Best Nursing Shoes
As a medical professional, you’re on your feet, moving from room to room for up to 12 hours at a time. Whew! You don’t have time for foot pain holding you back.
The best shoes for nurses and healthcare workers should feature shock-absorbing cushion, slip-resistant outsoles, easy-to-clean uppers, and plenty of comfort and support for all-day wear—especially if you suffer from foot conditions like plantar fasciitis or flat feet.
KURU offers some of the best nursing shoes, including pain-relieving walking shoes, running shoes, anti-slip shoes, and lifestyle shoes, so you can get through your shift in safety and in comfort.
When looking for high-quality nurses shoes for work in a medical facility, you want footwear that can last—giving you support, stability, and comfort for your full shift.
The best nurse shoes feature an anti-slip outsole for the many slippery surfaces you may encounter, a cushioned insole for lasting comfort, a wide toe box to help accommodate expanding feet, an easy-to-clean upper, and cushioned arch support for long hours on your feet.
KURU offers a wide variety of pain-relieving shoes with wide toe boxes—perfect for medical professionals. Our triple-layer technology features a deep heel cup with ergonomic flexing with your movement, superior arch support, and shock-absorbing cushion to help you last all day with less pain.
Workplace Foot Injuries
Find out what types of safety or ergonomic hazards nurses face that can lead to pain or injuries.
Injuries from slips and falls: Medical environments can be prone to slippery floors and trip hazards, which can lead to twisted ankles, sprains, and other injuries. Wear nurse shoes with a slip-resistant sole to help each step remain as safe and stable as possible.
Injuries from objects, equipment, or substances: A hospital or medical facility can contain a wide range of medical equipment, sharp objects, and other harmful substances. Wearing nurse shoes with non-slip soles and protective uppers can help protect feet from sharp objects, sharp corners, and harmful substances.
Pain from heavy lifting: Nurses often help lift people on and off surfaces throughout the day. Hours of consistent lifting can lead to back pain and increased pressure on the feet.
Plantar fasciitis from walking on hard surfaces: Inflammation of the plantar fascia can occur with too much overuse or underuse. To help reduce your risk, wear supportive, cushioned footwear and roll out your arches after a long day.
Healthcare Industry Facts & Stats
- Nurses and healthcare workers walk about 4–5 miles in a single 12-hour shift.
- To help reduce pain during a long shift, one podiatrist recommends bringing two pairs of shoes, since the support in shoes can diminish after six hours.
- Nursing has a higher risk for injury than construction or law enforcement.
- About 35,000 back injuries occur among nurses each year.
- Nurses report between 94–98% job satisfaction, according to a 2018 report.
Foot injury prevention
Learn how to best protect your feet in the healthcare industry.
Now that we’ve unpacked some common workplace injuries for nurses and medical professionals, let’s dig into ways to help prevent foot injury on the job.
Wear supportive, comfortable shoes. Get through
your day in safety, stability, and comfort with high-quality footwear. Nurse shoes should feature an anti-slip outsole, a wide toe box, and a shock-absorbing insole with plenty of cushion and arch support.
Roll out your arches consistently. To help prevent
plantar fasciitis, roll out the soles of your feet with a tennis ball or lacrosse ball to help loosen and stretch the fascia and surrounding muscles.
Rest when possible. Taking a seat for even short periods during the day can help relieve pressure and pain on your feet and joints.
Ice when needed. If your feet or other areas of your body are red, swollen, or in pain after a long shift, ice them for 0–15 minutes. This can help reduce swelling and inflammation.
Stretch and exercise your feet. Performing toe,
foot, and ankle stretches and exercises can help keep the muscles strong and healthy to reduce the risk of injury.
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What are the best shoes for nurses?
The best shoes for nursing should feature slip-resistant outsoles, comfortable and shock-absorbing insoles with arch support, easy-to-clean uppers, and a wide toe box to allow your feet to expand throughout the day.
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What shoes do nurses wear?
Nurses typically wear footwear that can help them stand all day with less pain, such as athletic shoes, tennis shoes, or comfortable clogs. A pair of shoes that features quality arch support, cushion, shock absorption, and stability can help them get through a long shift as comfortably as possible.
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What shoes do I wear in the operating room?
The best shoes to wear in the operating room should feature slip-resistant outsoles, comfortable, supportive insoles to stand for long periods, sturdy upper material to protect from fluids and sharp objects, and a wide toe box to allow your toes to move freely.
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What color shoes do nurses wear?
This one is often up to you! In the past, many nurses and healthcare clinicians have often worn white nursing shoes from long-standing traditions and dress codes. Today, nurses and healthcare workers often wear a wide variety of colors and styles based on their preferences.
KURU’s KINETIC for women or men can be worn as black or white leather nursing shoes. It has a leather upper and anti-slip outsole, making it an excellent choice for healthcare workers. The ATOM for women or men or FLUX for men and women are also fantastic options to bring support, comfort, and a bit more color to your ensemble.
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Appropriate Work Shoes -
On-Your-Feet-All-Day Jobs
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How To Make Your KURU Shoes Work for You
At KURU, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to shoe design. We believe that shoes should be shaped to fit the natural contours of your feet, which is why we create every pair in three distinct support layers, not just an insole.
Our revolutionary ergonomic design starts with a curved footbed and adds unparalleled triple-layer support that includes shock-absorbing KURUCLOUD, heel-cupping KURUSOLE, and arch-supporting ULTIMATE INSOLES. The result? Shoes that are so comfortable you’ll stop thinking about your feet.
KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE plate features a unique design that cups and protects the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step. …Show More
Our patented KURUSOLE plate features a unique design that cups and protects the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step. This premium support helps protect and contain the heel’s fat pad, leading to long-term foot health.
…Show lessKURUCLOUD
When you’re walking from patient to patient, you need cloud-like cushion to get you there. Our KURUCLOUD base layer of lightweight …Show More
When you’re walking from patient to patient, you need cloud-like cushion to get you there. Our KURUCLOUD base layer of lightweight EVA foam helps absorb impact to protect your joints, ligaments, and bones, especially for long hours on your feet.
…Show lessULTIMATE INSOLE
The top layer of our tech trio, ULTIMATE INSOLES feature advanced, dual-density foam. Longer lasting than traditional inserts, these 5mm insoles provide …Show More
The top layer of our tech trio, ULTIMATE INSOLES feature advanced, dual-density foam. Longer lasting than traditional inserts, these 5mm insoles provide bounce back and lasting comfort even with lots of daily mileage and standing for 12-hour shifts.
…Show less
KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE plate features a unique design that cups and protects the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step. This premium support helps protect and contain the heel’s fat pad, leading to long-term foot health.
Fine, We’ll Tell You Our Secret
What makes KURU different? Every KURU shoe comes with built-in patented KURUSOLE tech—a foot health game changer.
While other shoes are flat on the inside, KURUSOLE is shaped like your foot to hug and prevent fatigue and pain.
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