What Kind of Shoes Do Doctors, Nurses and Physical Therapists Wear | Ultimate Guide
Those who are fighting at the frontlines in this pandemic deserve every bit of comfort possible. Doctors, nurses, and even physical therapists are working tirelessly to make sure our lives are better and disease-free.
Their obscenely long work hours combined with the stress of standing around tending to their patients all day takes a toll on their bodies.
Needless to say, without a comfy pair of shoes, the job of a healthcare professional becomes much harder. That is why, if you are a doctor, a nurse, or a physical therapist by profession, we recommend you invest in the right pair of shoes.
But what is the proper footwear for a healthcare professional? What type of shoes do doctors wear?
Do you go with leather boots for utmost durability or a canvas sneaker that is designed for comfort but can get ruined after a couple of months? Well, that is what we aim to clear up for you in this article.
Our goal in this article is to give you a clear rundown of the type of shoe you want to invest in, depending on whether you are a doctor, a nurse, or a physical therapist. So, without further delay, let us dive in.
What Shoe do Healthcare Professionals Usually Wear?
There are no hard and fast rules as to what type of shoes should doctors wear as healthcare professionals. To be honest, you can even wear high-heeled leather boots if you prefer. But we do not recommend it.
In some cases, your healthcare institute might have a say in the color of the footwear so that it matches the rest of your uniform. But typically, the choice of footwear is entirely dependent on the preference of the doctor.
That being said, the shoes that doctors, nurses, and physical therapists wear share many common features. Here are some of the common elements that you should look for when choosing a pair of shoes for your job.
Design
These days, there are literally thousands of shoe variants available in the market. You can find boots, loafers, sneakers, oxford, Chukka, and many other varieties of shoes you can find.
For doctors or healthcare professionals in general, we recommend going with slip-on style sneakers or loafers as they are very easy to put on or take off.
Though oxford-style shoes might seem more professional, the hassle you have to go through every time you put them on is hardly worth it.
Lightweight
One of the first things that you should think about when you are picking out your doctor’s shoes is their weight.
A heavier shoe might give you better balance and traction, but if you are walking around all day wearing it, the extra weight will add a lot of additional stress.
Shoe manufacturers these days have come up with clever designs to make their shoes lighter and, in turn, more practical for healthcare professionals. Even a lightweight shoe can offer good stability.
Comfortable
Comfort is an obvious factor to consider. Since you will likely be wearing the shoe for a long period, you want the shoe to be as comfortable as possible.
If your heel or toe gets uncomfortable, there is no point in buying it. While you want every shoe you buy to be comfortable, for doctors, this is more important.
Slip-resistance
The shoe should also come with a slip-resistant sole that offers good balance and stability.
Hospital floors, because of all the disinfectant and frequent cleaning, tend to be quite slippery. The last thing you want is to slip and injure yourself as you are rushing from one room to another.
Durability
Durability is, of course, a necessary thing to consider for just about any shoe. The shoes that healthcare professionals wear see a lot of use since they have to stand around or walk all day.
Therefore, going with a low-quality shoe is neither a very wise nor a very practical choice.
When you are checking the durability of a specific shoe, focus on the sole first. That is the part that is most susceptible to damage.
You also want to take a look at the insole and upper of the shoe, while you are at it to get a clear picture of how long the shoe would last.
Cushioning
With proper padding on the inside, the shoes feel much more comfortable to wear. Since your job requires you to be on your feet most of the time, you want to ensure there is at least enough padding to keep you comfortable.
Without good padding, you will feel increased friction inside your shoe.
Breathability
You also want your shoes to be breathable. Without proper air circulation inside the shoe, your feet will get sweaty, which will eventually cause it to smell.
Furthermore, if the shoe is not breathable, your feet will feel suffocated, and it will not be very comfortable to wear for an extended period.
In fact, most doctors prefer going with a shoe that features a mesh upper as it is more breathable. But canvas fabric upper is also a good selection if breathability is your primary concern.
Support
A good shoe for doctors will offer good arch and heel support to prevent any injuries. On a busy day, you will be rushing from one ward to another to check up on your patients.
Your shoe will prevent you from putting extra pressure on your feet if it comes with good support.
What Shoe do Doctors Wear with Scrubs?
What kind of shoes do doctors wear? We recommend getting a pair of shoes that matches your scrubs.
It gives you a more professional look. Other than that, comfort and slip-resistance take precedence as your job will involve you running around a lot.
With that said, the ideal female doctor shoe to wear with scrubs would be loafers or clogs. The Dansko Men’s XP 2.0 Clog is a perfect example of a proper doctor’s shoe to wear with scrubs.
What Shoes do Doctors Wear in Surgery?
When it comes to footwear for surgeons, you want to keep a couple of features checked. It must be comfortable, slip-resistant, and well-balanced.
If the shoe is washable and can be sterilized without damaging it, that is even better. You also want a decent level of protection against dropped knives or scalpels.
There are too many comfy shoes for surgeons out there for us to recommend just one. The Adidas UltraBoost is a great choice, but the Crocs Men’s and Women’s Specialist II is not a bad one either.
As long as the shoe comes with the features that we focused on, you should be fine.
If you are looking for a female doctor shoe, the Adidas Ultraboost also has a women’s line that you might want to take a look at.
What Shoes Do Nurses Wear?
Shoe nurses prefer to wear are not all that different from the shoes that doctors wear with scrubs.
Sneakers and loafers are fantastic choices for nurses as they offer a good balance of comfort and durability. And on the plus side, they are also pretty stylish.
The Brooks Women’s Ghost 13 Running Shoe is our top recommendation if you are a nurse who is looking for a new set of shoes for work.
However, if you are on a budget, the Naturalizer Women’s Marianne Loafercan be a better option. Just make sure the size of the shoe is perfect for your feet.
What Shoes do Physical Therapists Wear?
If you are wondering which shoes to wear for physical therapy, then this section is for you. Physical therapists, typically, need to move a lot depending on how they are treating their patients. That is why mobility is one of the key factors to consider when buying a new set of shoes.
In addition to mobility, cushioning and arch support are also very important. You want the shoes to be comfortable and provide you with enough arch support to handle any sort of stretches.
With that in mind, sneakers are usually the best choice and female physical therapists wear them a lot.
VANGELO Professional Slip Resistant Men’s Work Sneaker Shoe is a fantastic choice for men. It comes at an affordable price and also looks quite stylish.
However, if you are a female, we suggest going with the New Balance Women’s FuelCore Nergize V1 Sneaker for the best balance of price and performance.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a new pair of shoes as a doctor, nurse, or physical therapist is not easy. It can often get quite hectic with so many different variables to consider and so many low-end units saturating the market.
The best advice we can give you is to always think of your comfort above all else.
We hope our extensive article could give you a clear idea of what kind of shoes do doctors, nurses, and physical therapists wear.
If you focus on the features that we discussed here, you should be able to pick out the perfect pair of shoes for yourself.
So, health fighters, Keep up the good work!