Nursing Wearing Sandals To Work?????eeeeeeeekkkkk!!!

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 19, 2004

Well like ktwlpn said, it's really not YOUR problem. This person is taking a HUGE risk doing this, but not really affecting you or compromising YOUR safety in so doing. Now your EMPLOYER may feel differently, but that is up to them. My advice is to do what you know is safe and right, and let this person deal with the risks being taken.

Snowee · Oct 19, 2004

Gosh, I hate to think what my classmates are thinking about my footwear. I have never been able to wear anything BUT clogs. I have them custom-made because of a gait problem related to a congenital defect (hey, I was born crooked!). I know that every so often, someone "tattles" on my clogs. Already I've had to explain one zillion times why I don't have closed-heel shoes. I keep my clogs sparkling clean, I can't say the same about some of the once-white athletic shoes some people wear, with all kinds of nasty stuff in the stitching or "things" caught in those new "coil" shoes!!! But I don't go "tell" on these folks. I'm too busy trying to LEARN to be a GOOD NURSE.

veteranRN · Oct 19, 2004

I wear clogs in long term care. But you better believe when I get "runned over" by a wheelchair I will switch to my reeboks.

bellcollector · Oct 20, 2004

You said it snowee. I wear crocs higland style from crocs.com I love them I used to have horrible foot pain all the time(broke both my feet at the same time yrs ago). With my crocs my feet never hurt they get tired but do not hurt. We have cans of disinfectant at work and I just spritz and wipe my crocs couldn't do that with my rebocks. Also ran over the back of my ankle with my rebocks on hurts just the same. I run all the time and have never run out of my crocs highlanders either of course they do have that back ankle strap. JMO

the new girl · Oct 20, 2004

I wear sandals all the time where I work. I'm in a State Mental Hospital. My toes are covered and usually I have my heel covered also, but I always have an ankle strap of some kind. If I cannot run in them, I won't wear them. I agree I am still at some of a risk, be it small.... but I don't "wade through blood" like some of you tell tales of in the O.R. Where I work, we have patients that sometimes like to run, and we find ourselves outside in the summer months. I must add that we do not wear scrubs either. We wear what I fondly call "people clothes" meaning, I get to wear my capris, and my tank top and a short sleeve button down over it. Our patients need to feel as un-threatened as possible. By dressing this way, it is a more therapeutic environment for them. They know who we are, but the traditional white or green etc. puts us at an automatic distance, therefore putting up a wall. The more casual we dress (within reason) the more they will trust.

P.S. My feet are clean, and I don't stick them in anyone's personal space anyway.

Scuppernong · Oct 20, 2004

I have a problem with this one LPN I work with, she actually wears sandals to work!!!!! I cringe every time I see it. I work for the state of KY and at our facility they don't say anything to her they just say if something happens then it's on her not them. I was always taught you wear leather shoes and your foot was to be completely covered. Any one have any thoughts?

How do you know she does not have a problem with her feet and can not wear closed in shoes???? Maybe that is the only pair of shoes she has???? Don't judge untill you have all the facts. Shame, Shame.

mlolsonny · Oct 20, 2004

I'm in LTC and our dress code includes well-made, supportive sandals-- WITH socks according to health dept.

I do agree that it probably doesn't present a very professional picture of this particular nurse, but don't take on her "un-professionalism" (probably not a word) by letting this get between you and her. She has her reasons for wearing sandals, and if it just happens to be a bad attitude, it'll bite her in the @ss yet...

Ben Huddleston · Oct 20, 2004

I have a problem with this one LPN I work with, she actually wears sandals to work!!!!! I cringe every time I see it. I work for the state of KY and at our facility they don't say anything to her they just say if something happens then it's on her not them. I was always taught you wear leather shoes and your foot was to be completely covered. Any one have any thoughts?

OSHA might have a ban on employees wearing sandles to work. I would also think the Infection/Diease Department in your medical center would be interest making a statement regarding sandle wearing by employees.

I can not understand why management has not stopped this sandle wearing by the employee!

You should have Human Resources play a part on writing a protocol to the Dress Code of you Medical Center.

I would also contact the law department of you Medical Center and find out about the liability of the hospital in regards to allowing an employee to wear sandle while on duty. Just saying "if anything happens then it's on her" is not enough. Allowing the employee to wear the sandles, the hospital is accepting the responsibilty for the safety of that employee.

been there · Oct 20, 2004

I have a problem with this one LPN I work with, she actually wears sandals to work!!!!! I cringe every time I see it. I work for the state of KY and at our facility they don't say anything to her they just say if something happens then it's on her not them. I was always taught you wear leather shoes and your foot was to be completely covered. Any one have any thoughts?

You are right in choosing to wear appropriate shoes. Sandals, as well as sweat shirts, as part of a nursing uniform do not project a Nurse image. If you were to drop a clipboard, on its edge, on your foot and your bones break the facility will pay for your MD visit IF you are wearing proper shoes. This happened to me. If this LPN with sandals is injured, which is very likely to happen from wheelchairs, edges of doors, dropped items, etc. the facility will "forget" she exists when her MD bill arrives. Notify your RN Supervisor of your concerns, let her follow through and go on about your business protecting your own feet!!! :)

purplemania, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2004

does your facility have a dress code? Do you have a risk management or employee health person? Surely, the director of one of these depts. could effect a change!

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 20, 2004

How do you know she does not have a problem with her feet and can not wear closed in shoes???? Maybe that is the only pair of shoes she has???? Don't judge untill you have all the facts. Shame, Shame.

Where exactly was the OP judging anyone in what she stated???

PennyLane, RN · Oct 20, 2004

I've seen many a female doc teetering around in high-heel sandals. How do they get away with it? And why would you want to wear open-toed shoes in a hospital is beyond me. Granted, the docs on the floor aren't as involved in pt care as nurses are, but still.

The ER docs I've seen all wear sensible shoes, thank goodness.