Of course, we wouldn’t overlook the many different styles of shoe nurses typically find to perform well on the job. Each is very different in their own respect and offer different features that make them unique and perform well, but it’s worth noting that personal preference will be a big part of choosing the specific type best for you. That’s why we’ve included all; to give everyone an option, whether you’re looking for men’s nursing shoes, nursing shoes for women, medical clogs, cushioned athletic shoes, slip on shoes, loafers, or mules, each holds a place in the preferences for professional medical personnel.

Ideal Nursing & Medical Shoes

Athletic Shoes –
Because athletic shoes are made for constant activity, and typically have cushioning and shock absorption features, along with ample support, some specific models do really well for nurses. A big advantage of sneakers over slip-on types of footwear is their ability to be tightened for a better, “less loose” fit, which is perfect for those scrubs, nurses and medical personnel who find themselves rushing back and forth constantly, where an easy slip-on would become an easy slip off.

Nursing Clogs –
Although can be considered a mule, or a slipper, clogs are specific in their own right. Their true definition is a wooden shoe with a heel and sole that is generally lower than similar footwear types, although modern or professional clogs aren’t made of wood. They provide adequate protection, great support, are extremely easy to wipe down or clean, and are super comfortable. Dansko is a favorite brand among clogs. They are starting to incorporate straps for a better fit and hold. Clogs are usually worn and made for women, but you can also find some great options for men.

Nursing Mules –
On the other hand, you have mules, which are very similar to clogs but have some significant differences. They are generally more classy in their looks, have a more pronounced heel, and less of a sole platform. You will typically see mules with straps, or buckles, but just like clogs, can be considered slippers and are also open the back. They are also comfortable and allow for easy cleaning. Just like clogs, mules are also made for and usually only worn by women nurses.

Slip-Ons –
A slip-on can include a number of footwear types, and in the world of medical shoes, it usually refers to clogs or mules mentioned above, and the loafers below. Not every slip-on is ideal, and this style is good for certain occasions. If you have issues with fitting or a smaller foot, you may want to go with an athletic shoe to ensure your foot does not slip from the footwear unexpectedly.

Loafers –
Loafers are less used by nurses but can be in some cases as they have a generally professional look, but the typical loafer is not durable or extremely fitting. Although, some are. Because loafer is a general term, and refers to a shoe that does not utilize laces, but rather has a slip-on design, there are some great medical shoes that fall into the category. It’s worth noting, another specification for loafers is a generally low or non-existent heel and are made for both men and women. Not every loafer is ideal.

All day comfort; you read it right! It’s been said, more than 30 percent of nurses in the United States suffer from either back or foot pain, due to their demanding, all day work, moving around on their feet. The fact is, inadequate shoes are a big part of this problem. This means the proper shoe will promote proper posture which enables correct spinal alignment, have adequate arch support (which we will cover individually) and provide a cushioned sole that offers shock absorption.

What most nurses don’t know is that the lack of comfort has a massive psychological impact on the execution of their tasks. To put it in simple words, you just can’t focus properly if your shoes don’t support your feet and keep them feeling great. It’s as easy as that. Shoes are not something you should be “dealing with” while on your shift – they’re supposed to enhance your performance.

It’s important to note that the comfort delivered by a shoe doesn’t only involve their usage during the shift, but after it as well. The main features that determine the comfortability of a shoe, such as its breathability, padding, soft materials, and absorption, will have an important effect on your feet after you’ve done wearing them. If a certain pair of shoes starts to create a condition that affects your ability to move normally or achieve your tasks, it will only get worse from there. It’s time to ditch them.

We recommend giving priority to this factor when searching for nursing shoes. You don’t want to replace any other important factor, you just want to make sure it features an acceptable level of comfort.

Cushioning is a massively-contributing factor to many of the other features present in the best nursing shoes. For instance, it plays a key role in comfort. Don’t get it wrong, though, cushioning is a critical aspect of actual performance and task execution. Remove the cushioning and you’ll find your feet feeling every foot strike and the inner workings of the shoes you are wearing.

Cushioning plays a contributing role in shock absorption as well. Although it’s not the element responsible for absorbing the most shock, it helps soften each impact. Cushioning is something you normally find around the whole inner shoe; the wall padding, the tongue padding, the collar padding, and the insole, to name a few, all work as cushioning agents. The more material that stands between your feet and the floor at the moment of impact, the less shock that will get to your body. Keep in mind that, no matter how cushioned, there is no pair of shoes to this date that is able to completely nullify shock upon impact. There will always be a residual amount of energy that will go up your foot, even when walking.

Elements that contribute to the cushioning of a shoe:

Lining: This is the element that covers the internal face of a shoe. It also places an additional layer of comfortable material between your foot and the sole. The quality of a lining is directly related to its softness and the comfort it delivers when in contact with feet, which at the same time is determined by the material it’s made of.

What most users don’t know, though, is that the lining also plays a role in the durability of a shoe. It acts as a supporting agent that holds the inner build together with the external build, contributing to the shape a shoe has and the amount of time it lasts in its natural position. Soft materials are preferable for the lining.

Padding: Padding and cushioning can be understood as the same thing. However, we’ll refer to padding as the cushioning of a specific element rather than the cushioning of the shoe as a whole. For instance, the padding of the tongue, collar, and ankle, makes a considerable contribution to the level of cushioning present in a shoe.

The padding of each individual element also contributes to the support that the shoe offers. Aside from increasing comfort and cushioning, the tongue, ankle, and collar optimize the fit around each of their respective areas.

Insole: The insole achieves a variety of purposes that we will explain thoroughly as an independent factor later in the guide. One of its many purposes is acting as a cushioning agent that relieves key areas of feet that are normally affected the most. A nursing shift can be really hard on the heels, for example.

Depending on how you feel with your shoes, you may opt for an insole that delivers greater heel cushioning, or rather more arch support. Ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) is arguably the most popular and widely used insole material.

In a job that comprises standing and walking for the most part of the shift, features like stability and support become very important. Before going any further, it’s important to note that the stability of a shoe goes hand-in-hand with the support it offers.

The support is basically what adapts your foot to the shape of the shoe. The purpose of this feature is to keep feet and shoes together as if they were just one element. As support increases, you’ll be able to have greater control and accuracy over your motions and coordinate your feet with the shoes. Think of support as the “force” that the shoe uses to compress against the foot to hold it to the shoe. As you can probably guess, support is something you don’t want to overdo either. As a nurse, you should be looking for a supportive shoe that allows you to move your feet in synchronization with the shoes. Some people think this is a default feature of all shoes, but in reality, the support varies according to the quality of the shoe. The best nursing shoes, for example, count with a decent degree of support. You can tell a shoe is supportive when you feel it somewhat pressed against your foot, and it follows your foot around perfectly. A non-supportive shoe, on the other hand, will make certain motions on its own that are not executed by your foot. The lack of support breaks the “synchronization” between a foot and a shoe.

Most footwear users are unfamiliar with one of the main purposes of shoe support, which is preventing unnatural stances and movements. The support holds the shoe and the foot together to enhance each motion as if they were one, but more importantly, it holds the foot in place to prevent it from overpronating or supinating (under-pronating). For those of you unfamiliar with the term, pronation is the inward motion executed by the foot as it rolls. This movement is an instinctive reflex that helps distribute the impact force of each gait, whether running or walking, in a much more optimal manner. Contrary to what most footwear users think, the foot is not meant to stay in a vertical position at all times.

Normally, the human foot pronates between 12 to 17 percent before reaching the surface it will impact. This way, it can support your body weight in a natural manner that reduces stress on the joints. This process is crucial for proper shock absorption and the distribution of impact energy. However, there’s a lot of variation in the degree to which the foot of each individual pronates when running and walking. Although the pronation process is completely natural, certain factors like the height and length of the foot’s arch can affect its ability to roll. This is where under-pronation and overpronation happen.

Here are the key types of support you should be looking for in your footwear:

The thing about hospitals and clinics is that they are to be kept pristinely clean at all times. Not only does this mean that you’ll find the floors being cleaned every couple of hours, but also that they’re often made with materials that allow the easiest possible clean-up. Often, these surfaces can become slippery (especially when wet), which makes moving around, particularly when you’re in a hurry, quite difficult.

That’s why nursing and medical staff always look for footwear that’s not only comfortable, but that also offers a good amount of traction so that they are kept safe during their time at work. While some opt for sneakers, others will choose to wear clogs or work models that all ensure a secure walking experience.

The key thing you should consider about the outsole of your next work shoes is that it’s made with the right materials. Rubber is usually a good option, but it’s not a bad idea to invest in a model that was made with slip-resistant rubber compound. Some manufacturers will even make their footwear oil, fat or grease resistant, which will give you a greater amount of slip protection.

Some hospitals may even require you to wear footwear that’s been tested for slip resistance, in which case you should invest in footwear that’s been certified to meet this criterion.