Ideas That Work: Practical Considerations for OR Footwear

Practical pearls from your colleagues

Choosing the right work gear for your feet is far from a no-brainer when your job is in the perioperative arena. Making the best choice can be particularly difficult for those new to the field. There are several factors to consider, says OR veteran Nikki Williams, RN, CNOR, director of Watson Clinic Surgery Center in Lakeland, Fla.

First, support. Ms. Williams prefers clogs, which she says provide almost full protection of the foot and great arch support that helps making standing all day bearable. “I like the added height they give me too,” she says. “But the arch support is most important for getting through those 12-hour shifts without having very sore feet at the end.”

Good-fitting clogs also provide the requisite ankle support, which she says is crucial in the OR, where huge ranges of motion are required. Many older members of the Watson Clinic staff prefer sneakers, however, especially those with podiatric issues, notes Ms. Williams.

Wipeable clogs are preferable because they are easy to clean and difficult for fluid to seep through onto your feet, she says. Sneakers with fabric uppers, meanwhile, are easily stained from prep solutions or, worse, bodily fluids.

“This can be problematic if this happens early in your shift and you don’t have a spare pair of shoes to put on right away,” notes Ms. Williams. “The sneakers can usually be saved if they’re washed immediately, but I’ve seen many staff get their sneakers soiled and throw them away and have to purchase a new pair. This is costly. A pair of clogs is expensive but can last for years.” To that end, facilities should provide shoe covers to protect the footwear of staff who wear fabric sneakers. The covers also reduce the staff’s risk of contracting an infection from fluids.

Whether team members opt for sneakers or clogs, they should always be stain-free and look clean. “If a patient sees an old stain, they might think the shoes are dirty and that creates a bad perception of the facility for the patient,” she says. OSM