I feel sooo stupid for asking this

[HeyHeyitsMaay]

My school won't mail me the list of required books and uniforms I'm going to need until after they get my registration fee. I've mailed the reg. fee and am waiting on the list.

In the meantime, I have a question.

They told me that I'll have to get my uniforms from a uniform shop. But nothing about our shoes.

I have enormous feet. (size 12) and clinicals start pretty quickly during the first mod. Outside clinicals begin in the second mod.

My question is, what kind of shoes are usually required in school, and how in the world am I going to get them when most places don't sell a women's size 12 no matter how specialized they are?

I'm divorced with 2 kids, and have never had any financial support or a family to help me out. So, I shamefully admit I've had to buy shoes that are too small in the past. They're just too expensive in my size for me to be able to afford decent shoes. As a result, my feet have been through hell and I don't want to buy crappy shoes for school.

What did/does YOUR school require since I can't get any more info from mine at the moment?

thx!

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

We had to wear all white shoes during clinicals. They couldn't be clogs (even with the strap around your ankle) or open back. No holes in them (crocs w/holes). Any type was ok though..sneakers, nursing shoes, etc

I got a pair of all white Nike Shoks and love them!

[suzy253, RN]

Maybe you can call the school and explain your situation and try to get more info from them.

[Fiona59]

Sorry, but "I'm on the waiting list" does that mean you are not guaranteed a place unless someone fails to accept theirs?

If so, I wouldn't spend a penny until I recieved my acceptance letter. Text books are constantly changing (often different instructors prefer different books), so they may not have decided which texts are being used yet. It is not uncommon for college bookstores to not to have the books until the last week of August. Same goes for uniforms, although they may be standard in colour, some schools sell them directly to the students, others let you buy them directly from whatever shop you want. I remember being told solid colours only, no warm up jackets. By the time I was in 3rd semester, print tops were OK'd as long as they weren't cartoon characters as were warmup jackets.

Just put your money aside and in a place you won't be tempted to spend it on the kids and you'll be fine.

[HeyHeyitsMaay]

Sorry for not clarifying, I've been accepted into school and will be starting in August. I'm just waiting for the school to send me my list of things I need to buy. I said that I am 'waiting on the list' ..the list of what we have to buy to come in the mail. Not that I am 'on the waiting list'. My apologies!

I have a scholarship that dictates that I order everything and the organization that gave me the scholarship will mail me a check made out to the vendor for whatever it is I need to buy, because of the way the school has their program set up. Books and uniforms aren't covered by financial aid. So we have to buy all of our books, uniforms, shoes, stethescope, and some other things on our own with our own money.

My problem is that I know they're going to specify that I have to have specific shoes, but I fear that it'll be impossible to find what they want us to wear in my size. I hope I can get away with all white tennis shoes.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

as a working nurse i wore orthopedic uniform shoes for years because i have a very wide foot (hobbit genes inherited from my dad). call ahead to some uniform stores that sell uniform shoes and ask if they have any in your size. if they don't, find an orthopedic shoe store because they will be able to get one (probably an oxford) in the larger size you need. but, be warned that they may only have one or two styles available, they may need a week or two to order them, and they may be expensive. to be sure that you are buying the correct kind of shoe, call the nursing department at the school and ask to talk with any instructor that might be there to ask about shoe advice, or i would bug them daily to have one of the instructors call you. some schools will allow a type of white sports shoe, but some won't. they generally aren't strict about demanding that every student buy the same brand of shoe as they do with uniforms since shoes have to be more custom fitted.

good luck.

[SingleMomOf2]

I agree about calling and explaining why you need to know ahead of time, you might get lucky :)

On a side note ( you probably have but..) have you ever tried wearing a mans tennis shoe? They are basically the same just one size higher so you would try an 11. I had to do this for hiking boots one time (they didn't have any I liked in womens sizes) and I just got a size smaller and they fit great and no one knew the difference.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I would consider going to the school to obtain the information rather than speaking to them on the telephone. I do advise to spend on your shoes and maintain them. There is NOTHING like bad feet and being a nurse where you are constantly bouncing all over the place! I developed heel spurs while in nursing school, and it took a bit of time to get treated for them. Not fun.

[HeyHeyitsMaay]

I would consider going to the school to obtain the information rather than speaking to them on the telephone. I do advise to spend on your shoes and maintain them. There is NOTHING like bad feet and being a nurse where you are constantly bouncing all over the place! I developed heel spurs while in nursing school, and it took a bit of time to get treated for them. Not fun.

I absolutely agree about spending the amt. it takes to get quality shoes. That's why I'm concerned since my feet are so big. I'm just ready to get my shoes now, and am too impatient to wait for the list.

I also used to work at a private school, and am a little irritated that they're going this route with respect to doing as little as possible beyond a list they send in the mail at the last minute. Every school does it differently. But, this is how nursing school goes from what I've been told thus far.

[NycCutie]

Sorry for not clarifying, I've been accepted into school and will be starting in August. I'm just waiting for the school to send me my list of things I need to buy. I said that I am 'waiting on the list' ..the list of what we have to buy to come in the mail. Not that I am 'on the waiting list'. My apologies!

I have a scholarship that dictates that I order everything and the organization that gave me the scholarship will mail me a check made out to the vendor for whatever it is I need to buy, because of the way the school has their program set up. Books and uniforms aren't covered by financial aid. So we have to buy all of our books, uniforms, shoes, stethescope, and some other things on our own with our own money.

My problem is that I know they're going to specify that I have to have specific shoes, but I fear that it'll be impossible to find what they want us to wear in my size. I hope I can get away with all white tennis shoes.

Sweete just buy an all white pair of nike uptowns they are comfortable and they come in very big sizes as well because men wear them mostly but so do females.They are also not that expensive for all white probably about $80 but they last long and are worth the money and you should be able to get them at any sneaker store.Good luck!

[lvnandmomx3]

We had to have all white. No clogs of any style. I know money can be tight esp when starting school, but your feet are nothing to mess with I would spend the money needed and get comfy shoes that fit.

[shalamar]

hI, I start school in august. I would wait until I had all my info first. I know it is so hard to wait, but it makes more sense. As for shoes, doesn't hurt to look around to see whats out there.