The operating room is a controlled environment, where a limited and highly specialized number of people stay for long hours on end to save a life. The slightest discomfort can lead to fatigue that can make or break the entire operation. That is why something as often considered simple as choosing the best shoes for operating room nurses is truly essential.
Here, we have provided a quick rundown of the most important factors to keep in mind when choosing the right operating room shoes for you as nurses. We have also prepared a shortlist of the best shoes there are in the market right now.
So, dive in, and we might be able to help you hone in on that shoe you've always been looking for.
Things to Keep in Mind
As operating room nurses, your role in the theater will be taxing. You will be on your feet the entire time, prepared to assist the surgeon in their work while also monitoring the patient's status. For this, it is vital to stay comfortable by slipping on the best shoes.
Although the market is heavily inundated with various styles and brands, here are some aspects in shoes for the operating room you should always be on the lookout for.
Size
Begin with finding the right shoe size. Some brands tend to be smaller or larger than the actual size, while the rest remain true to size. So always ask to be fitted when going out and choosing shoes for operating room nurses.
Always ensure that you are getting the appropriate size for your feet, greatly contributing to your comfort. Get rid of the idea of buying smaller sizes to break in. Tight shoes cause bunions, blisters and darken the toenails.
Alternatively, some nurses and surgeons prefer to wear shoes slightly larger than their usual size to get a little more room to move in.
For easy reference, go back to your favorite shoe and check out how it fits and feels. This will serve as the perfect gauge when choosing between sizes.
Breathability
Most running shoes offer breathable options. They are built with a breathable mesh lining that helps keep your feet ventilated at all times. Leather also tends to allow the feet to breathe.
Aside from breathability, some textiles also have moisture-wicking capabilities that remove the sweat from your feet to distribute and disperse it away, instead of allowing the sweat to accumulate.
It is a feature that active nurses will definitely need.
Sweaty feet are those that are unable to breathe. They will not only lead to physical accidents in the workplace, but they can also lead to infections on your feet. It will also emit an inevitable stench that can cause discomfort to everyone around you, especially when placed within a controlled environment like the operating theater.
Comfort
Comfort comes in cushions. When the entire team is huddled on a single patient, standing for the entire duration, the feet are the most battered. Look for a pair of shoes for nurses that will not lose out when it comes to providing you a comfortable feeling, regardless of motion or lack thereof.
Search for shoes specifically designed to offer comfort through their soles and uppers because these are where your feet will find support for it. Orthotic shoes can also offer comfort and support, though they may come a little bit pricier than usual.
Durability
Nurses are aware that no shoe can last a long time without eventually deteriorating from constant use, especially when regularly used for long hours.
Check the kind and quality of the materials used to build your shoe. See if the shoes are sturdy enough to last a long time. Reinforced stitching also helps in keeping the shoe intact. Scrutinize these factors when inspecting nursing shoes.
Stitched vs Glued Soles
A sewed sole is an indication of a great shoe. Then again, a glued sole costs less. However, it will deteriorate much faster over the long haul, even if it is a synthetic sole.
Hand-sewing the soles together guarantees that each sole is safely joined appropriately, giving it more sturdiness than those mass-created with glued soles.
Slip-Resistant
A wet operating room floor with various liquid spills is a definite recipe for disaster for nurses. Seek out shoes with an outsole made with slip resistance to avoid mishaps as much as possible.
Check for outsoles with a solid grip to keep you vertical no matter the floor's condition.
Foot Type and Support
Much like knowing about your foot size, it is likewise important for nurses to know about your foot type and the sort of curve you have. There those with a bigger foot width; others have a smaller width. When left unidentified and unaddressed, these things will eventually influence your gait, balance, and stability.
Identify your foot type, and you will identify the appropriate support you need in your work shoes.
Convenient Style
The way a work shoe is designed will also help ease the load off your day. A convenient slip-on that clings to your feet and still manages to offer several features will do you good. There are also sandals if the workplace allows them. Running shoes aren't only made for the outdoors; they are good for nurses to use in the hospital.
Choose between several designs, and maybe even keep each kind of shoe to cycle through. Find one that best works for you.
The 8 Best Operating Room Shoes
1. Dansko Women's Professional Clog
The Dansko Women's Professional Mule is made of 100% leather and combined with a polyurethane sole. It is a widely known and loved brand, with top-notch quality appreciated by nurses and surgeons alike.
The Dansko Professional shoe is well known for its comfort. Even with prolonged standing, you will never have an uncomfortable and painful experience.
A reason behind its high comfort is the wide and amply padded toe box. This toe box is also appropriately inforced to raise its level of protection. Likewise, it has an outsole constructed from polyurethane. The outsole includes a rocker bottom, which is good for your feet because of its shock-absorption properties while helping you ease your heel-to-toe transitions and lighten your gait.
This slip-on shoe also has a wide heel strike that helps you keep your stability.
Another reason this pair of shoes all the love is because of its adequate arch support and cushioning. This can be ascribed to its memory foam footbed. However, it might take some time and effort for you to break in this Dansko footwear completely. It is a luxury that nurses may not have the time to give.
2. Merrell Men's Encore Bypass Slip-On Shoe
The Merrell Men's Encore is a pair of slip-on shoes loved by operating room nurses and other professionals for their comfort.
The upper is made from a combination of breathable mesh and full-grain leather. It also has anti-microbial properties that eliminate odor and keeps your feet fresh all the time. Meanwhile, the footbed is made from a compression-molded EVA midsole that contours to your feet and give you support and comfort.
This work shoe also boasts a padded collar that gives your feet an easy and convenient fit, no matter the long hours you plan to wear it. The heels are air-cushioned and have shock absorption to take the pressure off your feet with every step and keep them centered and stable at all times.
3. Skechers for Work
The Skechers for Work Balder Slip-resistant Clog is a pair of shoes that many nurses and surgeons recommend.
It is a pair of shoes designed to be easy and comfortable on the feet to help you endure long hours on your feet.
This shoe is 100% synthetic, with a lightweight and flexible EVA upper, making it a sturdy pair of shoes for the operating room. It has a rubber outsole and a removable footbed for a more customizable sense of support and comfort.
Because it is a slip-on shoe, it is easy to wear. But it still maintains a secure and stable footing thanks to its OSHA-compliant rubber outsole with slip resistance. The shoe also has breathable properties through its ventilation ports on the side.
4. KEEN Utility Men's PTC Slip-On
If the latter is 100% synthetic, the Keen Utility Men's PTC Slip-on is 100% leather. It is a definite standout when it comes to durability and sturdiness.
The leather upper is made of their patented Keen Toe Protection, where the outsoles wrap over the toes and serve as strong protection to the feet. It is also water-resistant and comes with a slip-resistant outsole for added protection you will need in the operating room.
These slip-ons also feature a comfortable footbed through its unique combination of recycled polyurethane, cork, and memory foam that contours to your feet for a specific fit that cradles the feet all day.
This shoe comes in black and white color choices only.
5. Alegria Women's Classic Clog
Another well-known brand for nursing shoes with comfort and support is the Alegria Women's Classic Clog. With its timeless design, each pair of shoes is handstitched with utmost care.
It has a rounded toe box to give your toes protection and some wiggle room. The leather upper is stain-resistant and easy to clean with a simple wipe.
You will come to love the removable memory foam footbed that you can adjust to your liking and needs, the arch support to help keep your feet comfortable throughout the day, and the stability that comes from the well-designed Mild Rocker outsole that helps propel your step forward every time.
This pair of shoes is a great option to wear in the operating room because it has a slip-resistant outsole. Nurses will appreciate that it is also non-marking, which means it does not leave any prints and marks whenever you tread on a surface.
6. Birkenstock Professional Unisex Profi Birki
Birkenstock has been in the industry since 1774. They offer a great line of shoes known for support and comfort, appreciated by nurses and surgeons.
Their shoes feature a combination of polyurethane, cork, and leather materials. The footbed is made from a patented memory foam called Alpro-foam that eventually molds into the shape of your feet and evenly distributes your entire weight into a comfortable and stable position.
It has a slip-resistant rubber sole, making your shoe free from accidents brought by messy liquids on the operating room floor. The Profi Birki is also water-resistant, so it doesn't matter how many liquids are spilled. It will not soak into the interior of your shoes.
The Birkenstock Profi Birkis are made to be worn by both men and women with their sleek and professional work shoe look.
7. HOKA Men's Bondi 7 Mesh Trainers
To cap up this list, we also have the Hoka One One Men's Bondi 7. It is a running shoe with the most padded cushion in the brand that nurses may like. The midsole is made of EVA memory foam that's soft enough to maintain stability even when running.
It is a pair of shoes that has a breathable mesh upper that is also water-resistant. So sweat and liquids stay out of your feet. This running shoe can also hold its own on slippery floors with its strong traction.
It also has a wide toe box that allows your toes to splay and stretch.
Aside from a cushioned footbed, this shoe has got a padded collar that conforms to the shape of your ankles and protects the Achilles heel from any foot pain prone to nurses and surgeons on shift at the operating room.
Lastly, your every step is supported through its signature Meta-Rocker bottom that lessens the required energy to take a step from the heel onwards to the toes.
8. OOFOS Unisex OOCloog
The name may sound whimsical, but the brand focuses on recovery footwear.
Relatively new to the market, OOfos is made with the idea of being "in-between" shoes after an intense workout or activity. These are the pairs you wear on cooldown.
That said, the OOCloog line of shoes is made for working professionals. They are meant to be work shoes that render the same idea of comfort and recovery that the brand advocates. The company promises an estimated 37% more absorbed impact with their patented OOfoam Recovery Technology.
Nurses who find themselves upright and standing, or constantly in motion, during long shifts will find themselves on mattresses instead.
Maintenance on each OOcloog is easy as they are surprisingly machine safe. Throw them in the washer, and you're good to go.
Final Tips
Buy Immediately
Many people tend to disregard or even remain unaware of the perils of standing upright for long shifts.
Your feet become battered, carrying all your weight, without movement or respite. It will eventually take a toll on you, leaving you swollen and sore. And yet, you come back and report to duty in a couple of days without having recovered properly.
The foot pain leads to plantar fasciitis; it even affects your back and your posture, as well as your ankles and knees.
It is necessary to buy yourself the support and protection it needs during your stay at the operating room. Buy yourself the appropriate and the best operating room shoes at once.
Choose Properly
If you still find it a little difficult to narrow down your choices from several key points to consider, then focus on these three things:
Support
Assess how comfortable, stable and helpful the best OR shoes are going to be. Think about how many hours you will spend in the operating room and check if the shoes will hold out.
Look out for roomy toe boxes, breathable uppers, padded collars, and adjustable cushioned footbeds. Memory foam really helps in securing and position your feet where they out to be to remain comfortable.
Heel height and arch support are also important things to check in shoes.
Design
Think about how the shoes are appropriate to your job as a nurse in the operating room.
The best operating room shoes for nurses will not only address simple concerns like fit and size, but they will also be able to bring to you several essential features that you might not have thought were needed.
For example, the best shoes will have slip resistance, water resistance, and shock absorption. It will have a strong grip and traction, assist and propel you forward with every step, all while being stain-resistant and easy to clean.
It is not important whether it is a running shoe or an easy-to-wear slip-on. What is important is if it serves its purpose to give you a pain-free shift heretofore.
Aftercare
Evaluate also how much aftercare your shoes will need.
High-quality shoes should not equate to high maintenance. Rather, the shoes should be able to take care of themselves and remain sturdy and unobtrusive to your daily routine as much as possible.
Expect to clean your operating room shoes with a simple wipe from a damp cloth. There shouldn't be visible and unsightly stains left behind.
It should also last a long time and give you consistent output for as long as it can.
Sometimes, this facet is sadly ignored. Always think that purchasing the best operating room shoes should be an investment and an asset you can take full advantage of in the future. Your nursing shoes should be of good use to you as much as possible. And the best OR shoes will do just that.
Our Personal Recommendation
All things considered, here is our one final recommendation for nurses and surgeons above the eight we carefully picked for you to choose from.
Choose the Birkenstock Professional Profi Birki. It is a trusted brand that has proven itself repeatedly to provide unparalleled comfort to the working professional.
Its build hails from a unique combination of synthetic and organic materials to give you the best experience whenever and wherever you are. They adjust to the mold of your feet and give you the support and stability to ensure a comfortable work experience.
It is a work shoe with all the characteristics nurses, surgeons, and other working professionals need to stand and stay upright in as many hours as possible without experiencing pain and fatigue.
Best of all, it is made for nurses, both men, and women.
So, if you are in the market for a new pair of the best shoes for operating room nurses, you've come to the right place.