I'm not a nurse yet, but I'm no stranger to being on my feet. I too am flat footed, no arch. I cant NOT wear arch supports of any kind. They only give me more pain in different places. What I do recommend is a shoe with a heel or heel inserts. I don't mean high heeled stilettos, just something that heel area is elevated a half inch to an inch. You will not believe how much strain this will remove from your knees, achilles and lower back. I've seen heel wedges (inserts) that were super soft and cheap too.