The comfiest shoes for an agency nurse

Nurses spend most of the time on their feet as a result of completing rounds, administering drugs to patients, or giving care. Because of this, their lower body endures a lot throughout the day and can lead to severe pain if left untreated. To help, we have compiled a list of the most comfortable shoes for agency nurses, as chosen by our Thornbury nursing community.

The implications of bad footwear on your body

Our mood and intention have great impact on the way we walk, for example, if a child has a tantrum, they stomp their feet, or if you’re trying to be sneaky, you walk at a much softer and slower pace. If you are rushing somewhere, you may feel pain in your shin muscles, AKA shin splints.

If your shoes are worn out and have a lack of cushioning, the pain will worsen with each step as there is nothing to soften the blow of your footstep. To put this in a healthcare situation, nurses can be found running around the ward to different patients and if they aren’t wearing the correct and comfortable shoes, they too will feel pain. The pain may then hinder their productivity at work as they are struggling to get from place to place in a timely manner.

According to research conducted by the Blue Light Card, nurses walk upwards of 25 miles per week at work, whereas the average person walks around 11 miles per week. Even if you are standing still with good posture or walking around the ward, wearing ill-fitting, uncomfortable shoes will impact your bones, muscles, muscle tissue and joints.

How to find the right shoe for you

Choosing the right shoe can be overwhelming as there’s so much to factor in. To make it easier for you, we’ve broken it down into the most important things to consider when choosing your nursing footwear.

The best nursing shoes are lightweight, support the back of your foot, are easy to slip on and off, protect your feet from liquids, offer great support for your arch, are easy to clean, cushioned and have good tread on the bottom to prevent slips.

A shoes cushioning becomes completely compressed after a constant six-hour wear, so we advise you to take two pairs of shoes to work with you. That way, you can switch them out during your shift and keep your feet comfortable.

The most practical & comfiest shoes for agency nurses

We asked our nursing community what shoes they would recommend for those long shifts.

The three most popular as voted for by our community for those marathon shifts were:

1. Skechers supportive design seems to be a winner for many nurses.
2. Crocs proved popular for providing comfort.
3. Toffeln clogs were another highly recommended option, ensuring stability even on the busiest days.

How much do they cost?

A good pair of durable shoes will mean you don’t have to repurchase them as frequently throughout your career. It is recommended that you purchase a new pair every 6 to 8 months – typically when a nurse’s shoe begins deteriorating.

Sadly, the requirements for a nurse’s shoe do come at a cost, but nothing to break the bank. After all, the shoes will become a part of you and will help to prevent pain. The recommended shoes in the above are priced between £40 to £180. If you want something more accessible and cheaper, Crocs are a firm favourite amongst healthcare workers and cost around £40.

Different pain alleviation methods

The best ways to tackle sore feet include soaking your feet in a warm salt bath, opting for compression socks, engaging in reflexology, and putting your feet up at the end of your shift. 

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