Best hospital and surgical shoes for medical students, doctors, and nurses.
The future of hospital footwear
While we all wish for table rounds and surgical chairs during surgery, it's not often the case. A good pair of shoes can make a huge difference in your stamina, especially for those days when the attending decides to round until 5 pm or for those 24 hour HIPEC surgeries. Ideally, they should be easy to clean, somewhat attractive, and easy to walk in. Here is a list of the best hospital and surgical shoes.
The ubiquitous Dansko clog
Time tested and true, Dansko's clogs are a testament to the idea that its the inside that counts. Big and clunky with polarizing looks, Dansko's share similar resemblances to bull seals. Still, they make 5 hour rounds and 12 hour surgeries that much more manageable and let you stand for length periods of time. They have rocker bottom soles (and no, we're not talking about Edwards'sand Patau syndrome) which make it easy to re-distribute the weight. They're easy to slip on and off so you can let your puppies breath once in awhile. The one downside is there's a higher chance you'll roll your ankle if you're not careful or running down the stairs in typical vascular surgery fashion.
Dem sleek Italian Calzuros
First off, they're autoclavable. Also, they come with ventilation holes and without ventilation holes depending on how cool you are with pink polka dots. They also look pretty sleek and awesome and come in a bunch of crazy metalic colors. And to finish it off, they're italian-made and would look great on top of the clutch of your Maserati. Essentially, they're one continuous unit of thick plastic and are incredibly easy to clean with the green hydrogen peroxide hospital wipes. They're a bit on the narrow side, however, so keep that in mind before your order if you have wide feet. Also, there's no back support and slip on easily, which prevents those heel calluses from forming (hence the "cal-zeroes" ;)). Also come with heel straps if you need them and some separate comfort insoles.
Crocs, and not the animals
There was a time where these were really popular. Incredibly light, these flip flop hospital shoes are made with some polyurethane-like material with a heel strap that can flip up to convert the whole thing a light slipper. It's arch and heel support are not comparable to Dansko's but if you're a medical student or intern doing primarily floor work, these are a great alternative to those running shoes you've been wearing.
Too hip to sip Birkenstock clogs
Just because you can't wear flannel and prescription lens-less horn-rimmed glasses in the hospital doesn't mean you can't maintain that hip lifestyle with a pair of Birkenstock clogs. Just kidding, but these slipper-like clogs have the same Birkenstock cork heels that've made them popular since, supposedly, 1774. Come in a variety of styles including a more industrial faux-leather look and really sleek leather fancy look. If you already wear Birkenstocks, why not continue the tradition. If you don't, well, try them out.