When clinicians are on their feet 8, 10, or even 12+ hours in a day, having the right shoes isn’t a luxury; good shoes are an essential piece of clinical equipment that can be crucial in preventing fatigue, back pain, and long-term orthopedic issues. In fact, with studies finding that nurses walk over 5 miles in a shift, it becomes apparent why healthcare providers need to invest in high-quality shoes to protect their long-term physical health. Yet, with countless options available to choose from, you’re not alone if you are unsure where to start your search for the perfect shoe for clinical work.
This is where it can be helpful to turn to the experts: your fellow clinicians. By consulting other healthcare providers, you’ll receive peer-vetted advice on what truly works in the demanding, real-world clinical setting, and this is where Sermo can help.
Through Sermo’s communities of experienced doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other clinical healthcare providers, we’ve gathered data on what healthcare workers should look for in shoes and the best shoe brands to help you make it through long shifts on your feet. This article will explore the best shoes for healthcare workers that strike the perfect balance between comfort, durability, and support.
What matters most when choosing work shoes?
Choosing the right shoes can significantly enhance your work performance by helping address the unique needs of healthcare workers. For instance, features like proper arch support are essential to reduce fatigue during long hours on the hospital floor, while slip-resistance is essential to prevent accidents in a setting where spills are common. As one GP on Sermo pointed out:
“The most important factors when choosing work shoes are safety, comfort, and fit, which depend heavily on your specific work environment and job demands. Safety features like protective toes or slip-resistant soles are critical for hazardous jobs, while a comfortable fit with proper support is essential for everyone to maintain focus and avoid injury.”
To help guide you as you try to find the perfect work shoes for a clinical setting, here’s a look at some of the most important features to consider:
All-Day comfort and cushioning
When you spend all day on your feet, the last thing you need is to have shoes that leave you in pain by the end of a 12-hour shift, making comfort essential when choosing work shoes. In fact, when asked about how they choose work shoes, a majority of physicians (29%), pharmacists (34%), and nurses (21%) on Sermo all claimed that comfort and cushioning were their biggest priority when choosing work shoes. This is unsurprising considering that shoes with plenty of cushioning and shock absorption can help reduce joint pain.
Arch support and joint alignment
When choosing work shoes, it’s also critical that you select the right amount of arch support for your feet, as proper arch support can help ensure proper joint alignment and reduced stress on your feet, ankles, and lower back when spending long hours on your feet. In fact, healthcare providers surveyed by Sermo listed arch support as being the second most important thing they look for in work shoes. However, people with particularly high arches may need to invest in shoe inserts in order to ensure they have the proper arch support to protect their joints.
Slip resistance and stability
According to the Sermo Poll, one of the most important features for physicians and nurses to look for in work shoes is slip resistance, as this is essential to ensure safety when working at fast paces in spaces where spills are common. Shoes with slip-resistant outsoles can help offer traction and grip so that you can move freely without fear of slipping.
Breathability and temperature control
Being constantly on the go in clinical settings means that your feet can get hot and sweaty, which can increase your risk of getting blisters or developing a fungal infection. It’s then critical to look for shoes that have ventilation (such as mesh sides) to help keep your feet cool and dry throughout the day.
Long-term durability
Another priority for healthcare providers surveyed by Sermo was shoes that offer long-term durability. While comfort is key, you also don’t want to have to try to find new shoes every couple of weeks. You want to ensure that the shoes you choose can hold up to long hours on the hospital floor, so investing in high-quality footwear is essential. While this may mean spending more money upfront, high-quality shoes will last longer, which can save you money over time.
Easy to clean and disinfect
Hygiene is paramount in healthcare settings, and with spills also an all-too common occurrence, it’s essential that you opt for materials that are fluid-resistant and easy to clean. For instance, rubber-based shoes are easy to wipe down and resist staining. Shoes that can be easily wiped clean or sanitized are essential to reduce cross-contamination and maintain high standards of cleanliness. This is why plastic clogs are so popular amongst HCPs, as they are easy to sanitize. As one OB/GYN on Sermo recounted, “as a gynecologist and obstetrician, I deal with a lot of fluids, so I always wear plastic clogs.”
Ultimately, finding the right shoes takes time, and the conditions you work in, as well as the nature of your work, will heavily influence the features you look for in work shoes. As a rheumatologist on Sermo pointed out: “Comfort overall is what everyone is looking for. Specifics in terms of aspects of the shoe to provide comfort is individualized.”
To find the right fit for you, consider what features are most important to you, and then try on a few different styles and brands to see what best meets your needs.
5 best shoe styles as recommended by healthcare professionals on Sermo
While doctors once struggled to find shoes that offered the perfect balance of comfort and support for long hospital shifts, many brands now offer specific styles that meet the needs of healthcare providers. While several shoe types stand out for their style and support, some of the most common types of shoes chosen by healthcare providers on Sermo include:
Running or athletic shoes
A go-to option for many professionals who spend most of their day on their feet, running/athletic shoes are a popular choice amongst healthcare providers, being the #1 choice of 35% of physicians, 36% of pharmacists, and 55% of nurses surveyed on Sermo. High-quality athletic shoes from brands like Hoka, Brooks, and ASICS are popular because they provide the superior support, cushioning, and fatigue reduction needed for long days on the go. Furthermore, many athletic shoes have mesh uppers, ensuring breathability to keep your feet cool and dry. An internal medicine physician on Sermo shared that:
“While shoes are definitely not a one-size-fits-all situation, I have worn Brooks running shoes in the hospital for many years, and recently have seen many healthcare workers doing the same.”
Traditional or plastic clogs
While clogs may not be the first thing that comes to mind when choosing work shoes, they’ve grown increasingly popular amongst healthcare providers. In fact, when asked by Sermo what style of work shoes they recommend, 17% of physicians, 17% of pharmacists, and 27% of nurses said clogs. This is because clogs, with their seamless, plastic design, provide comfort, easy cleaning, and slip resistance. One psychiatrist on Sermo who was asked about their preferred style of shoe went as far as to say:
“Crocs. I am an absolute sucker for those babies. They’ve kept me on my feet better than most commonly recommended work shoes. It does feel like you’re on air when you [wear] them… Clogs would definitely fit much better if you work in an environment with a lot of fluids.”
Sneakers designed for healthcare professionals
If you’re looking for the perfect shoes to provide comfort and support during a long hospital shift, you may want to consider sneakers specifically designed for healthcare professionals. Popular shoe brands are increasingly making shoes specifically targeted at healthcare workers, such as New Balance’s partnership with FIGS. These shoes are designed with the needs of healthcare providers in mind and offer the enhanced comfort and slip resistance needed to keep you moving throughout the day.
Casual sneakers or slip-ons
For healthcare providers working in fast-paced settings, slip-on shoes have become increasingly popular as they feature elastic panels for easy on and off, which can save you valuable time during busy shifts on the hospital floor. Slip-on shoes are also lightweight while still providing enhanced cushioning, making them an excellent choice for doctors on the go who don’t want to sacrifice comfort.
Orthopedic or podiatrist-recommended shoes
If long-term foot and joint health is one of your primary concerns when choosing shoes, then you should look for a shoe that has the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance, such as the HOKA Bondi 9. The APMA Seal of Acceptance is awarded to shoes that have been deemed by podiatrists to promote foot health, making them ideal for healthcare workers.
Best shoe brands recommended by HCPs
Once you have a better idea of the type of shoes you’re looking for, it’s time to start exploring which shoe brands may best meet your needs. While the shoe that will work best for you will depend on your personal preferences as well as your comfort and support needs, certain brands stand out as being preferred amongst healthcare providers. To help you narrow down your options, here’s a look at the top shoe brands for healthcare workers as recommended by Sermo community members.
Skechers
- Voted a top choice by: Physicians and Pharmacists
A go-to option of healthcare workers for decades, Skechers is a popular brand that provides a good balance between quality and cost, with their shoes starting at under $100. Furthermore, they even make shoes specifically designed to meet the needs of healthcare workers who spend all day on their feet. These shoes come with enhanced features such as air-cooled memory foam that help ensure comfort and support during long shifts. When discussing their preferred work shoe brands, one internal medicine physician on Sermo shared:
“I have tried multiple brands of shoes during my work day, on shifts of 24 hours or more, and the ones I have considered best for this, due to their quality and price ratio, are the Skechers.”
Skechers were also the shoe of choice for a psychiatrist on Sermo, who said that:
“For me comfort matters the most. For long hours like on calls, shoes with soles offering all day cushioning, arch and heel support are the best one. I found these features in Sketchers go walk 5 or 6. These shoes were also very breathable. I have hyperhidrosis and always struggle with shoe choice, but Skechers were very best fit for me.”
Nike
- Voted a top choice by: Physicians and Pharmacists
As one of the most trusted brands in footwear, it should come as no surprise that Nike is a popular choice amongst healthcare workers. In particular, their VaporMax series is a popular choice amongst doctors on the go due to their air-cushioned soles and breathable uppers that provide the comfort, support, and breathability to get you through a long shift. Of course, the primary downside to these shoes is their cost, as the VaporMax line starts at $165 a pair.
HOKA
- Voted a top choice by: Physicians, Pharmacists, and Nurses
HOKA has quickly become a top choice amongst healthcare providers looking for comfort and joint support when spending 12 hours or more on their feet. This is because of their superior support and plush, springy cushioning, which help keep healthcare professionals comfortable while reducing the impact hard hospital floors can have on their joints. In fact, many HOKA shoes have the APMA Seal of Acceptance, which means you can also trust them to support your long-term foot health.
New Balance
- Voted a top choice by: Nurses
New Balance has teamed up with FIGS to release a line of shoes specifically engineered to meet the needs of healthcare workers. Not only are these shoes comfortable, offering the cushion and support clinicians need for all-day comfort, but they also come in various styles and colors, making them perfect for healthcare providers wanting a more modern look. These shoes offer a great balance of style, comfort, and affordability, averaging around $130 a pair.
Dansko
- Voted a top choice by: Physicians and Nurses
A long-time favorite of healthcare professionals, Dansko healthcare shoes are favored by many healthcare professionals because they offer a wide range of styles that provide lasting comfort to get you through a long shift, with one GP on Sermo naming Dansko “a reliable choice”. In particular, their nursing clogs are a favorite due to their arch support, durability, ease of cleaning, and shock absorption.
Crocs
- Voted a top choice by: Physicians
Of course, perhaps no brand is more synonymous with clogs than Crocs, which are particularly popular with healthcare providers due to their comfort, breathability, and how easily they can be sanitized. In particular, Crocs’ at Work collection offers the support and slip-resistance healthcare workers need, at an affordable price starting around $40. When asked about their preferred work shoes, one pharmacist on Sermo said:
“Crocs Salene Bembury 11 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week, and I have never had a better pair. The absolute only shoes for a retail pharmacist. Ugly shoes, but literally the only shoes that I will ever wear at work again. ”
Brooks
- Voted a top choice by: Physicians, Doctors, and Nurses
Another go-to brand prized by healthcare providers is Brooks, whose lightweight design, soft foam sole, and breathable mesh upper ensure your feet, ankles, and back stay comfortable throughout a long day on the hospital floor. When discussing shoes for healthcare providers, one family medicine doctor shared, “I have gone through a ton of shoes working many 12-hour shifts. Brooks have, by far, been the best that I have used. I owned 6 different pairs of them now.”
Key Takeaways
As a healthcare provider, finding the right shoe is a must in order to ensure your comfort during long shifts; however, determining what the right shoe for you is will ultimately come down to your personal preferences and needs. Regardless of the style or brand you choose, it’s essential that you prioritize finding a pair of shoes that provides sufficient orthopedic support, as this is crucial to ensure career longevity by preventing musculoskeletal injury that could impact your ability to work on your feet in the future. Function should then be a bigger priority than fashion, as the right shoe for you should provide arch support, cushioning, and breathability to ensure all-day comfort. The shoes you choose should also offer fluid resistance to ensure cleanliness and slip resistance to ensure your safety on the hospital floor.
If you’re unsure what work shoes will best meet your needs as a healthcare provider, consider turning to the Sermo community. Sermo provides a crucial environment for physicians and other HCPs to share unfiltered, specialty-specific (e.g., surgical vs. floor shoes) reviews, compare real-world experiences, and debate the true cost-effectiveness of top-tier professional footwear. Sermo provides a place where doctors and healthcare providers can not only share serious clinical matters, but also a space where they can connect with others in their field to share their thoughts on the unique challenges of daily life as a healthcare professional.
