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

[mismissy69]

why does it seem that healthcare is more concerned with petty issues than the ones that really count? I am so sick of all the petty BS. How about this if I wear some shoes that arent comfortable to me and my feet swell and I can barely stand Im not coming to work, theres gonna be alot of sick time used and Dr;s notes presented. Maybe you should argue that point. there are so many other major things that people do that spread infection that should be focused on besides the shoes that people wear. Maybe we should dress in metal and go through a sterilization machine and stand in a below zero temperature room to keep down micro organisms before we enter pt's room yeah that a good idea lets keep the nurses in a freezer so we can cut down on infection, thats gonna be next. Get ready guys lol

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

This thread has inspired me to order a new pair; Mary Jane style; they are so cute; I saw them on my cousin. Hope to have them next week.

[Kiwimid]

i am a student midwife and we have been told no crocs but my leather mary janes are fine. Which i dont understand because crocs come up further than my other shoes??? What the........?:trout:

[lindarn54455]

I sure hope not!! I Love My Crocs!! They are so comfortable and easily sanitized D/T materials that they are made of. They originally was a helath care shoe in surgery I thought.

[nursecave]

Our hospital (750+ beds), just banned CROCS at the first of the month. They say that there is significant evidence that show they are a fall risk. The ban is on all styles of Crocs, not just the ones with holes. The infection control (non)issue is not the rationale behind the ban. The supposed fall issue is the reason they give. I think it is because we had a nurse who fell on the job (wearing CROCS), and now her bills are approaching $100,000 between her surgery to repair her broken femur, her hospital stay and her rehab. They say that things like this have happened around the country, and that they are a safety concern. I am saddened by the decision despite their evidence because they are the only comfortable shoes I have found! I have worn them for over a year and never fell, or thought I was going to. I have had to run to rooms or stop quickly and everything and between, and I just don't see the fall risk that they claim is there. They have told us they will coach and counsel us the first time we are seen in them, and then write us up the next time. The next time after that would result in termination. So, hello achy feet, I can't afford to lose my job!

[JaxiaKiley]

We aren't allowed to wear any open toed or open heeled shoes, not just Crocs.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

They may have my Crocs when they pry them from my cold, dead feet...................

[JRapha'sRN]

I was talking to our Infection Control person this week and she said that holes in the top are not ok, but the professional model is ok. She stated that the reasoning behind this is IF you were to drop a dirty needle and IF it were to act like a dart and go through your shoe then the closed top shoe (even thin nylon) will act as another layer of protection for your skin--and in theory, wipe off some of the bad stuff as the needle penetrated the shoe then your sock... That was the reasoning behind our hospital's policy.

Crocs just came out with some really cute summer styles! I was going to get some Mary Janes, but now I'm undecided as there are 3 styles I want! (for outside of work)

[first_lobster, RN]

I can totally see a ban on shoes with holes in them. I was recently attempting to empty a foley on my patient who was wide awake and due to be extubated soon, when low and behold i looked up in time to see her reaching for her et tube. I jumped up with a flourish, grabbed her hand, and, ..... poured pee all over my foot, front and back. Lucky for me, I wear Birkinstocks, with the enclosed front, and a higher back lip, so all of it stayed out of my shoe. I simply took them off, pulled out my dry foot bed, and shoved the remainder under scalding hot water, with hibicleanse. So w ban on holey shoes is ok with me. Now, non-holed comfy shoes, that's a different story. Unless they want to buy them , get over it.

[judyblueeyes]

I had to throw out a fairly new pair of Nike's because a pt leaked stool on them during a transfer assist. I washed and bleached the shoes, but the one still had a stool stain that I just couldn't bear to wear.

No Croc's with holes at my place!

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I just fill my holes with jibbitz anyways...

[CRNI-ICU20]

If Crocs are causing medical people to fall and break their legs, wouldn't you think there would be a massive RECALL???

I don't believe the story that "its happening all over the country...."

An OTJ injury is covered under workman's compensation....the hospital does not bear the brunt of the injury....that is paid into via workman's comp insurance.....collective bargaining units, etc....

This is just BS...

I will do a google search and see if there's hundreds of Croc's injuries out there....be back later...:)