my class supplies list. We're required to wear uniforms to class from day one and submit to overall checks to make sure our fingernails are unpainted and clipped short, among a long list of other things. The department head at the tech school I'm going to is very Umbridge-like, if you get the reference. She even had a purple office with doilies and dried flowers all over the place, a simpering little giggle, and absolutely tore her assistant a new one on the news the fax machine was out for repair. I think I'm in for a very interesting 6 weeks.

[casi]

No picture of mewing little kittens on the walls?

[amanda1229]

Sigh, I wish that more places would supply these types of things for you -- stethescopes anyway, not the shoes.

I'm guessing Comfort Clogs are generic Crocs? If they are, go for it! I bought some Airwalk generic Crocs at a Payless sale (buy one, get one half off) and they are so nice to your feet! I used to just wear my tennis shoes but with Dr. Scholl's inserts like someone else said, which worked very well, too. But since your facility is picky about shoes, I would go with the CC investment, I love my stupid Airwalks to death at work.

[megykilo]

Originally Posted by medsurgnurse

Try www.allheart.com. Some people have had problems ordering form them but I've ordered several times in past few months and received my order super fast with no problem. Stethoscopes as low as $8.98 and croc type shoes for $10.99. Cheap scrubs too. You don't need an expensive stethoscope if its for checking blood pressures. good luck.

oh oh oh...i would NOT try all heart, but that is just my experience. part of my order never came, and i bought the 10 99 croc like shoes. worthless. painful. stiff plastic and they crumbled and started to deteriorate after a few months. i got white and was unable to wash stains off of them. the real crocs are better. the airwalk style at payless is ok and they look nicer and come in cute colors. i dont know much about steths...i need one for nursing school clinicals next month and found a 30 year old one at my parents house. i can hear my heart, lungs, my cat purring, and take a BP no prob. i think i'll wait to graduation to buy a littman or anything super nice.

[pagandeva2000]

Keep in mind that many facilities do not allow clogs. It is an infection control issue, where the back of the shoes are open and the floors have germs. Also, it can be a safety issue, because while walking, they can slide off and cause injury in case you fall. Most of the nurses I know feel that clogs are more comfortable, and try to wear long pants so that they are not noticable. I would consider the clean sneakers until the money rolls in if the facility allows them. This is not me speaking (to me, whatever makes one most comfortable is the most important thing because you are on your feet all day) but experience from working at different places. Some may not want you to wear sneakers, either. When I was a CNA, I was told that I could not wear sneakers, no matter how clean they were; they wanted polished nursing shoes.

[ptadvocate81]

I bought a cheap stethoscope @ www.jascouniforms.com during nursing school, and it worked fine for me. It was like $5.99 on clearance. Have not bought any shoes from them though. Hope that this helps- best wishes....

[mrsraisinkain]

Ebay always has stethoscopes for a few dollars plus shipping. Even new ones still in the box. Check them out!! You can also get crocs and scrubs for great prices. That's where I'm getting my scrubs -- I'm not too proud to wear someone else's old scrubs!!

The place I'm doing my CNA clinicals requires all-leather-all white shoes so I got a pair of plain Reeboks for $1.99 at our local thrift shop. They don't look like they've ever been worn.

Good luck!!