Which shoes to buy for clinical?

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Hi, all. I'm in my RN year and the clinical shoes I've been using all last year and so far this year are no longer working for me. They were expensive shoes - the Skechers ones that massage your feet. They look like they're in good condition, but my feet are KILLING me by the end of the day. I have wide width feet - ever since being pregnant - and even though the shoes are wide width shoes, the toe area gets more confining the longer the day goes on. I tried buying a shoe stretcher and stretching the width a bit, but it hasn't done much.

So, I've been looking at nursing shoes online. I really like the Dansko shoes, but they're a little pricey and I thought I'd get an opinion before I spent the money. Here are my questions:

1. Are they comfy - even after wearing them for a 12 hour shift?

2. Would I be better off buying the clog-style shoes (without a heel) or the regular shoes (with a heel)?

3. I would have to buy white for clinical (yuck) - would I be better off waiting until I finish school (in May 2012) and buying a different color then or are they such fantastic shoes that it would really benefit me to buy them now?

4. Is the toe area roomy?

5. How do they fit? True to size, a little large, a little small?

I've been trying to find a store in the area that carries them so I can try them on, but no luck. Thanks, everyone!

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I have a pair of Danskos and I LOVE them. I started with a pair of the Sketcher shape ups and they killed my ankles not to mention being off balance when transferring or walking pts is not a good idea.

I've heard that Danskos run small and some people say they run large, since they are a little pricey find a store that carries them and have them help you fit them. They are supposed to slip off your heel when you walk and if you're not used to this it can be a bit odd and take some getting used too. If you can't find a store Zappos.com has free returns so you could try ordering from them, I would go one size larger than you think but that's just me. (I returned a pair of Santrias - just didn't fit right, supposed to be like Danskos, had no problems)

Mine are a year old and look like they just came out of the box. I use either a damp cloth to clean them up or for a stubborn mark mr clean magic eraser works wonderfully.

Good Luck with the shoe hunt!

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I was anti-Dansko for a long time - I tried them on and they felt like concrete blocks! However I went to a uniform place and got specifically fitted - and they are great shoes...my feet still hurt at the end of my clinical day but the difference is when I take the shoes off and sit for a while they don't continue to hurt...Take the time to get well fitted for them...the $110 is worth it!

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I love Dansko's clogs! They should be a little loose in the back. I go to Pennsylvania, there is a Dansko outlet there and you can get the shoes for $60! But its hit or miss with styles/colors. I ended up buying a pair that are not clogs and while they're comfortable for a short time, my feet killed me by the end of the day. So make sure you get the clogs! And get fitted at a nursing store!

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Specializes in LDRP.
I love Dansko's clogs! They should be a little loose in the back. I go to Pennsylvania, there is a Dansko outlet there and you can get the shoes for $60! But its hit or miss with styles/colors. I ended up buying a pair that are not clogs and while they're comfortable for a short time, my feet killed me by the end of the day. So make sure you get the clogs! And get fitted at a nursing store!

where in pa is this outlet? i would love to get some danskos for $60 and i live in PA!

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where in pa is this outlet? i would love to get some danskos for $60 and i live in PA!

I was going to ask the same thing!! I checked the Crossings in the Poconos and they didn't have a Dansko outlet - Hershey perhaps or KoP?

where are you at Ashley?

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I've heard that Timberland? ones are really great...pricey but good!

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My shoes are also starting to KILL my feet by the end of the day. I also wanted to get danskos but decided it wasn't worth the money since I graduate in a few months and will no longer wear the white shoes my program requires. If you do get them I hope you enjoy them for the both of us! :)

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Moved to Nursing Shoes and Footwear forum.

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Thanks, everyone!

After MUCH research, here is what I have learned. Also - there is no store in my area (unless I want to drive 2 hours out of my way) that carry Danskos - the uniform shops claim they weren't selling well because of the price or something. So I have been forced to learn on my own.

A few years ago, Sanita used to make the footbed and the soles of the shoes and Dansko would make the uppers and sell them in the US under the Dansko name. Then, Dansko and Sanita split and since Sanita had the copyright to the footbeds and soles, Dansko had to modify the design a bit.

So, long story short, Sanitas are pretty much the same as Danskos, and if you have Danskos that are several years old and try on the new Danskos, they may feel different. If you can't tolerate the difference, you can find Sanitas online and they feel exactly like the old Danskos. Sizing is the same.

Also - there is a website called footprints.com and they allow you to WEAR THE SHOES for 2 WHOLE MONTHS and if you decide they still won't work for you, you can return them or exchange them! Not many stores offer that deal! Thought I'd share. Plus, they have a fantastic sale section - found some Sanitas in white (for clinical) for $20! And a pair of cute professional clogs for $50! And they're new, unlike ebay. So if you're unsure of sizing, this store is awesome as you can return the shoes even if they show signs of wear.

From my experience, Dansko runs small. I wear an 8.5 and even many of my size 8.5 shoes are big. So I went with a 39 (US size 8.5 - 9). The black patent ones are fine, I sprayed some shoe stretcher in them and stretched them a bit and now they're perfect. But the white ones (same style but in box leather instead of patent) are squished. I'm going to try to stretch them, but I don't know how that's going to go. So you'll probably need to buy a size (maybe 2) up.

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