Shoe recommendations

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

I just accepted my first nursing job in Labor and Delivery. While my scrubs are provided, I obviously need to purchase shoes. I had a pair of hideous white nursing clogs in nursing school that I got rid of, and am getting ready to invest in the first pair that I am able to choose. Any advice on brands, styles or words of wisdom? While I am more a fan of the running shoe type style, am I asking for trouble in such a messy area? I know in my OR rotations all the nurses wore clog style, I assume because of spills and cleanliness. Should I adhere to this because I'll be assisting in C-sections as well? I just want to be comfy, and I don't want to waste money on a nice pair that are wrong for my unit!

I have Danskos and love them...pretty typical but have never steered me wrong!

Specializes in NICU.

I'm in NICU so am not exposed to quite the array/volume of fluids that you may be, but I wear Hoka running shoes and adore them. They look a little crazy at first, but they have a slight rocker sole and tons of cushioning, which make them a dream to wear! I have the Bondi 4, but they have lots of styles to choose from...would highly recommend!

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

Wear what's comfortable. For some (myself included) that's a Dansko clog. Many people hate them. Get something with a good insole.

Specializes in NICU, Postpartum.

It might be helpful to invest in both! Expensive, I know, but sometimes it's helpful in terms of leg pain/soreness management to toggle between shoes and clogs on a weekly/monthly basis. Also, compression stockings help a lot, which you probably already know :)

I worked ER and Acute care and absolutely swear by Dansko and Allegria shoes. I have several pair (collected over the years) of each brand and I switch them out. Now, as an assistant to a surgeon, I am in the office most of the time, but I still wear Allegria and Dansko shoes. Be sure to wear compression hose. They save your life. Another plus is a seat cushion for your car that is heated. I had a 30 minute drive home and after a 12-hour shift of back-breaking work, that heated cushion made me well by the time I got home. Welcome to your new career!

Thank you all SO much!! I've done some research, and I think I'm going to take one poster's advice and attempt to invest in both. I'll just keep the other pair in a basket in my locker. And by the way, a few of you mentioned compression socks? I'm such a huge lover of compression socks, and I purchased about 5 more pairs before posting :)! They are god's gift to nurses, and I love having them in tons of crazy colors. I'll also keep the suggestion in mind about the seat heat. I'm moving to the Midwest from Southern California for this job, so for my back and cold weather, it's a top notch idea. After reading a few replies, I started going more research about what is available as far as shoes, and bought a $80 athletic shoe favored by nurses on sale for $30, so that leaves some wiggle room in the budget for another pair of danskos or similar alternative shoe. I appreciate everyone's time and opinions. I loved reading every one! They were all very helpful.

A little more advice... you should have a locker , so get a backup pair to store in your locker. When I was a PCT working 12-13 hour shifts in charge of 20 patients by myself I never had a moment when I wasn't running and I have bad feet. I had Allegria shoes as well as Dansko and after 8 hours my feet felt so much better if I just exchanged shoes. Kinda weird but it was suggested to me by an officer who's wife was also a nurse with bad feet. Don't skimp on your shoes as a nurse your back and your feet are sacred, so invest well.

A little more advice... you should have a locker , so get a backup pair to store in your locker. When I was a PCT working 12-13 hour shifts in charge of 20 patients by myself I never had a moment when I wasn't running and I have bad feet. I had Allegria shoes as well as Dansko and after 8 hours my feet felt so much better if I just exchanged shoes. Kinda weird but it was suggested to me by an officer who's wife was also a nurse with bad feet. Don't skimp on your shoes as a nurse your back and your feet are sacred, so invest well.

Having spares on hand is also very nice if a patient's bodily fluids make their way onto your feet.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Critical Care.

I switch between Danskos and Brooks. I just find my legs don't hate me as much if I switch on and off between clogs and sneakers.

If you have the money, you can screw the rules and go for red bottoms.

Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

I can't really recommend a particular brand or style, but I can tell you that my newest and best shoes are always the ones I wear to work, because after about 6 months my feet start to be a bit more tired, a little bit sore, and I can just tell that the cushioning isn't as good. Then I buy a new work pair, and rotate the work pair to my running-errands/eating out/whatever pair (because they're still OK as long as you're not walking several hours non-stop on them every day).

I keep getting New Balance, not because they're my favorite per se but because they fit, are comfortable, and work.

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