Shoes for Clinicals

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I start nursing school in a little over a week. I have everything but my shoes. I cannot afford to buy expensive "nursing" shoes right now. I've been looking at athletic shoes. How much mesh is too much? So far, the most minimal of mesh I have found is confined to the tongue of the shoe. My school's guidelines are just "White, professional shoes, made of leather or similar material, with enclosed heel and toe (no clogs, slides, or crocs). Athletic shoes are acceptable if they meet the above criteria." Thanks in advance for your help!

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It largely depends on the school and on the place where you will be doing your clinical placements. In my experience what they mean by "closed toe and heel" is that if you get water (or an unknown body fluid) splashed on your feet from above or from a puddle, that the shoes must not allow any of the fluid to reach your foot.

I know that some places couldn't care less what you wore on your feet, but I have also been in a hospital where they would fine anybody, including students, if they violated the rules. There still were some nurses who did, but when they heard that an inspector was coming around they would run off to the locker-room to put something better on.

I was lucky enough to find some second-hand shoes that fit me and the requirements of my school, but am now looking for some better ones.

Good luck with nursing, all the best.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

One idea for cheap schools that meet dress code standards is to buy white leather/pleather tennis shoes from Walmart or Payless. You know the type that older people tend to wear? [emoji6]

I just googled Walmart white tennis shoes and saw kswiss, reebok and Skechers for $30-40.

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