What Shoes Look Best with Scrubs?

When I first started working within the healthcare industry, I was so focused on finding the right scrubs – breathable, professional, and comfy enough for long shifts – that I almost overlooked shoes entirely. But trust me, once you’ve clocked up a few 10-hour days on hard floors, you quickly realise that your footwear matters just as much as what you wear on top.

So in this post, I want to share everything I’ve learned, both from personal experience and from listening to what our customers tell us every day, and how Medshop’s fantastic range of nursing shoes and clogs can help.

Understanding the Importance of Proper Footwear in Healthcare

As a healthcare professional, you’ll spend hours at a time standing and moving around, meaning you need adequate footwear to provide long-term comfort, pain reduction, and mobility support.

For example, many nurses look for non-slip soles to reduce the chance of falling, and cushioned insoles to help support arch fatigue. Nurses with flatfeet, for instance, should look for arched insoles and footwear specifically designed to prevent pain and reduce rubbing and swelling.

You’ll also need a breathable pair of shoes that can keep your feet cool during long periods, and shock absorption can help to reduce pain and fatigue you might experience on longer shifts.

Ultimately, it’s important to look for the best nursing shoes built for purpose because foot pain can lead to fatigue in your back and legs – and, all together, you risk getting tired and feeling too strained to work to your full potential.

According to Foundation Podiatry, if you don’t support your feet, the rest of your body will suffer:

“Your body is linked like a kinetic chain, with your feet being the FOUNDATION for the rest of your body. If your feet are ‘out-of-whack’, then this can throw the next link (ankle) in the chain out, which throws the next link (knee) out, and so on right up to the lower back.”

Foundation Podiatry

Don’t simply assume your everyday shoes or sneakers will be suitable to wear during shiftwork – you might only wear them for a few hours at a time. How can you be sure they will endure nine, ten hours or more on your feet?

Features to Consider When Choosing Footwear

When shopping for the best footwear for healthcare jobs, you should prioritise comfort, slip resistance, durability, ease of cleaning, breathability, and style. Remember, also, to look for shoes that support your specific foot arch type – one size and type does not always fit all.

Let’s explore the features worth shopping around for.

Comfort

Comfort should be your number one priority when shopping for nursing shoes. Look for supportive footwear that supports your feet’s specific needs, whether it’s cushioning, memory foam, overpronation support, or moisture-wicking and breathability. Remember, supportive shoes are a solid investment.

Slip Resistance

Think about all the slippery surfaces and wet floors you come across from day to day. You’ll need a pair of shoes that help you keep grip on the slippiest of surfaces underfoot – otherwise, you might end up in hospital as a patient!

Durability

You don’t want to have to replace your nursing shoes more than you absolutely need to – meaning it’s worth looking for footwear that’ll withstand serious wear and tear, day after day, for hours at a time.

Ease of Cleaning

You’ll come across lots of nasty messes in wards and corridors – and to stay professional, healthy, and stylish, you’ll need shoes that are easy to wipe down, spot clean, and even machine wash and tumble dry if possible.

Breathability

On hot days, your feet will get warm, sweaty, and uncomfortable over long shifts. Prioritise shoes made from breathable fabrics to reduce rubbing and unnecessary discomfort and pain.

Style

Yes – nursing shoes should serve function first, but you don’t have to sacrifice your sense of style. Look for pairs that complement scrubs in terms of colour and professional aesthetic. Luckily, many different types of shoes blend well with scrubs, and we’ll come to some examples below.

Tip: If you struggle with swelling and foot pain regularly when standing and working for long periods, do also consider choosing compression socks from our online collection.

Types of Shoes Suitable for Scrubs

You can easily pair scrubs with sneakers, clogs, slip-ons, athletic and running shoes, and boots – and Medshop offers a wide range of these options.

• Sneakers: Classic comfort and ease of movement. Plus, they’re often super stylish, and great for showing off personality. That said, you should avoid canvas sneakers, where possible – they’re not very durable, and absorb all sorts of dirt and liquid.

• Clogs:   Popular with nurses because they offer amazing grip, they’re easy to slip on and off, and are impressively durable and versatile.

• Slip-on shoes:  Like clogs, are very convenient if you need to get changed quickly, and they’re often super comfortable as well as being practical for all healthcare jobs.

• Athletic and running shoes:  Ideal for healthcare roles because they’re designed to withstand punishment! Superb for endurance and support, active shoes will keep you comfortably on your feet for hours.

• Boots:  Not ideal for all situations, but for ease of cleaning, infection prevention, and professional aesthetics, they’re great. They pair well with lab coats and scrubs, too.

How to Style Scrubs with Appropriate Footwear

When choosing footwear for your scrubs, consider whether you’re wearing jogger-style or flowing outfits. Close fitting, tailored scrubs tend to be more flattering than most, and look great with relaxed footwear such as sneakers, slip-ons, and clogs.

Consider colours carefully – within your dress code, and based on your personal style. We recommend choosing neutral shades or simple black or white shoes to complement most scrub colours and patterns in our catalogue. For example, greens, blues, greys, and blacks are very easy to match up with neutral shoe colours – and you’ll look more professional, too.

Professionalism is key, of course, but you shouldn’t sacrifice comfort at any cost. Invest in stylish shoes that don’t stand out as much as your leisure footwear but offer long-lasting support and comfort. Choose shoes and scrubs that complement your body and its shape.

Top Brands to Look Into for Healthcare Shoes

Medshop is thrilled to offer nursing shoes from Oxypas, Sanita, Clove Medical, and other respectable brands. Here’s a quick preview of these three labels to get you inspired.

Sanita

Sanita clogs and nursing shoes are simple, stylish, and in huge demand and supply here at Medshop. Our buyers love this brand’s footwear for its immense colour palette and increasing stock volumes – there’s always something new to buy.

Of course, if you’re not a clog person, Sanita might not be your first choice – they are clog specialists!

Oxypas

Oxypas is another nursing shoe line that’s picked up some great reviews from our customers. Its shoes are designed to be breathable and easy to get on and off – and, it also retails in handy insoles for feet of all sizes.

That said, Oxypas has a smaller range in our catalogue compared to Sanita right now – meaning you might want to consider the former if you need more choice.

Clove

Clove makes up the largest collection of nursing footwear we have available right now – meaning there’s an amazing range of sneakers, active shoes, and more, in varying colours and styles that look great with different scrub looks.

The one downside you might find is that Sanita and Oxypas shoes are much more affordable – but, you certainly get what you pay for, as Clove shoes will endure months if not years of regular wear.

Conclusion

It’s easy to focus all your energy on picking the right scrubs – but I’ve learned the hard way that great shoes are just as important. The right pair can keep you going, keep you safe, and even lift your mood during a tough day.

So, if you’re on the hunt for work shoes that tick all the boxes – comfort, support, style, and safety – browse through our latest collections. We’re always adding more to help you find your perfect fit.

 

Sources

Buy Oxypas Clogs & More. (n.d.). In Medshop Australia. Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.medshop.com.au/collections/brands/oxypas

Buy Sanita Clogs. (n.d.). In Medshop Australia. Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.medshop.com.au/collections/sanita-shoes

Cumper, C. (2023). The Best Nursing Shoes for 2025: Ultimate Comfort & Style. In Medshop Australia. Medshop. https://www.medshop.com.au/blogs/news/best-nursing-shoes

Flatfeet - Symptoms and causes. (n.d.). In Mayo Clinic. Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flatfeet/symptoms-causes/syc-20372604

Foot Pain vs Back Pain: Can my feet be causing my back pain? (n.d.). In Foot Pain vs Back Pain: Can my feet be causing my back pain? Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.foundationpodiatry.com.au/foot-pain-vs-back-pain-can-my-feet-be-causing-my-back-pain

How to determine foot arch type. (n.d.). In Mayo Clinic Health System. Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/how-to-determine-foot-arch-type

Nursing Compression Socks. (n.d.). In Medshop Australia. Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.medshop.com.au/collections/nursing-compression-socks

Nursing shoes & Clogs. (n.d.). In Medshop Australia. Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.medshop.com.au/collections/nursing-shoes-clogs