Banning Crocs?

[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

[avatar78]

Well, if you do need the closed toe ones, shoebuy has 'em for $28 after discount right now, in different colors. (and if you create an account with 'em during checkout, it's another 10% off). They have the vented ones too on the site.

Ordered a pair, I'll see if they fit my sz 13 honkers.

http://www.shoebuy.com/sb/s.jsp/st_169422/b_2-0.82907-94.132547/bn_B_Crocs/sbstl_386548?PartnerId=CJ

[sshannon]

I wear a knock off version of Crocs that I get at allheart.com. They're $12/pair and I LOVE them. I'm 44 years old and my feet, knees, back never suffer during a shift when I'm wearing these.

I do not buy the version with the holes in the top. I just don't want drips and splashes going between my toes and down into my shoes.

What I love about the material Crocs and the knockoffs are made of (and I hope any committee investigating infection potential will take this into consideration), is that when I come home at night, I spray them with a 10% solution of Lysol and leave them by the front door. Voila, germs be gone.

[allele, LPN]

I love my Crocs! I didn't think I'd ever leave my Mizuno running shoes....then I finally tried the Crocs! I can get three pairs of Crocs for what I paid for one pair of Mizunos. I get the Professionals, I don't think the holes are a good idea, though. When I wore the running sneakers my feet felt good at the end of the day, but they were mesh and anything could get through that stuff! I'm not sure what I'll do if my place of work ever decides to ban them....they'd better have some good evidence behind their decision though! For anyone having a tough time finding the ones without holes, I get mine at Zappos.com....I don't usually have a problem there! :)

[wearingmanyhats, RN]

I have mixed feelings about the crocs, but the same arguments could hold for alot of the tennis shoes I see worn. I am an agency LPN, and love my Berkies, and the thought that I could be told not to wear them because they are clogs???? The only thing I don't like about the crocs is that some of the CNA's I see wear them, it appears that they do not have the correct size..... they seem sloppy (and I am not wild about some of the crazy colors.....)

[Mimi Wheeze]

They will have to kill me first before I give up my Crocs. I've tried every shoe from expensive New Balance to Quarks to NurseMates. NONE of them come close to my Crocs. I work 13+ hr. shifts and my feet DON'T HURT. I cannot emphasize enough how they have changed how I feel at work.

I ordered the "Professional" Crocs from Zappos.com. They have holes, but they are not on top, they are around where the sole meets the upper. I'd have to be slogging through some pretty deep "stuff" to get my socks wet.

Best of all, if they do get icky, I go to the housekeeping cart, spray them with Cavicide, and wipe them with paper towels without even taking them off my feet. I could never do that with my other nursing shoes.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

I worry more about the germs etc on my ID badge than on my shoes. We were our ID badges around our neck and they constantly get in the way (I ususally end up taking mine off because I don't want it falling in the feces I'm cleaning up!) I don't see how they be concerned about shoes carrying infection - your shoes don't come in contact with anything but the floor!

I read an article somewhere (Reader's digest??) about germs in the hosptial. Two of the most common carriers were ID badges and narcotic keys! Think about it - when was the last time you wiped off your badge??

wow I havent seen narcotic keys in 20 years now

[mcmrnbsn]

I agree-I work A LOT-can't imagine not being able to wear my crocs-and I wear the ones with holes-never had any problems. MM

[cappucino]

why do they always have to mess with us professional nurses. We should have the right to wear them if we want knowing whatever risks. They are at least washable. I wash mine frequently. They also allow your feet to breathe. It isn't interferring with the care we are giving, are they? they cover the feet like they should. Leave us alone. We have enough important stuff to worry about.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

No way am I giving up my crocs.

I have yet to get urine or feces in them. I generally don't get urine or feces on anything anyway. When I wore regular shoes, I didn't get crap on them either.

[GAPEACH07]

They are looking out for safety as well as liability issues. My previous employer would only allow us to wear white, leather shoes. No open backs.

[newnicurn]

i had a manager who banned crocs. I have a hammer toe and then developed this callus on my pinky toe that wouldn't go with otc remedies. So the cros felt like heaven. A coworker told me that my boss banned the crocs. So I said well they have to sent me home, because the crocs actually made my feet feel better. and i can't work without them. My boss never told me not to wear them and no one knows why she disliked them. The only reason i stopped wearing them was the weather. Rain and snow. But when spring comes a long so will my crocs.

[JourneyCC]

I hope common sense prevails on this one!