This weekend, we put up our holiday tree. Each year, I love taking all the ornaments out of the boxes and thinking about all the memories associated with each one. This year, there was a particular ornament that seemed very special-it was a gift from my former supervisor at the library at Ball State University. She had given me a Christmas ornament. It was a young looking brunette nurse wearing green scrubs with a clipboard in her hand. On the left pocket of the scrub top, she had written my last name in very small letters, and on the clipboard, it read "Merry Christmas 2001." She gave me this ornament as a gift for graduating nursing school, as I was a December grad. As I unwrapped more ornaments, I found even more nurse ornaments given to me by friends and family that I still treasure every year.

What other things make great gifts for nurses? Maybe you have co-workers or staff you are looking to buy for this season. Here are my suggestions:

• Unscented, but very moisturizing hand soap. Nurses wash their hands what seems like hundreds of times a day, and in the winter, their skin gets very dried out. What has worked for me are hand creams that contain hemp as an ingredient, it really seems to be the only thing to soften my hands and protect them.
• I have said how much I love these before, but a nice pair or two or support socks. Lydia's stocks the Nurse Mates compression stockings. I just bought myself two pairs on Cyber Monday and I just took them off after wearing them all day long. I wanted to even wear them to bed, but I decided to let my feet be free for a while.
• An extra pair of hemostats. There are so many times during they workday when I wish I had my own set. Whether it's to untwist some tight IV tubing or something else, they really come in handy and are sometimes hard to come by.
• A nice flashlight. Again, another tool that is hard to come by on the nursing unit but it is very handy. Especially when anchoring indwelling catheters or working night shift. Maybe splurge and get a metal one that can be engraved, so someone else doesn't run off with it.
• Massage gift certificates. Nurses are on their feet anywhere from 8-16 hours a day. When we come home, we're sore. And let's face it, nurses deserve it.

So sure, this is not an exhaustive list, but hopefully it will get you started. Do you have any great suggestions? Feel free to post, or post about the most thoughtful nurse gift you've ever received.

Crocs: All Crocs™ shoes are uniquely designed and manufactured using the company’s proprietary closed-cell resin, Croslite™, a technology that gives each pair of shoes the soft, comfortable, lightweight, non-marking and odor-resistant qualities that Crocs wearers know and love. Crocs™ footwear is ideal for casual wear, as well as for professional use and recreational activities.

More than 100 million pairs of Crocs™ footwear have been sold. So what are you waiting for? “Feel the love™” and try a pair of Crocs™ shoes today. We promise your feet will thank you for it.

The Crocs Mercy Work Shoe is one of the more comfortable nursing shoes available. These Crocs are made with lock™ tread and a stylish enclosed upper this work shoe will keep you comfortable even on the longest days.

The Crocs Mercy Work Shoe features:

• Crocs Lock™ tread demonstrates slip-resistant characteristics for oil, water, soap and a variety of other conditions
• Made with Croslite™ that relieves pressure on feet, legs and back, and also includes circulation nubs to increase blood flow
• Enhanced arch support and footbed circulation nubs ensure all-day comfort
• Comfortable loose fit with a closed heel and heel-hugging back strap
• Croslite™ material build that forms to your foot
• Easy to clean and odor-resistant

Here's a review from our customer Nurse Letty in Manchester, NH:

Awesome Crocs!!!!

This Crocs are quite comfortable. I have few clogs from another shoe company, but Crocs out did it again with the Mercy Work shoes. Very roomy, and can be worn with medium thick socks, for those with skinny feet. Overall a great pair of shoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nurse Mates: #1 selling support sock has become the preferred choice of professionals. Our SuppSock offers comfortable support and compression to help promote circulation and relieve leg stress and swelling that many active professionals experience. Nurse Mates has been committed to delivering quality, innovative products for nearly fifty years.

These support socks by Nurse Mates have been tested and approved by Nurses Advisory Board!

The SuppSock features a knit-in top band keeps socks up without constricting leg, knee high length, graduated support for enhanced comfort and relief from leg fatigue, Lycra blend throughout lends support to arch, compression graduated from heel to top of band for better circulation and 8mm/Hg of compression. Made with 95% nylon/5% Lycra spandex.


Want to know more about the benefits of a compression sock and how they work? Click here to read my previous blog "You've heard of compression socks, but what are they for?"

Here's a review from our customer Erin in Bloomington, IN:

Works great for me!

I love these socks. Not only do they keep my legs from hurting, they keep them warmer in the winter under thin scrub pants. I love wearing them at home, too. They make my legs feel cozy, like they are getting a hug. I had no problems with them rolling down, and that is even after I've gained a few pounds... I teach nursing and even recommended to my students.
 

DEAL ALERT: $5 shipping coupon for any size order!

 

If you wear medical uniforms, you know of Nurse Mates! A medical brand that is well-known for quality and comfort built in their shoes and their great nursing socks!

What is the benefit of compression socks?
Simply put - they help with leg fatigue!

How do they work?
Compression stocking are designed to increase blood circulation. This is done by using strong elastic material that fits tightly at the foot/ankle and gradually become less tight at the knee/thigh.

By compressing the surface veins, arteries and muscles, the circulating blood is forced through narrower circulatory channels. As a result, the arterial pressure is increased which causes more blood to return to the heart. This motion helps to drive blood back to the heart, reduce swelling in the feet and prevent blood clot formation. Thus reducing swelling in the feet and also decreasing the chance of blood clot formation in the legs.

Compression items are made in many levels of compression, usually 10-30mmHg, but they are made in higher levels that can be recommended or prescribed by your doctor. Please note that compression stockings should be strong but not very tight. If it is too small it will apply way too much external pressure making your legs feel even more tired. And if the stockings are too big it will just not provide the compression you need. They also come in different styles like knee-highs, thigh-highs and full-support.

If you haven't tried compression socks before, the Nurse Mates Butterfly Compression Trouser Socks is a perfect pair to start. The search for your perfect level of compression could easily start with these. They are made with a comfortable level of 11mm/Hg of compression and are priced for every budget!   

The Nurse Mates Butterfly Compression Trouser Socks are made with 83% nylon/17% Lycra, 11mm/Hg of compression, graduated support, roomy toe area, have a comfort cuff and are made in USA.

Here’s a review from our customer Janelle in Bronx, NY:

Great Value

I never thought that compression stockings would work. That is until I purchased these and wore them on a very busy day at work. I realized that when I went home, my legs weren't feeling sore, as they always do after working. I plan on buying more so that I will have one pair for each day I work. I absolutely love these! Not to mention they match my uniform color!

Ever since I returned to bedside nursing, I've suffered from sore feet. By the end of the workday, I could barely walk home. When I started working as a clinical instructor, the pain  became even worse because I had to supervise students spread out all over the place on a large clinical unit and found myself walking even more.

After limping around in agony even at home on my days off, I finally decided to go to the doctor. She confirmed what I already suspected. I had plantar fasciitis. She told me in addition to taking anti-inflammatories and icing my foot all day, I needed to get supportive shoes and wear them at all times. 

The very next day, I used my $5.00 off coupon I received via email for my birthday from Lydia's Uniforms (are you receiving these? If not, sign up!) to order a pair of Skechers Shape-Ups. I did some research and saw that the shoes received high ratings from customers on Amazon, even from people with plantar fasciitis. The shoes were already on sale, so I figured I didn't have much to lose. And I've been trying for months to lose leftover pregnancy weight so if they could also help me tone up, it would be an added bonus.

I've been wearing the shoes for several weeks now on the hospital floor, and when I come home at night, my feet and legs aren't killing me. It takes lots and lots of time to recover from plantar fasciitis, so I am not exactly pain free at all times, but there is a marked improvement.

I've also started wearing some Nurse Mates support socks, which I also purchased from Lydia's. The socks come all the way up to my knees, and I feel like I'm getting a calf massage all day long when I wear them. They also provide some added warmth under my scrubs during the freezing winter and spring we've been having in the midwest. They offer graduated compression on the legs, and will hopefully save me from some varicose veins, too.

You know as a healthcare professional that you are on your feet all day (or all night) long, so you need to take care of them. Invest in a pair of good shoes, treat yourself to a massage every now and then, and don't avoid going to the doctor if they've been bothering you for a long time like I did.

I'm sure the Shape-Up isn't the only great shoe out there. Do you have a pair that you love? I want to hear about them!

Alegria states: '"Color Therapy' uses colors and affordable fashion-forward styling to enhance your mood, while its unique Rocker Outsole delivers full-body benefits by minimizing stress on muscles, joints and backs for all day energy. It is the Perfect Shoes for all ages and professions, such as nurses, doctors, chefs & cooks, servers, hosts, hair dressers, artists, etc, who walk and stand for long hours."

• Mild Rocker Outsole
• Perfect Fit Footbed
• Color Therapy
 

The Alegria Classic Shoe has received great reviews! This shoe features a rocker sole engineered to roll naturally which helps to tone leg muscles, improve posture, and reduce stress on muscles, joints, and back. Patented interlocking footbed system with arch support forms to the natural contours of your foot providing a customized fit. Also the soles are slip resistant. Everything you need in a great nursing shoe!


Here’s a review from our customer Megan from Tucson, AZ:

These shoes are made for nurses. The footbed molds to the shape of your foot for perfect support and the rocker sole takes stress off your legs when walking or standing. My back has never felt better! Not to mention, the patterns are very stylish. I will have a closet full of these shoes before long.

Treat your feet, treat yourself... to some "COLOR THERAPY" with Alegria!


*Check out our Medical Supply Store to find stethoscopes, totes, hosiery/socks, lanyards... Don't forget about out Medical Supply Store Clearance section!

Today’s post is all about comfort for your feet. Although I love to write about styles and the latest trends, comfortable shoes are an equally important part of a medical uniform and a great investment. With so many medical professionals working long shifts and spending countless, consecutive hours on their feet, good supportive shoes are a necessity.

At Lydia’s we have a wide selection of nursing shoes in a variety of styles like Mary Janes, clogs, Oxfords and sneakers. And some of our more popular brands include: Merrell, Dansko, Nursemates and Dawgs Shoes.  The Landau RX is one of our best-sellers and the new Skechers Shape-Ups have been a big hit as well.

So which nursing shoes do you like best? Is there a particular style or brand that prevents worn out feet after a long shift? What qualities are most important to you when you’re searching for a new pair of nursing shoes? Do they need to be supportive, breathable, stylish, comfy or all of the above? Leave a comment and tell us which shoes get you through your workday.

Or if you need to invest in comfort for your feet follow these links to shop our selection of nursing shoes and nursing socks at Lydia’s Uniforms.

Chrissi, a Nurse at a VA medical center, volunteered to take her Dansko Unisex Nursing Shoes on a road test and present us with a review of these popular medical uniform shoes. As someone who has been wearing these shoes for years, I thought she would be perfect for the job. I asked her a few questions about the shoes and she shared her opinions.

Describe a typical day in these shoes.
I work midnights and typically am on my feet most of the night- so I wear these shoes from 12 midnight to 8 am and am on the go go go. I typically will just throw them on with jeans as well if I am out running errands, outside picking up kids etc.

How long have you owned these medical uniform shoes? Have they held up well?
I have had this pair since I was pregnant with my middle son who is almost 4. They are JUST now starting to show signs of needing to be replaced and I wear them daily.

What do you think about the sizing of these shoes?
I think they run pretty true to size. I bought mine a size bigger than what I normally wear so they would feel comfortable with socks and boy am I glad I did. I love love love love these shoes!

What is the best thing about these shoes?
How comfortable they are and the durability.

What dislikes/complaints do you have about these shoes?
None. Literally.

Would you recommend these shoes to others?
ABSOLUTLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What else should we know about these shoes?
Nothing that I can think of. They are great, long lasting, durable shoes. Fantastic shoes.