Part 3: NURSTEP - The Journey to Becoming the Ideal Nurse's Shoe
For over a year, we have been on an exciting journey, visiting shoe factories and collaborating with a master shoemaker with 40 years of experience. Our goal? To create the perfect shoe for the nursing environment. Together with nine dedicated nurses from NURFIT OBGY and the shoemaker, we accelerated the development of NURSTEP. We have continued to conduct clinical tests, hold online and offline meetings, and pour our hearts into developing a shoe that truly fits the clinical environment. Let’s explore our journey!
Essential Features of Nursing Shoes
Over the past month, we’ve engaged in meaningful discussions about the strengths and areas for improvement of our test shoes, diving deeper into the needs of nurses through our collaboration with NURFIT OBGY. One nurse shared, “I’ve noticed that my back pain has decreased so much that I don’t even need to wear a back brace anymore.” It’s amazing how discomfort in the feet can radiate to the calves, back, and neck. Hearing feedback from Nurse Choi about how her back felt better while wearing our test shoes was truly eye-opening. Many others also commented on the excellent comfort and ankle support, making their feet feel great throughout their shifts. However, there are still areas where we can improve.
"There's not enough ventilation." Although the test shoes had holes designed to enhance breathability, it was noted that airflow was still inadequate. If we were to add more holes to the upper part of the shoe, it would compromise protection against hazards like needles and bodily fluids. We needed to think more about alternative ways to increase ventilation in other areas.
"The sizing is in increments of 10, which makes it hard to choose." When shoes don’t fit properly, they can become loose, causing discomfort as more effort is required from the feet and legs. Even a good shoe can feel uncomfortable if it doesn’t fit right. For foot health, wearing shoes that fit perfectly is crucial for overall support; thus, sizing is a very important aspect. Typically, nursing shoes are often made in increments of 10 rather than 5. In fact, producing in 5 increments poses various challenges regarding inventory management and quantities, making it a difficult decision.
"The soles are slippery." In hospitals, spills from water and bodily fluids or busy situations can frequently lead to slips and falls. Therefore, it was important to ensure that the soles do not slip easily. Additionally, we discussed how to further strengthen the positive aspects while addressing areas for improvement based on the feedback received. This involved multiple internal discussions and development processes. This translation captures your original content while maintaining a professional tone suitable for discussing NURSTEP features.
Shoes Optimized for Clinical Settings
While a 100% perfect shoe may not exist, our goal was to prioritize the essential features that nurses need and ensure that these crucial functionalities are implemented. Among these, comfort for the feet is undoubtedly the most important factor. We developed our shoes with an ergonomic design that supports the arch of the foot, ensuring comfort even during 12-hour shifts. Clinical test results indicated that the comfort level was noticeably superior compared to the shoes they were previously wearing. Additionally, we incorporated feedback from NURFIT OBGY in the following ways:
We decided to add more holes for increased breathability.
This was one of the most challenging aspects of developing nursing shoes. If you look around, you’ll see many shoes with holes on top, but it’s rare to find those with holes on the sides. Typically, when making shoes, machines operate in a vertical motion to create holes, making it difficult to have side openings. Moreover, we needed a design that allows for ventilation while preventing water from entering, which required an engineered slope at the bottom of the holes. Although we thought we had reached the end of the shoe-making process, we encountered another hurdle. However, since many nurses emphasized that breathability is essential for creating shoes optimized for clinical environments, we knew we couldn’t give up.
We decided to produce shoes in 5 size increments.
Most nursing shoes on the market are released in increments of 10, so we initially created our first sample shoes in 10 increments for testing. However, due to the wide range of sizes, many found it difficult to choose a size that fit their feet properly. This posed significant challenges in terms of inventory management and production; however, we ultimately decided to produce in 5 increments because wearing perfectly fitting shoes is crucial for foot health and overall support.
We decided to develop slip-resistant soles.
Nurses often work in hazardous environments and frequently face situations where they might slip. Therefore, we recognized the need for features that enhance safety. A nurse's ability to protect their own safety and avoid slipping ultimately contributes to patient safety as well. With the expertise of a master shoemaker with 40 years of experience, we developed a patented super non-slip outsole. This translation captures your original content while maintaining a professional tone suitable for discussing features of nursing shoes.
We've been refining, tweaking, and perfecting through multiple iterations. And now, drum roll please... we're ready to unveil the near-final NURSTEP sample! We can't wait to see how our NURFIT OBGY members react to this first reveal of NURSTEP. After all, it's your shoe - designed by nurses, for nurses. Stay tuned for the big reveal! 🎉👟
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