Dansko "dress code" at your place of work

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

I am entering my last year of nursing school and am wanting to purchase a pair of Danskos-heard a lot of good things about them. We will have two 12-hour clinicals a week so I'm trying to prepare. I've seen a few nurses with the printed clogs (some are patent leather and they are stylish yet easy to clean when something spills).

The facility I am currently doing clinicals at has no problem with shoes that are not white, but I am sure that is not the norm...or is it? Should I get the plain white danskos or buy the ones I like?

Thanks nurses

1 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm confused... if you are going to wear your Danskos as part of a clinical you will have to look at your school's policy. Typically, any type of shoe with holes in them aren't allowed when you are functioning in a clinical capacity.

On my unit there are different Danskos of every color and pattern so I think it's just a matter personal preference. But you don't want to stand out too much from your peers either.

1 Votes
Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.

The school's dress code policy is what you need to focus on now, not the hospital's, unless the school allows you to dress as the clinical site's policy allows. If you dress in violation of a school dress code, it's possible to get "dinged" in points---and that's such a shame. Maybe white Danskos for now would be the safest bet. Be prepared to break them in before clinicals though---they (at least mine are) are hard inner sole wise and take a while to adjust to. Good luck on the rest of your school career & in the profession of nursing!

1 Votes

I would go with a solid color. If your school does not specify what color you must wear, Id go with a solid black the white ones scuff so easily and look crappy so quickly. Take your time to break them in, just wear them a few hours a day at first not a whole shift. I never got used to them I used to turn my ankles a lot. Every hospital has a different policy but white would be ok anywhere. Most places I did clinical allowed white or black, most people got patent leather black, they do also scuff. My current job allows white or navy blue so chances are whatever you buy now will end up being part of the collection. When you get a new job you will prob get another pair. It is nice to have good shoes to rotate.

Also fyi, I ahve found support hose to be a lifesaver for 12 hour shifts. I wish someone would have told me about them in school. I prefer Jobst brand. I also wear Sketcher Shape up sneakers, they have a lot of cushion.

1 Votes

The days of the white nursing shoes are long gone.

As long as they are not open toe or back then you should be fine no matter where you work.

1 Votes
Specializes in ALF, Medical, ER.

As a previous poster said, refer to your school's policy on dress code, not the hospital's. I am in my final semester of nursing and we are still required to wear all white top to bottom regardless of what facility we are doing clinicals at. And yes be sure to break your Danskos in before attempting to wear them for twelve hours straight. Just a couple hours each day to mold them to your foot.

1 Votes

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate all the input.

1 Votes

I have the dark brown Dansko's and like them a lot. But yeah I have turned my ankle in them a couple of times. Crocks are not the best looking shoe but when I worked in the prison and was on hard concrete floors for 17 hours straight--with my danskos I could barely stand up with such leg and back pain but with the Crocks I had minimal pain if any. I have had many nurses tell me too that when they work a 12 or a double that they bring a pair of shoes to change into and will wear like sneakers for 1/2 the shift and danskos or crocks or some other shoe for the other half. Many nurses who work long shifts swear by this change your shoes thing. I have worn good sneakers--leather of course with no holes, and am comfortable as well--usually what I wear.

1 Votes

Also, when you are trying them on, don't be surprised if you need to go up 2 sizes. It depends on your feet, but if you feel them cutting into the top of your feet, go up a size. If they are still cutting into them, go up another. Trust me.

1 Votes

I agree with the comments about checking with your school's policy - at my school we are not allowed to wear clogs - all white athletic shoes w/no holes - I was planning on wearing the dansko clogs as I wear them in my current job and love them.

1 Votes
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I've never seen or heard of a place that required white shoes (except nursing schools - as others have said, go by your school policy). Every place I've known allows you to wear whatever you want, as long as they're closed toe and less than 2" heels.

My hospital has a dress code (every type of staff wears different colored scrubs) and I think of my shoes and socks as the only way to be fun and express myself. I have three pairs of patent leather Danskos (they are WONDERFUL for cleaning off - I either Cavi wipe them or just use alcohol swabs). My current pair are the zebra print ones, and I get comments about my footwear pretty much every time I work.

1 Votes
Specializes in Correctional Nursing, Orthopediacs.

I love my danskos but plain brown leather that I have already are scuffed. They look pretty bad but are still comfortable. I guess buy the patent leather would be better.

1 Votes
+ Add a Comment