PORTLAND, Ore. — Nike announced last week that they are planning to release a new shoe designed specifically for those in the medical field.
The company said the Nike Air Zoom Pulse is "a shoe for everyday heroes: nurses, doctors, home health providers and others who work tirelessly to support patients."
Nike conducted product testing on the shoe at OHSU Doernecher Children's Hospital in Portland, and all profits will be donated to the hospital.
One of the nurses involved was Lily Doebler, a registered nurse for the past 10 years.
"It was a very fun process and it was great to be able to get feedback," Doebler said, stopping to talk with KGW in between patients.
The shoe will feature a laceless face with a protective coating for easy cleaning, an elastic strap, a durable outsole and a comfortable fit.
"I think everybody has to find a shoe that works for them, but having good shoes. We work with kids, so having shoes that are wipeable, shoes that are comfortable, shoes that are lightweight and that support our whole body dynamic are important," Doebler said
Nike said it's not uncommon for some medical personnel to walk four or five miles during the course of a 12-hour shift and that the shoe's design helps combat that fatigue.
"Nursing is physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging. It’s not just walking and standing but running, bending, lifting and twisting while moving patients," said Therese O’Donnell, a registered nurse and an Oregon Nurses Association’s Nurse Practice Consultant. "You have to do all this while creating care plans, educating patients and family members and caring for multiple patients at the same time."
Having proper footwear and good body mechanics is critical in order to keep nurses from becoming a patient.
"Fatigue, falls and repetitive stress injuries are common. Nurses and other health care workers suffer more musculoskeletal injuries than almost any other profession," O'Donnell said.
It also confronts a range of medical-worker-specific challenges such as standing for long periods of time and quick movements in emergency situations.
Although the shoe was designed for nurses, doctors, home health providers, it can be bought and enjoyed by everybody.
"In the past, there’s been this notion that ‘nursing shoes’ need to be boring or lack style. We’re seeing that idea change as more companies start marketing to nurses and other health care workers. It’s a huge market. There are more than 4 million registered nurses in the U.S. alone. It’s encouraging to see more companies providing products that meet nurses needs and add some style," O'Donnell said.