Clogs while nursing

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello everyone,

This thread is inspired by the one "JCAHO and Clogs". This is something I've noticed alot lately-people in the medical field wearing crocs. I understand that they are wonderfully comfortable, but coming from an office environment where open toed shoes were frowned upon, I'm surprised that crocs would be allowed in that field, because of safety reasons, especially since there is an abundance of sharp objects and body fluids. Am I just too old fashioned?

Specializes in DD, Geriatrics, Neuro.

I love my Crocs too. I had one lady puke on my Crocs and I went over to a sink, slipped them off, washed them in hot water and soap, dried them off with paper towels, and popped them back on my feet.

I have three pair right now and have actually worn out a pair of them. I was hesitant about them at first because I have such a small foot (goes along with being so short...lol). But the XS ones are very comfy on me. And my knees, hips, and back have not hurt NEARLY as much as they did before I started wearing them. So in my mind now, Crocs are essential nursing footwear. For the summer especially. And as for the sweating part, a nice pair of cotton gym socks work nicely for me.

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Specializes in NICU.
I have to agree about the ones with the holes in the top. I find a lot of stuff on the tops of my shoes that I don't know what it is or how it got there. Blech! :barf01: I wear the professionals so my feet aren't sweaty and sliding out of the shoes. The ridges channel any fluids away from the holes in the sides. I have not had a plantar fasciatis flare up since I started wearing mine all the time. The other nice thing about them is that I can just throw them in the stationary tubs with hot water and bleach when I get home. I couldn't really do that with leather.

Yep, I have the same ones. I have spilled water all over my shoes and the ridges really did channel the water away from my feet - my socks were dry! For a 12 hour shift, I really need the ones with the side vents - otherwise my feet would STINK I'm sure! :uhoh21: But at least they don't have holes on the top, and you can get them in that white or light gray color and they look like normal nursing shoes, just a bit funny shaped is all. I first had the Professional ones then I got the Relief ones because they've got the same solid top and side vents, but they are supposed to have more support for people with foot problems. Honestly, they're pretty much the same, but at least they were the same price.

My only hesitancy for Crocs is that my feet sweat. Alright guys - how do you deal with that?

Well, if you get the ones with no holes at all, there's pretty much no way around the sweat. I have a black pair like that which I wear with normal clothes and my feet always sweat in them, so I'm always having to slip them off to air my feet out. But even the ones with the side vents still get hot after awhile so you definitely need to wear cotton socks with them. And NO HOSE. Even wearing hose with cotton socks over them, you'll still get sweaty stinky feet unfortunately. Yes, Crocs are antimicrobial and THEY don't smell (it's true, they don't!) but your feet still can!

Has anyone tried the Dansco Clogs? They have a built in arch support, come in many colors, including white and have a closed back. When I wear them, my feet don't hurt after being on them all day. They are expensive, but my feet are worthy. The Crocs sound fun with all the add on's too!

I liked the Jocelyn Dansko white clogs and my feet felt great in them, but they were SOOOOO heavy. I tried the Professional style that everyone else wears, but the sole is very narrow (moreso than the actual foot bed) and I kept tripping in them, like my ankles would roll in or out, and I almost sprained something wearing them! I had them on for only a few hours before I took them off and returned them for the Jocelyn ones, which have a much wider sole and are much easier to balance in, yet are just as comfortable. If you get Danskos, make sure to go to a store and try some one first in the style you like, even if you can't order white ones through that store. The heel of your foot is supposed to come out of the shoe while you walk - the back part is more for protection which is why they are still considered clogs even though they have a heel. If you get them too small they don't work quite right.

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Hey. Didn't mean to make it sound like I was a Croc Hater. It was just a question. Crocs don't work for me, my feet are long and skinny. It was just a casual observation.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I figure it this way: when my facility decides to buy my shoes for me, then they can be obsessive-compulsive about what i wear.

That doesn't mean i'm going to wear flip-flops, but that does mean that comfort will come first, looks being second, when it comes to my shoe selection for work. Therefore, i love my Crocs.

As for the person that suggested Danskos, they're fine if i'll be standing in one place for 6 hours, but other than that, no thanks. To walk in them constantly makes my ankle roll, and makes the skin on my feet way too tough.

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my main concerns were with the holes. i work ob and never know when my pt's "gonna blow". i want my feet to stay dry when the fluid splashes.

I wear the OR shoe covers we use during deliveries to keep things off my feet (I work OB also). The crocs are very comfortable.

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Specializes in LTC, SCI/TBI Rehab,RX Research, Psych.

Z-Coils are awesome for anyone with foot/knee/back problems.

Pricey...but they sure live up to their claims.

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I have a Croc question, how should they fit. I seem to be between 2 sizes. The smaller size fits perfect, but I am afraid that my feet will rub in them and that I might need a little bit more room. Do your Crocs fit just right or are they a bit big?

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Supposed to be a little big....

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My manager says to wear whatever you can stay comfortable in. I wear brown leather keens because this company does not make white (which I do not understand). Many wear crocs but my feet hurt when I wear them.

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I don't wear Crocs, but they don't bother me when other people do. Except, I have to say, when I see the ones with the big holes on top: it's not the unprofessional nature that bothers me, but rather the image of something totally GROSS dropping or dripping onto the top of that shoe! :uhoh21:

I regularly clean the outside of my white shoes, and knowing what I've cleaned OFF them, there's no way I'd ever be caught intentionally wearing ones with HOLES in them! Eww.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

I just got a pair from my daughter for use in my second semester of NS....when I went to size them in person, I bought "up" rather than smaller, then bought the special adjustable strap they offer....I bought the shoes in the pearl, but the strap in a bright green (our scrub bottoms are green)...the salesgal said lots of RNs buy various shades of the straps for work...if your scrub pants are long enough, you can't really even see them!!

The strap helps a lot with the "too small"/"too large" issue...it's got velcro on it....

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Not all crocs have holes in the top. The ones without the holes are just as comfortable as the others and are just as professional as any other shoe.

Yes they are...I dont see why they would not look professional. I do agree the ones with wholes should not be worn to a facility for work.

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