Can Nurses Wear Crocs With Holes In Them?

A nurse recently emailed me, asking if it’s okay to wear Crocs with holes to work. She had seen a fashion magazine showing some nurses wearing them and wondered if this is allowed in nursing. She’s asked around and has been given mixed information. I’ll explain why she can or cannot wear Crocs clogs, as well as some common misconceptions about them.

Most regional health authorities have banned Crocs with holes for nurses’ safety. However, some regions continue to allow nurses to wear Crocs that have no holes, which are designed with excellent slip resistance and extra arch support.

The attack on the use of Crocs clogs by nurses began in the mid-2000s. In August 2007, many hospitals in Canada (including Ottawa Hospital, Hospital for Sick Children, Vancouver Coastal Health, and Hamilton Health Services & Ontario Hospital Association) prohibited their medical staff from wearing Crocs clogs.

2007 also witnessed the medical authorities in Sweden, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, mandating hospitals to modify the dress ethics for nurses and other medical staff. The new dress codes for hospitals in the two countries forbade nurses from wearing Crocs with holes on duty.

In response to many concerns from the medical community, Crocs developed a line of shoes specifically for medical professionals, nurses, and surgeons. For a complete list of all the medical-specific shoes, please read the section on Approved Crocs for Medical Professionals.

I’ve also written several articles discussing the best shoes for medical professionals, you can read more here…

Why are hospital regions concerned over Crocs with Holes?

Medical staff who wear Crocs with holes risk becoming infected with pathogens. In a hospital, an environment that can be messy and full of bodily fluids, the presence of open holes in footwear can lead to potentially dangerous infections from accidental needle pricks or spilled blood.

Crocs understood these fears and therefore designed their Crocs Rx line of shoes without holes for nurses, surgeons, and other medical professionals.

Approved Crocs for Medical Professionals

To help ease the aches and pains of nurses, surgeons, and other medical staff, Crocs has created several styles of shoes. The shoes provide additional arch support and have Crocs Lock™ slip-resistant soles, which allows you to walk with confidence on slippery hospital floors. The list below features shoes for medical staff—nurses, doctors, and everybody in between.

Woman’s Neria Pro II Clog

Specialist II Clog

Crocs Specialist II Unisex Clog

Crocs Women’s Mercy Work Clog

Crocs Mercy Work Women’s Clogs

Crocs On-The Clock Medical Professional Slip-On

Crocs On-The-Clock Unisex Clog

I’ve also seen Crocs that have been personalized with rhinestones, like these Red Starlight Crocs on Etsy. The shoes are original Crocs clogs but embellished by local artisans, and one nurse who wears them to work swears that a workday doesn’t pass without someone complimenting her Crocs.

If I had to pick between the Classic Crocs Clogs and the Neria Pro II, I’d go with the Pro II. They have thicker slip-resistant soles and additional arch support, which I look for when buying new shoes. But it’s up to you!

Why Are Crocs Popular Among Nurses?

When you have to stand, walk, and run during your shift, your feet should be supported by comfortable footwear. Crocs without holes are popular among nurses and other medical staff because they offer the support needed to alleviate pain from standing for long periods.

Many nurses said they felt less strain on their backs, hips, feet, heels, and calves after switching from traditional shoes to Crocs.

Are Nurses Allowed to Wear Crocs with Holes?

Nurses and other medical practitioners love Crocs with holes because of their slip-resistant soles, closed resin foam that doesn’t absorb liquids, and—most importantly—because they don’t smell.

Unfortunately, some countries have banned nurses from wearing Crocs with holes at work. If you are a nurse looking to wear Crocs with holes to work, contact your health region’s human resources department to determine whether that shoe style is permitted.

The “Secret” 4-Wheel Drive Mode

Many Crocs wearers wear the heel straps across the top of their shoes, but few realize how useful the straps can be. When you pull it back and over your Achilles tendon, you’ll find that your feet won’t slide around much. You’ll also notice that Crocs will feel more like running shoes than ordinary clogs.

Crocs knew the importance of those straps and incorporated them into the Specialist II Clogs for nurses!

Did Nurses Wear Crocs with Holes Before the Ban?

As medical professionals began wearing Crocs to work, hospital administrators started to notice that there were holes in their shoes. They became concerned about the risk of injury from sharp objects and instituted a ban on Crocs for all medical staff.

That concern led to a change for the better: Crocs made new shoes for nurses and other medical staff.

The new shoes had extra-supportive arches, more slip-resistant soles, and closed-cell resin compositions that prevented germs from breeding inside the shoes. What a win-win solution for all involved!

Can Nurses Wear Socks With Crocs?

Although Crocs are well-known for keeping your feet cool and not causing blisters, nurses who use them for 12+ hours a day often choose to wear socks. Socks prevent sweat from building up between your foot and the shoe and reduce friction that can cause blistering.

There’s no general rule governing the compatibility of Crocs with socks. Some Crocs wearers are comfortable wearing socks with their footwear; others aren’t. It’s up to each individual to decide what feels right. If you feel more comfortable wearing socks with your Crocs, then go ahead and do it.

Conclusion: Different Regions, Different Policies

Hospitals vary in their policies regarding nurses wearing Crocs with holes. Some say “yes,” while others say “no.”

But no matter what, it’s a good idea to wear shoes that will keep your feet comfortable on those long shifts. Crocs RX shoes are designed to be snuggly and supportive, so they’re an excellent choice.