A Guide to Scrub Shoes for Nurses & Doctors

Find the right shoes for long shifts

As a doctor or nurse, you need many tools to ensure your safety and comfort while facilitating excellent patient care—right down to your shoes. You’re often on your feet for long hours and may have to move quickly to respond to an emergency, so your footwear is as important as your gloves or mask when it comes to keeping you safe and comfortable.   

Here’s your guide to finding the scrub shoes that support you as much as you support your patients.

Common types of doctor & nursing shoes

The good news is that there are many different styles of doctor and nursing shoes available for healthcare professionals. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each style to help you zero in on which is best for you. 

Sneakers 

If sneakers can keep runners going through 5Ks and marathons, they can certainly provide support for your next long shift. Sneakers offer doctors and nurses the most flexibility in style, are lightweight and made to support tens of thousands of steps per day. They’re also a good idea if you have plans after work and don’t feel like changing your entire outfit. 

Clogs

Clogs have become such a staple for healthcare professionals that multiple brands offer nursing-specific clogs. Clogs are easy to slip on, durable, resistant to sharp objects and easy to clean—four characteristics that are perfect for anything a shift might throw at you. 

Slip-on shoes 

Slip-on shoes are similar to clogs in that they don’t have laces that could potentially come untied—an extra safety measure in a fast-paced medical environment. Unlike clogs, they wrap around your heel. Depending on the shape of your foot, you might find that you have trouble preventing clogs from sliding off, in which case slip-ons might be a better choice.

Three factors to consider for scrub shoes

Style is one thing, but functionality is really what matters for doctor and nurse scrub shoes. Let’s look at how these factors may differ from job to job.

Standing & walking 

Most shoes are comfortable enough for the few minutes it takes to try them on, but consider how you would feel standing or walking in them for an 8-hour, 12-hour or even longer shift. You need arch, heel and ankle support to keep your feet comfortable and your posture healthy. Balance support with weight—lighter shoes won’t weigh you down as your shift gets into its final hours, but they may not have as much support as you need. 

You may also need to consider how much total walking you’ll do throughout the entire day. For instance, you may use public transit or walk to work and won’t have time to change your shoes before your shift starts. In this case, you’ll need something that is durable enough to walk on a sidewalk and comfortable enough to last through your entire work day.

Work environment 

Where you work is also important in selecting your scrub shoes. If you work around a lot of liquids and potential spillage, you’ll want to make sure your shoes are slip-resistant. If you work in a potentially messy environment, like an ER, you might want to prioritize footwear that’s easy to clean.

Depending on the healthcare facility where you work, you may be able to take breaks throughout the day. You might be able to take a nap, sit down and eat lunch, or only have time for a quick, standing five-minute breather. In any case, a slip-on may be perfect. It allows you to easily provide your feet some relief regardless of how long the break is, then return to action at a moment’s notice. 

Cost 

Multiple variables can affect the cost of your scrub shoes, and you’ll want to make sure you’re paying the right price. You’re almost certainly going to want several pairs, so it’s worth it to do a little extra research to make sure you’re getting them at a low price. 

Look for websites that offer special benefits for signing up or purchasing items over a certain dollar amount. For example, doctors’ offices, hospitals and other businesses with a Walmart Business account save on shipping with free delivery on orders of $35 or more.¹ 

Taking the first step to buying the right shoe

If you are a practice owner or hospital equipment administrator, it’s important to remember that the shoes on your staff’s feet may be the last thing on their mind. However, the right fit, features and price of their footwear can help them through the day and even help them provide better patient care. When you sign up for Walmart Business, you’ll have access to a wide range of doctor and nurse scrub shoes that will allow you to buy the best shoe for your entire team at low prices. 

If your healthcare organization already has a Walmart Business account, upgrade to a Walmart Business+ membership for free shipping,¹ free delivery from local stores on orders over $35² and 2% back in Walmart Business Rewards.³ That could add up to over $500 a year in savings!⁴ Click here to learn more.

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and specific location surcharges.

² Restrictions apply. 

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).