What's the deal with Crocs being banned? I've heard that they started banning them because they said that nurses shouldn't where shoes with holes. What does everyone think about this?

Where I work, they are an occupational health insurance nightmare. It is one thing if you wear the ones without any holes in the top and sides. However the popular ones with holes everywhere are just calling for you to have something spilled on your feet. I own the ones without any holes in them, which are acceptable where I work, but the novelty has worn off because they wear out quickly. I have also noticed that with the increased popularity of Crocs, the quality has gone down.... anyone else notice this? I have gone back to good old running shoes.

Actually I think they are totally fugly, but I'm not necessarily pro them being banned.

What happened to good ol' clogs? I loooove my Danskos :)

I failed to address the ban. I have to agree with JonZ. They aren't any less safe than our clothing. That is unless you wear a hot Lab coat.

I wore them one time at work and realized my mistake. I had to give a shower and my socks were soaked. They're comfy but like my white leather Sketchers :)

Some people think they are the most comfortable shoe for work. But hello! Those holes are just screaming for excrement....and if you go with the ones with no holes your feet sweat like a bitch. Excuse the language, but how can that be comfortable?

To each his own. Better your foot covered with urine than mine!

LaborNurse said:

Some people think they are the most comfortable shoe for work. But hello! Those holes are just screaming for excrement....and if you go with the ones with no holes your feet sweat like a bitch. Excuse the language, but how can that be comfortable?

To each his own. Better your foot covered with urine than mine!

I wear crocs without holes, and I love them!!! I find them incredibly comfortable, and I love that I can just slip them on. I don't have any with holes, simply because I don't like the idea of seeing my socks through them.. I think it looks silly... But I can't imagine banning them. That just seems ridiculous. Unless they're going to force us to start wearing combat boots, they can't protect our feet 100% of the time... There's always a chance of something spilling through or puncturing canvas or even leather shoes...

In the places I work in washington state the crocs shoes were not banned because of the holes and risk of needles. They do not secure well and have caused falls. I use mine when I'm not wrkign though and it has saved my knee. I offten have had my knee lock due to injury that has not been repaired but somthing about the way they support has kept me from one of those incidences for 6 mounths now. I think there are pros and cons and workplaces do not want to be liable for the cost of on the job injury.

I have heard people complain about nurses wearing Crocs, but I don't know if it's any less sanitary or puts us more at risk than anything else we do. I mean, many of us wear our scrubs to work, get nasties all over them, take them home and wash them and wear them time and time again. I mean, how sanitary can that be? How many germs are we bringing home everyday, walking around in, leaving on top of other clothes, washing in less than massively antibacterial machines and then going back to work in...

For me, unless I have a gaping wound on my foot, I'm wearin' my Crocs :)

I am always surprised when I see a nurse wearing these in the hospital.

Topical exposures are not the issue with crocs. The main reason(s) they are against policy in our facility is because they have been related to multiple staff injuries. Some have been the stretcher wheel ramming the exposed heel, which could be attributed to any clog-type shoe. Others have been actual sharps (hypos, suture needles, scalpels...etc) falling onto the shoes & through the holes. In trauma, we're used to being covered in goo, but I could handle just about anything for an indefinite amount of time if my socks weren't congealing into a big fat clot between my toes.

My facility tried to ban them too. Not because of the risk of liquid collecting in them but because the OR staff were wearing them without socks, which they concealed by wearing the or booties. I am torn between them and good ol sneakers. I don't think there is any more risk wearing corcs then there is wearing sneakers. A needle can go through a sneaker too. Blood can collect in a sneaker too. Urine and seep through the sneaker too. I think you all have my point here. I think it should be up to the individual on what they want to wear. As long as they are comfortable then who is to judge if it is right or not.

There is nothing professional looking about the shoes. Doesn't that matter anymore?

I don't really like the look, but geez they are comfy. I work 16's and my feet fall off if I don't wear mine. Can't seem to find comfy tennis shoes anymore, its all about style.