[AirforceRN]

I don't wear Crocs but I've thought about it a lot. I just don't like the idea of no ankle support. I don't see how agencies can ban them for being unsanitary though. We have a lounge in emerg where all the nurses store their shoes. It must be CRAWLING with bacteria, but COME ON!!!! They are shoes. You clean them, but them back on and two minutes later you will have all sorts of crud on them from the hospital floor.
Remember the little foot washing pools that they used to have before you got to the big public pool? That's what we need, so everytime we leave a bedside we dip our feet into bleach...would that make everyone happy? I don't know, it all sounds so crazy to me.
Where I work if you wear open (holey) crocs, you waive your compensation for foot related injuries. If you are willing to give that up, go ahead, it's your career not mine. You aren't hurting the patient so why should I be concerned? And frankly, the brighter the better. We need more colour in the hospital. I've taken to wearing orange scrubs just to liven things up. I endure the prisoner and pumpkin comments in good humour...
Damien

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

So here's the solution for all you holey-Crocs people: Jibbitz!

Here's the link:

http://www1.jibbitz.com/


PS Not sure I could work without my Crocs. They really fixed my feet when I was having a problem. Do I need a note from my Doc? After all, Crocs are approved by the APA.

[NicInNC]

Originally Posted by styRN

I am an RN in one of the largest LTC facilities in Ontario (320 beds) and I am also the infection control officer.
I have been wearing Crocs, the Professional model and the Relief model, both without top-vents, for some time now, as have many of my colleagues.
Recently, my employer announced it is undertaking a study into the infection control/health & safety aspects of Crocs in the workplace in the hopes of having them banned due to their risks of infection/transmission/injury to workers.

Does anyone have any experience with a similar undertaking at your workplace?
Are there any peer-reviewed studies on Crocs in the workplace?

My belief is that, not only are they beneficial to the health of the worker (comfort), but the inherent anti-microbial properties of the material and the ease of disinfecting the footwear far outweigh any perceived risks of infection, transmission of disease or risk of injury.

Thanks

They have banned them at my workplace. Doctors, nurses, lab, etc ALL wore them. Now we will get written up if we wear them.

[leesespieces]

When I first saw the Crocs with the top vents the first thing that came to mind was "I'm suprised infection control would allow that" I just pictured all the times I've had nasty things end up on my shoes that would've ended up in those holes had I been wearing those shoes!! I am not against anyone else wearing them if they don't mind taking the risk, but I wouldn't wear them. I'm all about the ones without the holes though...they are comfy!!

[grace90]

Originally Posted by CRNI-ICU20

I don't think bacteria is discriminating between a pair of Crocs as opposed to a pair of Nike's....

Kinda what I was thinking!

[ZippyGBR]

Originally Posted by lizzyette

What about wearing steel toe boots

crocs

has been known to see zippy wearing his steel toes magnums with usinform in hospital, usual to see zippy in steel toe magnums in the pre-hospital setting

[Lacie]

Originally Posted by stevielynn

Do you bleach the dishwasher after you do this? I'd hate to eat off a plate that was washed in there . . . or maybe your dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle. Mine doesn't so that is what I'm thinking.
ok - the germaphobe is finished . . .

Considering the water from the dishwasher is so very hot with steam rolling out and a steamed dry cycle.........anything would die in there. If it cant clean them then I sure wouldnt be putting dishes in it either. I'm sure salmonella and numerous other things grow on dirty plates just as quickly

[Pepper The Cat]

Sorry - wasn't clear when I said shoes don't come in contact with nothing but the floor. What I meant was, shoes don't come in contact with pts -
I am aware of what we step in daily, and for that reason, my shoes stay at the hospital and don't come into my home. But as for shoes carrying infection from one pt to another - I just don't see how.

[LadyLurker]

our facility policy states "closed toe and closed heel shoes only" for all personnel working on the floors. no clogs of any kind. the health and safety committee agrees with this policy.

i too have had horrible pain issues with my feet... fixed with orthotic inserts for my shoes. yes, they were expensive, but my husband's workplace benefits covered the whole cost. even if they hadn't, i still would have gotten the inserts. the relief has been incredible!
i got crocs at the same time, and my inserts fit into the crocs... ... but they are my casual-running-around shoes, not for work.

karen
ladylurker

[kate1969]

I work in an LTAC and this is my belief
"crocs..with holes, without holes, tennis shoes, steel toed boots...what's the diff!" I work in an LTAC and I figure this, I probably have every germ known to man and its not because I don't take every precaution, I do, however, when push comes to shove and there's a nuclear war, the only thing left on this earth alive will be the cockroaches and ME!! hehe
we have those plastic needled syringes and they suck, I'm an RT and occasionally I have to use a syringe to draw up Gent for neb therapy, I don't care who y'ar, you can't successfully draw up the second vial...you always end up pushing too hard, pushing the rubber stopper thingy up into the vial and all the Gent leaks out onto your gloved hand and your scrub jacket...
so, I guess all the germs on me are now being killed by the Gent I've just poored all over myself...LOL
It just doesn't matter...LOL
maybe I should just dump that second vial onto my crocks and socks...LOL
sorry, I have a warped sense of humor