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What are the Best Shoes for Physician Assistants and PA School? Today we’ll be taking a look at the top choices from Physician Assistants on what shoes they want to wear!
When it comes to finding the right shoe, there are several factors that affect what types of shoes you need. For example, if you are a Physician Assistant in the Operating Room, then you might want a different shoe than one on the floor. However, we’ll be taking a look at several examples of shoes you should be wearing.
Additionally, we’ll be taking a look at the Best Shoes for PA School. While in school it can be challenging to find the right pair of shoes. As a student, you’re still trying to find your footing, so it can make shopping difficult. However, we’ll have some awesome introductory options for PA students to get their foot in the door into the world of healthcare shoes.
Throughout this guide, we’ll go over some of the features of the shoes, their build quality, and what we love about them. And, finally, a final buying decision on which shoes you should go with!
Best Shoes for Physician Assistants Criteria: What to Look for?
What should you be looking for in shoes for a Physician Assistant? Typically PA’s can be on their feet all day, and not having the proper stability or support can lead to potential issues down the line. You can experience heel, foot, knee, or back pain.
- Arch Support: Arch support is vital to help alleviate any tissue or foot damage while still prevent knee or back pain (source).
- Insole Cushion: Good cushions help to protect your joints and tissues from damage. Additionally, relief and support from walking impact forces can help your arch.
- Shock-Absorption: Shock-absorption from impact forces can help even the hardest of surfaces feel soft.
- Waterproof: Simple, but effective when dealing with fluids and liquids all day. Having a waterproof shoe can be very important for Physician Assistants.
- Protection: Especially for a surgical PA or when working in the operating room, you’ll need hard object protection on the top of your shoe.
- Style: Style might not be at the top of your list, but it is an important feature that many PA’s want!
- Comfort: Above all, the most important feature to look out for is comfort. While some may swing towards other features, comfort should be a top priority.
What Are the Best Shoes for Physician Assistants?
Starting off our list, we’ll be going over our choices. However, if you have any suggestions, feel free to comment what you wear in your practice below!
Our top choices include the best overall, best for surgical/operating rooms, and the best for being on your feet all day. While different physician assistants might work in different areas, you should be able to find an option for your specialty.
Best Overall: Nike Zoom Pulse Shoes
Why are Nike Zoom Pulse Shoes perfect overall shoes for physician assistants? Well, they are specifically designed by healthcare workers, for healthcare workers (read more). Zoom Pulse shoes combine a comfortable cushioning with a flexible traction. They provide a natural, but very supportive feel.
Additionally, Zoom Pulse shoes have a very easy to clean top surface design that is perfect for physician assistants. They also don’t have laces so you can easily slip them on and off whenever you need. The material feels very durable, but still compliant for a structured comfort.
In conclusion, Nike makes an awesome shoe that is one of the best choices for physician assistants. The Zoom Pulse shoes will be one of our top choices for years to come.
Best for Surgical PA’s:
The best shoes for surigcal physicians assistants (who spend more time in the operating room) are Dansko XP 2.0’s. Dankso shoes are legendary in healthcare and have been a staple for years. They have padded leather uppers with an instep collar for extra comfort when walking.
Additionally, they use a slip-resistant rubber outsole for any spills. The lightweight EVA midsole helps to reduce gait fatigue along with improves stability and shock absorption. The dual density PU foot bed is removable so you can replace it.
Dankso XP 2.0’s help provide the protect that physician assistants need for the operating room and surgical procedures. In addition, they add traction, reliability and all-day comfort for medical professionals on their feet all day.
Best for PA’s On Their Feet All Day: Hoka One One Shoes
Hoka One One Shoes are an awesome choice for physician assistants on their feet all day. Hoka’s are one of the most popular shoes in healthcare right now. They feature a rubber sole with a breathable upper design. The upper material has an engineered mesh with seamless synthetic overlays. Hoka uses a special material that should have abrasian-free wear.
Additionally, they use a very comfortable foam padded insole with a full-length EVA midsole to absorb shock and provide stability. The bottom synthetic sole with rubber inserts offers a surprising amount of grip, even on wet surfaces. Hoka One One offers a large variety of colorways, so you should be able to match them to whatever color scrubs you wear. We did a full Hoka One One Shoe Review, but in conclusion, these are extremely reliable comfortable shoes.
Final Verdict
In the end, whatever shoe you choose, you’ll be very happy with. When it comes to the Best Shoes for Physician Assistants, we highly recommend the Nike Zoom Pulse shoes for overall comfort. If you specialize a bit, then you might have to look at one of the other options. But, any of the shoes on this list are excellent choices.
