What shoes should i get for working in a hospital?!

G'day Lucylu,
What are you doing at the hospital.? Does style have any influence on your decision.?
Here is a shopping list to help you get started. Not all features are necessary but they will benefit you at the end of your 9+ hour shift.

- Securely fastened/supportive upper (ideally lace up)
- Protective covering (ei: not exposing the top of your feet - a requirement for certain areas in the hospital. This can be mesh, leather, neoprene etc)
- Breathable (ie:not crocs) and it helps if you can wear them with socks
- Firm heel counter (can not be bent past 45degs)
- Firm rearfoot and midfoot (shoe can not be bent in half or wrung out)
- Flexible at the toes (look for flex grooves)
- Midsole cushioning no less than 1cm (ideally EVA, stay away from honeycomb or compartmented rubber midsoles eg, skate shoes or chucks. They are absolute rubbish)
- Comfortable, supportive arch (not high or intrusive though!)
- Heel to forefoot ratio of about 2 (shoes with the heel at the same height as the toe put excess stretch on the achilles and plantar ligament, high heels can lead to soft tissue contracture and shortening of the calf muscle)
- Most importantly get the right FIT! just under a thumbs width to the end, snug but not tight across the width and not slipping at the back. Help from a knowledgeable assistant is often the best way.
- and buy shoes in the arvo as the soft tissue structures of the foot relax and can cause the foot to lengthen

Surgeons often wear joggers in the OR all day. If you dont mind joggers I would put them at the top of the list, then soft, comfy leather lace ups.

All the best with your new job!

[EDIT:] Blisters!...they are the result of two forces: pressure and friction. Some people are more prone than others but here's a few things to try...
- Stay away from cotton socks. They tend to shift around in your shoes and become abrasive when moist.
- Try using polyester, microfibre, anatomical (marked L & R), moisture wicking socks. They are ergonomic and hug the shape of your foot to reduce friction.
- Wrightsocks are double layered and blister "proof"(.?!) with a 100% moneyback gaurantee
- Toe socks may help interdigital blistering and are usually a good snug fit (thumbs up)
- If your are within 1 size of the suggested range, get the next one down (eg: if u r sz 7 and medium socks are size 7-10, go for smalls)
- If prone to blistering, stay away from shoes in which you can feel the arch. Shoes with built in arches are designed to fit a majority but not necassarily the individual arch (like dodgy off the shelf arch supports).
- If you get blisters with new shoes try grabbing the insole out of your old shoes and put them in the new ones for a few weeks. The old insert already has the imprint of your foot and helps to stop excess movement in the shoe.
- Shoe lube like Bodyglide is effective, but annoying to have to apply all the time
- If all else fails see a podiatrist. Biomechanics is a big determinant of blisters and minimising in shoe movement with supportive custom orthotic devices is one of the most effective treatments.

Ps. more than happy to be of service to one of Charlie's Angels =PHealth Question & Answer

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Best shoes would be something with good arch support and a small (about 2-3cm) heel. Clarkes are a bit pricey compared to other highstreet shoe shops,but very good quality and probably have something there that would suit. Apparently completely flat shoes like Crocs are terrible for walking around in all dayHealth Question & Answer

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You can get steel toe caps with comfortable insoles from various medical suppliers.
I got mine for

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