5 Best Shoes and Clogs for New Nursing Students

The best shoes and clogs to get you through your 12 hour shift.


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Footwear may be the single most important piece of gear for the new nursing student. You will soon be subject to the long 12 hours shifts that are the norm in the nursing profession and if you don’t get the right pair of shoes, your feet/legs/back will surely pay the price.

Many nursing programs require shoes to fit fairly strict criteria. For instance, my school required us to wear white, all leather shoes to clinical. You will want to check with your clinical instructors to make sure any footwear that you buy will fit their criteria or you may end up with a pair of shoes that you can’t wear until you graduate.

Below are the best nursing shoes available right now. Love your shoe/clog and don’t see it on the list? Email me and let me know.

*Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This is how you can support this site so we can keep providing high quality reviews for you. It does not make the item pricier for you, and it allows us to stay reader supported and avoid annoying ads!

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Best White Leather Nursing Clog

LT Pro White Box Clog Dansko amazon.com

If your school requires a white leather shoe like mine did, you can’t do much better than the Dansko LT Pro Clog. This is an update to the older model Professional Clog. The update is comfier due to the upgraded cushioned footbed. The LT Pro has the following features:

  • Lightweight construction

  • Cushioned footbed for a softer ride

  • Dansko patent pending compression molded EVA outsole

  • Stain-resistant, wipe-clean leather

  • Leather socklinings

  • Stapled construction

Although the white is tough to keep in perfect shape, the leather construction makes it easy to clean up after your shift.

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Best White Plastic Nursing Clog

Specialist II Crocs amazon.com

If your school requires a white shoe but not leather, there are some great affordable options available to you. The best option I’ve found is the Specialist II by Crocs. The Specialist II has the following features:

  • Enclosed toe protects foot from spills

  • Enhanced arch support, thicker metatarsal area and contoured footbeds

  • Higher heels meet work place standards and protect feet

  • Fully molded and easy to clean with soap and water

  • Iconic Crocs Comfort™: Lightweight. Flexible. 360-degree comfort

They can be had for less than $40 and are super comfortable. If you are on a tight budget, I would highly recommend the Crocs Specialist II.

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Best White Athletic Shoes

Ultraboost 20 Adidas amazon.com

If you’re lucky enough to be able to choose from any type of shoe, but are still restricted to white, the Ultraboost 20 is a solid option. This shoes features:

  • Snug, sock-like fit

  • Lace closure

  • adidas Primeknit+ textile upper

  • Tailored Fiber Placement locked-in fit

Although they are fairly expensive, the Ultraboost are one of the coolest shoes out right now so you definitely get your money’s worth. Plus, they look awesome.

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Best Non-White Nursing Clogs

XP 2.0 Dankso amazon.com

If you aren’t restricted by color, your options greatly expand. My absolute favorite nursing shoe is the Dansko XP 2.0. This shoe features:

  • Leather uppers

  • Padded instep collar for extra comfort when walking

  • Roomy toe box to allow toes to move comfortably -plenty of wiggle room

  • Lightweight EVA midsole reduces fatigue for everyday wear and provides stability and high shock absorption

I wear this model everyday at work and never have to worry about foot or leg pain. You won’t be tempted to wear these outside of work but you’ll be happy every time you put them on.

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Best Non-White Athletic Shoe

Ghost 13 Brooks amazon.com

If your school has no restrictions (and you hate clogs), the Ghost 13 by Brooks is one of the comfiest options available. This shoe features:

  • Engineered Air Mesh upper hugs the foot for a secure — but still breathable — fit

  • Super soft DNA LOFT offers plenty of cushioning underfoot, regardless of how your foot lands

  • DNA LOFT now extends beyond the heel, all the way to the forefoot, for an easy transition from landing to toe-off

While they don’t offer a full white version, they have several different colors to choose from and they all look sharp. The Ghost 13 is heralded by professional and recreational runners everywhere, so it makes sense why it makes such a comfortable shoe for nurses.

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