Do you care if they want you to remove your shoes?

loricatus · Aug 2, 2008

I do not do home health but found your post interesting.

My take on this is that you are not a guest in their house, but are there to do a job. I think you should not take off your shoes because as a nurse, that is part of your uniform and the shoes do protect you (needles, stubbing toe on furniture, dropping something on foot...).

When asked to take your shoes off, you really should remind them that you are not there for a social visit and the shoes stay on while you are there or you do not come in.

Others may feel differently than I do. It just urks me that someone would really have the nerve to ask that shoes be removed for a person coming to their home to provide professional services. I would bet that if doctors made house calls, they would be allowed to keep the shoes on.

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Aug 2, 2008

Like loricatus said, you're there to do a job. It's like asking the Maytag man to take his shoes off.

Also, should you step on glass or in something hazardous, I doubt you would be covered by workman's comp if they found out your shoes were off.

I would kindly explain that it was a liability issue and my shoes would remain on.

prmenrs, RN · Aug 2, 2008

Just a suggestion: A compromise might be to carry shoe covers, the kind they use in the OR w/you; when you get to one of those houses, put 'em on. I've had plumbers use them in my house--they're idea not mine.

I found several sites selling them by "googling".

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Aug 2, 2008

Maybe you could bring some of those surgical shoe covers, you could even get the kind at the paint store for cheaper I am sure; if they as to take your shoes off say that for heath and safty reasons you have to keep them on but are more than happy to put on shoe covers if they would like.

Tash4nvyblues, RN · Aug 2, 2008

I do not do home health but found your post interesting.
My take on this is that you are not a guest in their house, but are there to do a job. I think you should not take off your shoes because as a nurse, that is part of your uniform and the shoes do protect you (needles, stubbing toe on furniture, dropping something on foot...).
When asked to take your shoes off, you really should remind them that you are not there for a social visit and the shoes stay on while you are there or you do not come in.

Spot on here, in my job, we are required to leave our shoes on, for reasons stated above. We are not even allowed to put over shoes on because they can slip on the carpet. We have some clients who will put sheets on the floor where we are going to walk. Maybe you can suggest that next time.

prmenrs, RN · Aug 2, 2008

There are shoe covers that are "anti-skid".

nurseby07 · Aug 2, 2008

I agree, but I have a couple of Asian patients whose families would NEVER ask me to take my shoes off, but out of consideration for their culture, I always do. I know the dangers, but it's a respect thing for me with them. I do have a problem with the white-carpeted wealthy who ask and I see their grandkids running around with shoes on. Next time, I'll bring those shoe covers. How stupid of my not to think of that!

Thanks for the replies, I would never had thought I would get any to this one!

mo-mo · Aug 2, 2008

The standard here in rural Hawaii is to remove shoes:It is a cultural thing and, as I don't like people wearing shoes in MY house, I am happy to comply most of the time. Our agency provides the shoe covers, and I wear these, because I often wear 'mule' style shoes sans socks, and if I do wear socks, I get the above-mentioned stains on them from hard flooring.

Some other ideas:One co-worker of mine carries an extra pair of crocs which are her 'house shoes' and says that works well for her. Another doess not want to take off her shoes in homes, so she says, "Sorry, I can't take off my shoes. It's because of my feet...(gives embarrassed smile)." No one questions her! I have used this line in less clean environments, and it works like a charm.Usually I just wear the shoe covers over the shoes in these cases though.

Just remember that policies generally are to wear closed-toed shoes.By breaking policy we leave ourselves responsible for unfortunate events such as needlesticks, other bodily fluid exposures, and injury.I do evaluate each home closely whether I believe it is safe to go in without shoes, cuz it only takes one disgusting incident of stepping in... :eek: (something wet and brown camoflaged by brick red carpet, ewwwww...I threw away my socks and rubbed hand sanitizer all over my foot as soon as I got in my car!)to make you very wary of going in shoeless. :nurse:

nurseby07 · Aug 2, 2008

The standard here in rural Hawaii is to remove shoes:It is a cultural thing and, as I don't like people wearing shoes in MY house, I am happy to comply most of the time. Our agency provides the shoe covers, and I wear these, because I often wear 'mule' style shoes sans socks, and if I do wear socks, I get the above-mentioned stains on them from hard flooring.
Some other ideas:One co-worker of mine carries an extra pair of crocs which are her 'house shoes' and says that works well for her. Another doess not want to take off her shoes in homes, so she says, "Sorry, I can't take off my shoes. It's because of my feet...(gives embarrassed smile)." No one questions her! I have used this line in less clean environments, and it works like a charm.Usually I just wear the shoe covers over the shoes in these cases though.
Just remember that policies generally are to wear closed-toed shoes.By breaking policy we leave ourselves responsible for unfortunate events such as needlesticks, other bodily fluid exposures, and injury.I do evaluate each home closely whether I believe it is safe to go in without shoes, cuz it only takes one disgusting incident of stepping in...(something wet and brown camoflaged by brick red carpet, ewwwww...I threw away my socks and rubbed hand sanitizer all over my foot as soon as I got in my car!)to make you very wary of going in shoeless.

What an interesting post, than you for the reply. It got me off the the whole shoe thing and dreaming about what it would be like to live and work in Hawaii....Dream....

liveyourlife747 · Aug 3, 2008

I think that if the client wants you to take your shoes off, they should either buy shoe covers for the nurses (our clients do this) or they should suck it up and deal with it.

Silverblitzen · Aug 3, 2008

Hi,

I always take my shoes off in my house, and therefore, I take them off in client's houses. It's a long standing habit from when I had horses and also had a mud room outside the kitchen in which to take them off. So, I carry a pair of hard soled slippers to wear in client's homes. They seem to really appreciate it, and it's such a small thing to do. And it gives a good impression right from the start.

JMHO

Sue