Being a nurse is not only one of the most fulfilling careers one could have, but also one of the most challenging ones. Most part of a nurse’s day is spent standing up and moving around, hence owning a good, comfortable nursing shoe will surely reduce your stress levels. In this article, we will review the 10 best shoes for nurses that will help you have healthy feet and reduce chances of getting bunions, blisters, heel pains among other feet illnesses.
Before purchasing your next nursing shoe, there are a number of things you need to consider in order to make a good, informed decision.
Criteria for the best shoes for nurses
1. Good Arch support
Since you are on your feet for long hours, a lack of stability from your foot region can lead to abnormal loads on the tissues of the foot and heel. This could result to knee and back pain.
This can be avoided by choosing shoes with good arch support. This will provide even distribution of your body weight to all areas of the supporting foot. Read more here about the importance of good arch support.
2. Shock-absorbing shoes
A day in a nurse’s life involves moving around in concrete, hard floors for long hours. Doing this for a long period of time can lead to serious foot injuries. To avoid this, choose shoes that have shock absorbing technology which aid in support, stability and ensure maximum comfort.
3.Insole Cushioning
A shoe with good cushioning will help protect your joints and soft tissues from damage. Good cushioned shoes provide a substantial amount of padding under the foot. This helps reduce impact forces on the body’s joint and tissues thus providing support and comfort.
These three criteria, among others, are the recipe for finding the best shoes for nurses.
Here is our recomendation 10 best shoes for nurses
1. Dansko Women’s Pro Mule Shoe
When it comes to good nursing shoes, Dansko is definitely one of the top brands to consider, especially their Dansko Women’s Pro Mule which is guaranteed to give you maximum all day support.
The shoe is made out of leather, and features a slip resistant rubber outsole ideal to keep you firm on your feet. The Pro Mules also features remarkable arch support that provides great comfort and support for nurses on their feet all day.
Another special feature of the Dansko Pro Mule is the rocker bottom that offers shock absorption, that makes your steps easy. The wide toe box also help improve your overall comfort.
The pro Mules comes with different colors from light blue to shiny silver, so no matter your color taste, you’ll surely find one that you like. We at Nursinggears think that the Pro Mules are one of the best shoes for nurses. We recommend them fully.
2. Alegria Women’s Paloma Flat
It’s hard to make a list of the best shoes for nurses without mentioning the alegria Women’s Paloma Flat. These shoes have been around for a long time now, and are a favorite among a lot of nurses.
The shoe is made of 100% real leather, with a rubber sole that provides a firm support and non slip. One of the main features of the Alegria Paloma is the removable comfort insole with memory foam, that is efficiently designed to fit the natural contours of your feet.
This shoes also offer excellent arch support, and ease on the bottom of your feet ensuring that your back and feet don’t hurt even after your long shifts. We also recommend them for nurses who suffer from plantar fascitis.
The shoes are reasonably priced, with prices starting from around $60 and they also come in a variety of colors. And for those nurses who are looking for a comfortable yet cool and fun shoe, the Alegria Womens Paloma flat is definitely the shoe you’re looking for.
3. Sanita Women’s Professional Patent Clog
When it comes to the best shoes for nurses, Sanita ranks pretty high in the charts. This is because they make high quality and durable clogs that most people have fallen in love with. One of them is the Sanita Women’s professional clog, hence the reason we featured it as one of the best nursing shoes.
These clogs are one of the few nursing clogs that have been recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).
The upper part of the shoe is made of patent leather which gives the shoe a nice shiny and polished look, while the outsole is synthetic, making it slip resistant.
The footbed is designed to fit the shape of your foot, making these shoes one of the best for arch support.
Additionally, these clogs have a wide foot box which offers room for your toes to spread comfortably. This is essential for improving your toe alignment and increasing comfortability.
Some people have stated issues with sizes when it comes to Sanita Clogs, so be sure to double check that they are the right sizes before purchasing.
4. Timberland Pro Renova Slip On Clog
The Timberland Pro Renova is easily considered one of the best work shoes for nurses. This slip on is designed with a unique anti-fatigue technology designed to provide a one of a kind shock absorption. This is important if you are on your feet for long hours, as the shoe will give you leg support and comfort.
The shoe is also designed with a heel to rocker sole which means it will reduce foot pressure, and the wide toe box gives your feet ample space for movement, further reducing fatigue.
Additionally, the Renova Slip On are designed to absorb moisture and regulate temperature. They draw sweat from your feet, leaving you with nice dry feet. They will also eliminate bad odour thanks to the anti-microbial protection.
5. SoftWalk Women’s “Grey’s Anatomy” Meredith Clog
These shoes definitely live up to their name. They are designed to give nurses a soft walk due to their light weight feature.
The SoftWalk is made out of leather, making it durable, and the rubber sole makes it a great non-slip shoe. The shoes also come with extra cushioning that ensures you get maximum comfort on your long shifts.
Another great feature about the Meredith clog is the anti-microbial treated linings that helps in eliminating bacterial diseases and bad feet odor.
Some nurses have also indicated that these shoes are also good for those nurses with flat feet.
The SoftWalk Meredith Clog is also reasonably priced, compared to the Dansko’s although they don’t come in as much variety. All in all, we think these are good nursing shoes.
6. Nurse Mates Dove
The Nurse Mates Dove is arguably the most lightweight nursing shoe in the market. The upper part of the shoe is made of stain resistant leather that gives the shoe a nice finish and make them not only very easy to clean but also helps protect your feet in case of accidents.
This shoe also comes with removable rubber inserts that enhance stability and slip resistance. The heels, which are approximately 15”, are made up of steel shanks that provide arch support hence minimize fatigue and improves overall comfort.
Moreover, this shoes are great for nurses who suffer from bunions and other feet problems due to their soft and elastic leather feature.
The Nurse Mates Dove are surely one of the best shoes for nurses won their feet all day.
7. Reebok Women’s Work ‘N Cushion 2.0
Sometimes athletic shoes make the best shoes for nurses, and the Reebok Women’s Work n Cushion is among one of the athletic shoes that nurses worldwide love.
The shoe is made of leather, and comes with a slip resistant outsole that provides great traction and a beveled heel that softens your movement. This means there is less muscle strain hence less discomfort on your long shifts.
Reebok did a good job fitting a memory foam insole that is highly cushioned. The memory foam provides great arch support for average feet. If you suffer from high arch, you might consider buying custom inserts for your pair.
Price wise, this sneaker is pretty cheap compared to other nursing shoes, with prices ranging from $30. This makes it a great choice of nursing shoes for nurses on a budget.
8. Women’s Nurse Mates Pennie Slip on
If you love moccasin style type of shoes, then the Nurse Mates Pennie Slip On is certainly what you are looking for.
The upper part of the shoe is made up of a soft and flexible leather. This makes the shoe adapt easily to your feet. On top of that, is a stain resistant finish that makes these shoes very easy to clean and maintain.
The polyurethane outsoles are lightweight and shock-absorbing further increasing the shoe support and maximizing comfortability. These shoes have no laces, you just slip on and go. This is a very good feature for those nurses who are very busy during their shifts and don’t want to deal with the hassles of shoe laces.
These slip ons are also fairly priced, with prices starting from $55.
The shoe is only available in white, so for those nurses who have a rather strict white dress code, we’re betting these slip ons would top your outfit nicely.
9. Skechers for Work Women’s Slip Resistant Clog
Skechers are renowned for making very comfortable shoes, and the Skechers for work are no exception.
The upper part of the shoe is made of natural leather. The out-sole is made of slip resistant rubber, guaranteed to give you support on slippery floors.
The heel features a stabilizer. This is not only great for arch support, but also ensures you get a smoother and comfortable walk.
The insoles are cushioned and shock absorbent, making these shoes very comfortable. The insoles are also removable, which is great for nurses who would like to have their own customized insoles.
One thing to note before buying these shoes, is the sizes. Some claim that they run a bit big, so we recommend you choose a size smaller.
10. AnyWear Women’s Exact Health Care & Food Service Shoe
The AnyWear women’s are great shoes for new nurses and those nurses who don’t want to spend a fortune but still want a good nursing shoe.
The shoe is very lightweight, and is made of rubber like material that is easy to clean and offers flexibility for the feet. Because of this, these shoes are great for nurses with wide feet and plantar fasciitis.
The shoe features a cushioned heel, and soft insoles which gives you great comfort on those days you’ll be on your feet for long hours.
Although the shoes are advertised as slip resistant, some have claimed that they are not 100% non slip, so bear that in mind before buying.
Also, the low heel cup of the shoe can be disadvantageous to some.
All in all, majority of the nurses who have bought these shoes have been satisfied by how comfortable the shoes are.
These shoes also feature a variety of styles, from plain colors to patterns, so no matter your style, you’ll surely find one that you like.
In conclusion
Owning a comfortable nursing shoe is vital for a nurse since your job involves being on your feet all day.
Not only will good shoes give you comfort and stability, but also help in preventing and curbing common foot ailments.
If you are still not sure that the above mentioned shoes are for you, be sure to read our nursing shoe guide for tips on buying a good nursing shoe.
For those nurses who prefer sneakers to clog, be sure to check out our best sneakers for nurses review.
Your thoughts on the best shoes for nurses
Last but not least, let us know what is your favorite nursing shoes and why you think they are the best in the comment section below.