Some people like to wear crocs. Others do not. If you work in a hospital, you may be required by your employer to wear crocs as part of your uniform and professional dress code. But what is the reason for the hospital staff wearing crocs? To put it simply: comfort!
Crocs are lightweight and can be easily cleaned, so they’re a good option for those who work long hours with many patients. Plus, at $15-40 per pair, they’re much cheaper than regular medical shoes.
The hospital croc craze isn’t just a fad. It’s got the public health community by the short and curliest.
Crocs is also a popular choice for nurses in their careers. Some even consider crocs to be more practical than shoes with laces, as they can be worn with socks and have no metal parts that could injure a patient’s skin if they were to slip.
The reasons doctors may choose crocs for themselves are less clear. It’s possible that, as a small number of doctors have begun to wear jeans and t-shirts to work, they may feel comfortable wearing crocs as well. In addition, some doctors have reported that patients find their crocs fun and approachable.
In addition to being comfortable and easily cleaned, many doctors feel that crocs are a safe bet against the spread of certain bacteria.
What Are Crocs?
Crocs are shoes designed to have a soft upper made of closed-cell foam, which provides comfort to the wearer. They are typically found in many different color combinations, and they have an innovative design. In addition, the crocs shoes are designed so that they provide shock absorption and support to the feet despite them not having a sole. These features make crocs shoes ideal for people whose job requires them to do lots of walking. Crocs shoes come in many different sizes and designs, and the styles available in the market today are far more than work footwear.
These days, especially in hospitals, crocs have become very popular because of their comfort and ease of use. They are often worn by nurses, doctors, and nurses’ aides in the hospital. This is to have the option of wearing open-toed slippers when they are required to be on their feet all day long. They are also worn by doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers when they are required to be on their feet for long hours.
10 Reasons Hospital Staff Wear Crocs
Easy to clean
Crocs are composed of rubber, and cleaning them is as simple as wiping them down with a damp cloth. To clean the crocs, use a piece of a wet towel to scrub the surface gently. You have now cleaned your crocs, which is why so many people enjoy wearing them. You also don’t have to do it regularly. Wild strains, such as blood, can be challenging to remove at times, which many people deem unprofessional because some patients are afraid of blood.
If the crocs are especially dirty, you can also put them in a dishwasher, but this will shorten their life. Another way is to soak them in warm soapy water for a few hours. After that, clean the crocs with a stiff nylon brush. Rub each part of the shoe to remove any stains or dirt that is stuck on it. Then allow the crocs to dry fully before wearing them again.
If you follow these instructions, your crocs will stay away from bacteria and odors.
Comfortable
Crocs are comfortable shoes since the sole is thin. They only weigh a few ounces, and having a thin sole makes them even more comfortable. Plus, wearing crocs makes you feel comfortable as they are made of rubber with excellent elasticity. Rubber is used for producing crocs because it can breathe through holes to enable airflow from the foot. Wearing crocs does not make your feet sweat a lot, as do other slip-on shoes. At the same time, crocs are very light. They are not heavy, even with the thickest soles. This makes them very comfortable to wear.
Ucla Health Educator shared that wearing crocs doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable. It is made of rubber, and thus, people can wear them without feeling uncomfortable. It is a very comfortable shoe to wear because its sole is thick and resilient. Because of its natural resilience, you can be sure that you have a good grip on the surface. Because the sole is thick, it doesn’t flatten quickly.
Medical staff love wearing crocs as they are very comfortable to wear compared to other types of shoes. Moreover, they are devoid of pressure points that may cause pain or discomfort when wearing them for long hours.
You do not have to think about how to tie your shoes every time you are at work. They are also very comfortable, so it’s ideal to wear them after long overtime hours at work. This is why they are so popular with doctors and nurses working in hospitals. Some people even put them on when they sleep. Nobody will doubt their professionalism if they all wear the same shoes. Doctors look more professional wearing identical yellow shoes, which makes patients feel better if they sometimes visit their general practitioner.
Provides Support
Crocs, unlike trainers and boots, have a more durable design. Nurses are an essential element of every hospital, and their job entails carrying and helping patients daily. As a result, wearing a rugged pair of footwear might be uncomfortable and cause leg and backaches. As a result, individuals must wear something comfortable and supportive to support their ankles and feet and protect their backs.
The crocs seem to be ideal for this as they are well-padded and soft, allowing for a comfortable walk and protecting the feet from slipping as much as possible. Also, the crocs have a heel strap that helps to hold up the heel part harder and provides enough support to support a woman’s heels without cutting off circulation.
Helps reduce stress
At first, hospital staff members wore crocs as a fashion statement. The intent was to show off their athletic lifestyle and alleviate stress. But over time, the crocs began to take on a therapeutic function, and it became apparent that wearing these shoes can help reduce doctors’ and nurses’ stress levels. For example, a study of a group of nurses in a pediatric intensive care unit showed that they experienced less stress while performing their duties while their feet were encased in the crocs. This gave them an added boost of energy to finish their demanding job.
The study also showed that the nurses had more positive attitudes toward their jobs after wearing crocs. And they were less likely to suffer from burnout. In addition, a 2014 study found that patients in the beds of four hospitalized patients who wore crocs had lower levels of stress and an easier time adjusting to their surroundings. Thus, the “Crocs effect” is the ability to utilize footwear as a source of comfort and a factor for a positive experience.
Crocs also help doctors feel more connected to their patients. By making it easier to connect with them, doctors and other medical professionals will find it easier to empathize and help their patients. A study of workers at a 70-bed hospital revealed that those who wore crocs had an easier time coping with stressful situations and higher levels of work satisfaction. Doctors and nurses alike feel that they can relate better to the patients they care for when wearing crocs. With their increased popularity, crocs have gained traction in the medical field.
Protection
While clogs protect your feet better than Crocs since they have no gaps in between, both rubber shoes are better than generic trainers because a sharp object could puncture through the fabric of the trainers, harming you and raising a fuss in what could be a delicate circumstance. Because you can’t aid patients if you need help yourself, you must keep your feet covered. Cross is Decreases the Risk of Infection.
Most people don’t like to work in hospitals because they’re scared of catching an infection. Since most hospital staff work shifts and spread germs around the workplace, wearing Crocs and traditional clogs is an intelligent way to avoid the risk because some Crocs are engineered to be germ-proof or bacteria-proof, which is essential in an environment where germs are present.
The inside of the shoe is lined with anti-microbial protection, which can be wiped down after each use to prevent bacterial contamination. Hospitals are filled with germs, bacteria, and viruses – some of which can kill you! In some healthcare facilities, it’s considered a legal requirement to wear protective shoes when on shift.
Easy to Slip into or Slip out off
Hospital staff needs to go from one place to another quickly, clean up space at a moment’s notice, and do various things like moving patients. In such cases, if you’ve taken off your shoes and now need to hurry someplace, you’re wasting precious time that could be crucial in a patient’s health. Crocs are easy to slip into or slip out of with no fuss, which is why they made an excellent decision when it came time for the hospital uniforms.
Slip-Resistant
Crocs are highly slip-resistant and can help reduce the risk of accidents often caused by wet floors. The gripping texture on the bottom of a crocs shoe also helps to prevent someone from slipping and falling.
This is especially important in the health care field, where safety is of utmost importance. Crocs are worn by staff at hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics, nursing homes, and anywhere else that safety is a concern. Furthermore, they let you run quicker on hospital floors, which we’ve found to be slick in many cases.
Breathable
Working in a hospital, you’re already more likely to catch bacteria or fungus. Also, with closed-off shoe wear like trainers, your feet are going to be sweaty, in addition to being in a dense germ environment. Take all that together, and you’re more likely to develop fungal infections like athlete’s foot.
So Crocs offer serious breathability, so hospital staff no longer need to worry about getting too warm or sweaty during long shifts. They also allow for air circulation, which can keep feet from swelling or developing stinky odors.
Durability
Crocs have a long lifespan because they are constructed of rubber and take a long time to wear. Although the color may fade over time, this does not negate the fact that they are durable. They are the most cost-effective options for everyone due to their longevity. You may safely wear them without worrying about when you’ll need to replace them.
This is an advantage of the Crocs vs. other styles of shoes. Crocs are comfortable enough to be worn all day and durable enough to handle accidents without sustaining any damage.
Price
Crocs are not expensive. One of its main draws is that they come in various colors, shapes, and sizes to fit any budget. Depending on the model you choose, they can usually be found at retail stores for around $30-50 USD.
Why Are Crocs Banned In Hospitals?
Crocs were reportedly prohibited at various hospitals in the United States, Canada, Sweden, Austria, and the United Kingdom, according to a 2011 Business Insider story. Designed to prevent “sharp objects penetrating Crocs and other similar footwear,” it seems as if the regulations have been somewhat loosened since then.
Owing to several petitions from physicians and nurses arguing that the shoe was a favorite due to its aforementioned comfort and simplicity of washing, the restriction has been lifted in the majority of regions. However, reports that nurses are still being refused access to some Trusts of the British NHS owing to health and safety rules remain. Thus, Crocs restrictions may still be enforced in certain areas.
Why Is Footwear Important In Medicine?
Medicine may be a physically demanding profession. Both doctors and nurses are required to attend appointments, meetings, and operations, as well as to move about the hospital or clinic. Given these responsibilities, robust footwear is a need.
Additionally, footwear is important in medicine due to the potential hazards posed by the environment. Shoes that are prone to break might result in damage not only to the user, but also to vulnerable patients who may be in the vicinity of a stumbling doctor or nurse. Similarly, machines may be destroyed by a falling healthcare professional.
Finally, sanitation is a primary factor for footwear’s importance in a health-care context. Due to contamination concerns and the transmission of infectious illness, it is vital that shoes can be cleaned and sterilized efficiently to prevent future disease spread.
Conclusion
Many hospitals across the country are switching over to crocs to help save time and money and save nurses’ backs, as they are one of the biggest causes of injury for nurses.
If you’re reading this post, you’re hopefully not too sick or injured to be up and around. But even if you are, you must know why hospital staff wears crocs! It may seem like an odd choice at first, but there is a good reason for it. Crocs are also very lightweight, so hospital staff can wear them all day long without getting tired or burdened. It is also much easier to clean up because the shoes are plastic.
The majority of hospitals ban the sale of crocs because it is not cost-effective to purchase these shoes in bulk, and they are not easy to sanitize. Many hospitals do not allow patient care personnel to wear crocs inside the building, so crocs must be properly washed before being worn outside. As this list illustrates, crocs have some downsides, but there are also some positive attributes that make them worth considering for purchase.
FAQs
Are crocs good for hospital workers?
Yes. People often wear crocs in healthcare settings because they are light, flexible, comfortable, and specifically designed for the demands of fast-paced routines.
Crocs work well with easy-to-remove scrub shoe covers that protect from wound contamination while still allowing air circulation around the feet, which helps prevent foot infections.
What are the benefits of wearing Crocs?
The most important benefit of wearing Crocs is that they are easy to slip on and off. This makes it easy for hospital employees to enter and exit the facility.
Croc shoes also provide comfort in their light-weight design and minimal ankle support, which can be very helpful for nurses who must stand for long periods during their shifts.
What is so special about Crocs?
Crocs is a brand of footwear that’s easy to walk in and probably the easiest to slip on and off (no tying and no shoeshine). So, hospital staff wear Crocs because they’re comfortable, lightweight, non-slip sole, won’t form cracks from water damage over time, and provide excellent traction on both wet and dry surfaces. In addition, they’re affordable, so you can replace them as often as needed.
Do Crocs make your feet smell?
No, but they can give you a bacterial infection.
Hospital staff often wear Crocs in the hospital to fight the bacteria on their feet. However, there are cases where wearing Crocs can make your foot smell because it holds onto bacteria rather than letting them dry out as regular shoes do. This causes an odor that could lead to one form of infection or another, not because the shoe itself creates an odor but because it traps bacteria and dirt inside of it that cause odors outside of your shoes.
How did the idea for hospital staff wearing crocs come about?
Crocs became famous after it were introduced to the hospital in the late 1980s. Dr. Martin Baran, a podiatrist, and inventor conceived of the idea for his patients who had to wear various types of footwear while undergoing treatment or surgery.
Since then, this shoe has become very popular and recognizable with hospital staff and patients alike! Crocs are comfortable and versatile shoes that can be worn on many different surfaces — perfect for medical facilities where patient contact is possible.
Do hospital staff have to clean their crocs?
No, hospital staff members do not have to clean their crocs.
However, because these shoes collect a lot of sand and debris, you should help us keep them clean. It’s as simple as carefully folding up the shoes every time you take them off and then placing them back on.
If they’re getting too smelly or smudged from exposure to the floor, place them in a laundry bag until it’s time for cleaning.
Can hospital staff wear crocs in the operating room?
Hospital staff wears crocs because they are designed to be slip-resistant. And yes, hospital staff can wear crocs in the oerating room.
The shoes available in the market for hospitals are classified into three types: suede-leather shoes, leather shoes, and finally rubber slippers. Rubber slippers are mainly used by bath attendants in hospitals who wash the patients in the tubs