5 Best Shoes For Nurses with Flat Feet

Wearing the right shoes as a nurse can be challenging—you need to be on your feet, moving around all day, and that can be tough if you have flat feet. When you have flat feet, you’re more likely to get plantar fasciitis (pain in the heel of your foot) or Achilles tendinitis (pain in the back of your ankle).

When you have these conditions, you’ll have trouble working or exercising as much as you want to. Therefore, it’s essential to wear shoes that fit correctly and support your feet. We’ve compiled a list of five stylish and functional options perfect for nurses with flat feet.

Best Overall Shoes for Nurses (women) with Flat Feet

Dansko Women's Professional Honey Distressed Clog 8.5-9 M US

Dansko Professional Women’s Clogs

Dansko Women’s Professional Clog

The Dansko Women’s Professional Clog is a timeless classic for all-day support and unmistakable style. This nurse shoe is made to be both fashionable and functional, with a padded instep collar for comfort when walking, a roomy reinforced toe box for protection with plenty of room for your toes, and a wide heel strike for more excellent stability.

The leather upper has a fabric trim that works well in warm weather and colder temperatures. The leather upper stretches to fit your foot better, while the PU outsole offers a rocker bottom, allowing you to propel forward as you walk instead of setting yourself on a back-and-forth path.

The wide heel strike area offers more stability than other styles of clogs, so you’ll be able to walk confidently. The shank that runs through the heel gives your foot extra support while providing optimal shock absorption. This clog comes in several colors so you can spice up your look!

Danskos are the kind of clogs every professional woman needs to stay stylish while on the move. Their padded insoles and wide heel strike provide stability and relieve foot pain associated with flat feet. These features make Dansko Professional Clog an overall best nursing shoe for flat feet—features that ensure your comfort at work!

Best Runner Up Shoes for Nurses with Flat Feet

Brooks Women’s Ghost 13 Running Shoe

The Brooks Ghost 13 is a fantastic option for nurses looking for a stable running shoe that’s kind to flat feet. The Ghost 13 pairs are soft cushioning with zero distractions so that you can focus more on your run and less on any discomfort or pain. It also comes with the APMA Seal of Acceptance, which means it’s been certified as a diabetic shoe by the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Brooks Ghost 13 Black/Pearl/Hushed Violet 5 B (M)

Brooks Women’s Ghost 13 Running Shoes

The shoe features BioMoGo DNA cushioning, which combines soft DNA LOFT cushioning with responsive BioMoGo energy-return cushioning that keeps your steps feeling smooth and balanced. The segmented crash pad helps you maintain a smooth gait from landing to toe-off, so you don’t have to work as hard when you’re moving from one footfall to the next.

The intricate weave of the engineered air mesh upper hugs the foot for a secure – but still breathable fit that helps reduce friction. With a variety of colors and styles available, you’ll indeed find a pair that fits your style! 

If you have flat feet, this can be especially problematic as the flatness of your foot signifies fewer shock-absorbing structures. But with Brooks Women’s Ghost 13, you can achieve the optimal support and cushioning you need.

Nurse Mates Women’s Dove Oxford

Nurse Mates Dove Oxford has a lightweight, flexible construction that allows you to get the professional look and feel of wearing a clog, with all the ease and wearability of an oxford.

Nurse Mates Womens Dove Oxford, White, 9.5

Nurse Mates Women’s Dove Oxford Shoes

The outsoles are crafted of rubber and include inserts for extra slip resistance, while the tumbled leather uppers keep your feet protected from water and stains. The footbeds are also specially contoured to cradle your foot, so you don’t have to worry about pain and discomfort no matter how long you’re on your feet.

The flexible construction makes them super easy to get on and off, and their smooth appearance means that you can wear them with whatever outfit you want without feeling like wearing an orthopedic shoe. 

The iron-hard tempered steel metatarsals support your arch without squeezing too tight, making these shoes perfect not only for nurses but other professions that require standing for long periods. 

If you’re looking for the ultimate combination of comfort and professional style in one, Nurse Mates Dove Oxfords is a great option! 

Naturalizer Women’s Marianne Loafer

If you’re a huge fan of super-chic slip-on sneakers with casual sport style and all-day comfort, you should never miss the Naturalizer Women’s Marianne Loafer. It’s not just the cloud-soft cushioning and the adjustable fit that makes this shoe highly heavenly to flat feet. The stylish and professional look of Marianne Loafer is ideal for work, cool, and casual for weekends!

Naturalizer Womens Marianne Loafer White Perf 4 M

Naturalizer Women’s Marianne Loafers

The round-toe silhouette is suitable for everyday wear, while the elastic goring panels keep your foot comfortable if you want to wear these loafers without socks. The Contour+ technology gives your foot a custom fit so that you won’t feel any pressure anywhere on your foot for a premium fit and all-day comfort experience.

A sleek round toe and a 2″ heel make this flat shoe super easy to wear, day in, day out. The upper is made from leather, fabric, suede, or velvet, which can seamlessly blend into any outfit you throw on it, from work uniform to your favorite jeans. They come in different styles and minimalistic colors that’ll surely catch your eye! 

When you work long shifts in the medical field, you need a comfortable shoe that meets your needs. Naturalizer Women’s Marianne Loafer fits the bill with its exceptionally cushioned insoles and flexible soles, which provide you with all-day comfort and support.

ASICS Women’s Gel-Kayano 26 Running Shoes

ASICS Women’s Gel-Kayano 26 is a godsend for flat-foot nurses. They provide maximum stability and pronation control thanks to their DuoMax Support System, which uses two foam densities to create a medium-stiff platform that reduces overpronation without sacrificing flexibility.

ASICS Women's Gel-Kayano 26 Running Shoes, 9, Metropolis/Rose Gold

ASICS Women’s Gel-Kayano 26 Running Shoes

The lightweight FlyteFoam Propel midsole is made with ASICS’ proprietary fan design that provides superior bounce-back, reducing fatigue and increasing responsiveness for the entire duration of your shift. ASICS provides outstanding arch support and cushioning without feeling heavy or clunky on the feet—and they make it easy to get the right fit with their Adaptable Fit last system.

The asymmetrical guidance line design on the outsole guides your foot through the gait cycle so you can move in multiple directions without slippage or discomfort. The rearfoot and forefoot GEL cushioning system features super organic fibers designed to reduce packing out that happens with softer foams over time, so you get all the shock absorption you need to take on your busiest shifts yet!

If you’re having trouble getting out the door to work in the morning, or if you’re looking for something that’ll make your long shifts more comfortable, ASICS Women’s Gel-Kayano 26 Running Shoes will make your days at the clinic less stressful!

A Guide to Buying Nursing Shoes for Flat Feet

As a nurse with low arches and flat feet, you know how uncomfortable your workday can be. You have to stand for long hours and constantly walk from room to room daily, making it hard to stay comfortable.

Arch support

Several solutions have emerged to help nurses with flat feet.

Orthotics are great at helping any foot issues by adding additional arch support. If you have flat feet, orthotics can help relieve pain and fatigue by supporting your arches and joints – which is vital for long shifts on your feet without breaks.

Custom orthotics can be made at a doctor’s office or specialty store, but regular orthotics are found in most major retailers. These are called “custom” because they are made specifically for your feet, although they aren’t custom-made by hand.

Heel support

The arches aren’t strong enough to bend correctly—so when the person walks or runs, their weight is not evenly distributed, and it can cause pain in the center of their foot. 

Shoes that contain a polyurethane ring under the heel can help those with flat feet by adequately supporting their entire foot. They can prevent any stretching of the arch and alignment of the body, which will help prevent pain from occurring.

Toe Box

While proper arch support and a raised heel are essential to healing the symptoms of flat feet, proper toe alignment is also vital to comfort and prevent future foot problems.

A tight space at the toe of a shoe can cause toes to cramp, throwing off foot alignment and leading to problems like corns, calluses, hammertoes, blisters, bunions, and ingrown toenails.

A good pair of shoes for nurses with flat feet will have at least an inch of space at the top of the shoe and be able to move freely.

Lightweight

Nurses are put under a lot of stress, but their shoes can be a source of well-being.

We all know that nurses are constantly on their feet, which puts a lot of strain on their joints and muscles. The weight of the nurse’s shoes can add to this strain by adding more pressure to the body.

Heavier soles leave the feet under more pressure, but this isn’t true of all shoes. Shoes made of polyurethane are lightweight and durable. They keep feet dry and comfortable, even on hot days.

Cushioning

With a little bit of extra support and cushioning built into a pair of shoes, nurses with flat feet can wear their favorite shoes all day long comfortably. You won’t need any extra arch support at all! 

As a nurse, your feet get sore, tired, and swollen. The only cure is to sit down for a while and rest. But when you’re trying to get through a 12-hour shift on your feet, that’s not feasible.

Molded shoes usually have an extra foam layer between the footbed and outsole. This extra cushioning layer can add support for flat feet without making the shoe too stiff or bulky. It also molds to your foot over time, creating a custom fit that puts less strain on your joints.

Best Shoes for Nurses with Flat Feet, Final Word…

When you’re on your feet all day, the last thing you want is a stiff pair of shoes, but even if they’re flexible, most shoes are just plain unattractive. People in the nursing field may find themselves in this dilemma—choosing between stylish and comfortable.

Here are my top 5 shoe picks for Nurses with flat feet…

You might think that flats are the best shoe option for low arches or flat feet, but that might not work. Wearing flats makes your joints work harder to compensate for the lack of support from an improperly cushioned shoe. This extra pressure puts undue stress on not only your foot but also your entire body.

Instead, as a nurse who regularly spends extended periods standing, a pair of supportive shoes with built-in arch support such as the Dansko Women’s Professional Clog for a professional look or ASICS Women’s Gel-Kayano 26 for that sporty feel—they’ll make all the difference!

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