11 Best Shoes for Nurses of 2024, According to Actual Nurses
Real nurses tested these shoes to ensure they're comfortable enough for 12-hour shifts.
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Nobody is on their feet more than nurses, so comfortable footwear is a must. With busy days packed with one-on-one patient care as well as performing exams, charting, and administering medications — not to mention working long 12+ hour shifts during crises — having a sturdy pair of shoes to make it through it all is so important not only for comfort but for long-term health. The Good Housekeeping Institute recruited 22 healthcare professionals, including RNs, occupational therapists, physicians and nurse practitioners, to test the following shoes so we can find the most comfortable and supportive styles for all-day wear. These are the best shoes for nurses — and they all are available in women's and men's sizes or unisex.
Our top picks:
- Best Overall: Brooks Ghost 15 Neutral Running Shoe
- Best Value: New Balance Fresh Foam Roav V1 Sneaker
- Best for Extra Cushioning: Hoka Bondi 8
- Best Clogs: Dansko Professional Clog
- Most Stylish: New Balance Unisex FIGS 574S
- Best for the OR: Crocs Unisex Slip On Clogs
- Best Slip-ons: Clove Classic
- Best for Plantar Fasciitis: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 Supportive Running Shoe
- Best for Foot Pain: ALTRA VIA Olympus 2 Road Running Shoe
- Best Waterproof for Women: Gales Frontline
- Most Popular on Amazon: Skechers Street Uno Stand on Air Sneaker
Whether you're in need of better arch support, more cushioning or simply a lighter, easier-to-clean or no-slip shoe, this round-up of the best shoes for nurses has a variety of sneaker and clog options based on extensive testing by footwear pros and nurses. Nurses and other healthcare professionals wore these shoes during their everyday work routines before giving feedback on comfort, fit and support. Testers reported that they wore these shoes in all types of healthcare environments from doctors’ offices to ER's to operating rooms to schools.
"In general it's important to wear shoes or sneakers with good arch support and enough of a cushioned sole, especially for the long hours of standing and walking that nurses have to do," said Kristina Quirolgico, M.D., a physiatrist at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Without a proper pair of shoes, your feet and ankles aren't the only areas of the body that suffer. "One of the common things I see is pronation of the foot which could eventually cause pain up the kinetic chain to affect the knee, outer hips and eventually back from the chronic strain," Dr. Quirolgico said. "Everything is connected."
With options that are more budget-friendly if you're trying to watch your wallet to pricier options that stand the test of time, there's a perfect pair for you on our list (or ones that make a great gift for the nurse in your life if they've recently graduated nursing school). We recommend pairing these shoes with compression socks for even more support. And if you're looking for the top-tested picks for running or walking when you're off the clock, don't forget to see which sneakers received top marks in our best running shoes and best walking sneakers round-ups.
Annie O’Sullivan (she/her) covers holiday, gift guide, travel, and lifestyle content at Good Housekeeping. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and previously reported for Runner’s World, NBC New York/NY 4 and Woman’s Day. Annie also has experience writing entertainment news and celebrity-focused content.
Emma Seymour (she/her) is a senior product analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.
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