Special Features

Published on March 24th, 2022 | by Kirsten Borrink

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The Best Nursing Shoes for Long Shifts on Tile Floors

We love our nurses and want their feet to feel as comfortable as possible while taking good care of their patients. We’ve asked our Facebook readers for input as well as doing our own research to find the best nursing shoes based on various foot issues. If you have a favorite shoe for nurses and medical professionals, by all means leave a comment and add to our list. Your recommendations are our best resource!

Alegria Duette

Do you need nursing shoes for plantar fasciitis? Nurse and Zappos customer Janet loves her Alegria Duettes as they help relieve her back and heel pain:

I love Alegria shoes for their great arch support. I have a very bad back and these shoes help me with my back issues. I also had problems with Plantar Fasciitis but wearing Alegria has resolved that issue. I am a nurse and have worn Alegria shoes for years. I would not have be able to continue working as long as I did without these shoes. I purchased this pair to wear around the house when I am cooking to give the support I need. They aren’t as bulky as some of the other styles.

The Alegria Duette features double elastic gore for easy on and off, removable footbed, wide toe box and cushioned arch support. The Duette is slip-resistant and comes in over 10 colors and patterns. Find it in euro sizes 35-43 for $89.95 from Zappos, Amazon, and Nordstrom. If you need a wide width, check out the Alegria Paityn!

Klogs Mission

Have you rolled an ankle in Dansko Professionals or do you need wide width nursing shoes? If so, try the Klogs Mission with similar support, wide toe box, but with a lower heel for stability. The footbed is latex-free and provides moderate arch support. Available in sizes 6-14, medium and wide widths for $129.95 from Zappos, Amazon, and The Walking Company.

Crocs Bistro Graphic Clogs

Specifically made for food service, hospitality and healthcare workers, the Crocs Bistro Graphic Clog features an enclosed upper, contoured footbed, wide toe box and ASTM F2913-11 tested slip-resistant outsole. Plus, they’re washable! This is one of a few fun designs to lighten the mood where you work. Find in sizes 6-12 for $39.99 from Crocs.com,  Zappos, Amazon,

Vionic Avery from the PRO line

Vionic recently introduced their first-ever PRO line of footwear for healthcare professionals. Folks, these are some good-looking nursing shoes with water and oil-resistant uppers and ASTM F1677 slip-resistant outsoles! The removable canvas-lined footbed offers enhanced arch support. Find the complete Vionic Pro line in sizes 5-12 for $99-129 from VionicShoes.com.

Hoka Clifton 6

If you can wear fitness shoes at your medical place of employment, Hoka’s the way to go. Look at all that dense cushioning! And not only that, a thick removable insole offers enhanced arch support. We recommend the Hoka Clifton 6 for feet that suffer from forefoot or heel pain as the rocker sole takes pressure off both through the stride.

OR nurse and happy Zappos customer Judester shares this about her Hoka Cliftons:

My orthopedic surgeon recommended I try Hoka shoes after my foot surgery. I’m an operating room nurse and am on my feet a lot (walking and standing) I’ve worn Merrell jungle mocs for years but decided to give the Hoka shoes a try. I love them! My feet are happy. My legs are happy and it feels like they give me a spring in my step. This is my second pair and when these give out from all my wear and tear on them I will definitely buy another pair.

Find the Hoka Clifton 6 in sizes 5-12, medium and wide widths for $129.95 from Zappos, Amazon, and Nordstrom.

ON Cloud X

The On Cloud X sole may look funny, but it does serve the purpose of providing incredible shock absorption on hard surfaces. Candice recently left this 5-star Zappos review for the On Cloud X,

I fell in love with this shoe when I put it on. I’m a nurse and stay on my feet 12 hours at a time. My feet, knees and back feel amazing now!

The toe box is just wide enough not to crowd toes and the heel fits snugly. Find the On Cloud X in sizes 5-11 (including a 10.5) for $139.99 from Zappos, On-Running.com, and Nordstrom.

Dansko XP 2.0

Update: After publishing this article, I learned of the upgraded Dansko Pro XP, aptly named Pro XP 2.0 (hat tip to Facebook fan). They’re even more lightweight than the original Pro XP with same cushioned, removable footbed and contoured arch support.

Nurses, which shoes help you get through a 12-hour shift without wanting to kick them off half way through? We value your input and appreciate the dedication to your career.