Any footwear that causes blisters or aches while on the job is out of the question, according to the nurses we spoke with. "Skechers with the memory-foam walkers are key" for post-anesthesia care unit nurse Maria Lopez. "[Footwear] is one of the only ways we can express ourselves," she said, so she has another cat-patterned pair on the way.
Nurse anesthetist Alyson Mesisca said Calzuro and Dansko clogs "are a staple for almost everyone" in the operating room, and her team tries to wear a variety of playful colours and patterns, adding that "we have to take those where we can get them."
Beyond comfort, unique considerations have to be made for safety, too. Kristine Brungardt, a Kansas City-based nurse who works in a neonatal intensive care nursery, said her shoes need to be designed with an impenetrable material — "no mesh, because fluids can seep in."
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Maria Lopez