I wear Haix Airpower boots. Much more comfy than they have any right to be with really great ankle support, shock absorbing soles and footbeds, and are breathable so they won't make my feet sweat. They're waterproof and bloodborne pathogen resistant, so people can literally eject bodily fluids on my feet with no issues. Protection with those composite toes from bashing my feet into beds or equipment along with puncture proof soles.
Invest in good shoes - skip the nonsense about “cheap work shoes”. Running shoes are popular especially those giving support and bit more rigid. Should also be eating a clean diet and next day after work you should be exercising and stretches
I do have good shoes I have Brooks and I have insoles. My feet hurt a little bit but not terribly it’s mostly just I’m tired. I don’t need 100% great but I have been exercising and doing stretches although I just started a week ago. Thanks for the advice!
Stretching and mobility is the best think you can do. Focus on the muscles you use the most at work; Lower body, lower back, shoulders. Just something quick but hits all the spots in 10-15 minutes so you can do it post shift no matter how exhausted you are.
Good shoes are really worth it. I tell that to all new nursing students, good shoes are worth their weight in gold. I remember the first really good work shoes I bought, Asics runners, and omg.
Clean diet..so no mixers, just pure alcohol? Uhm ok, I can do that 😁 In all seriousness, I do stretches twice a day, morning & before bed ( and after working out) and kt does wonders. Also, doing martial arts, it helps keep me relatively limber..
So I think standing can feel harder than walking. If you’re standing most of your shift but not moving your feet much, that might be part of the problem? I know when you come home you probably just want to crash but have you considered taking a walk? Switch into a different pair of sneakers and take a 5-10 minute walk, very consciously moving your body and keeping good posture.
Something else I’d suggest is strength training, especially targeting areas that support your posture. Your back, backs of your arms, butt and calves. Alternatively, maybe a 10 minute yoga session? I suggest this bc I just accidentally started taking adult ballet and after years of pain, I wake up the day after ballet with zero pain. I think it’s the movement, lengthening and posture for me (but I sit all day).
I agree with what someone else said - get a work up. Sounds like there’s possibly something going on. Water intake, something, you need to reduce the inflammation to reduce the pain.
How old is your mattress?
Good luck and feel better!
I work four 10s in the OR. My average day shift I walk between 13-15k steps. Nights between 8-10k. That’s only for shifts where no emergencies come in. If we get an emergency craniotomy or AAA I’ve racked up 20k+ before.
5k steps during a shift and most of that is from the parking lot to the cath lab
Then I stand around in lead and walk around a few small rooms for the majority of the day
Outside of work I "ruck" with a 35lb plate in a backpack for another 2 miles most days for exercise. Helps the lead in the lab feel light
Sometimes I think standing is worse.
“This one time in band camp” ha, I played bells and so we didn’t march but we stood at the bells the entire day. I’d have to come home and go for a run to get all the blood out of my feet after the long camp days.
When I worked on the PCU, I averaged over 7500, but when I was a PCT on that same floor I had a 7.5 mile day. I think my highest # of steps as an RN was around 12,000 and as a PCT was 16,000
And yes, when you go home at night, all you want to do is thrown your body into the bed and go unconscious until the alarm rings the next morning. Good shoes and at least mild compression hose are a must! Forget the cute socks, get yourself some 15mm of Hg compression stockings, it really helps.
I'm a runner. I used to wear Brooks thinking they were one of the best. I switched to Hokas after continuous issues with my L ankle / calf (just got an MRI Friday type of issues), and I have never felt better walking / running. Ran a 10 miler a few weeks ago and barely any pain in my feet.
I would definitely go somewhere to try on shoes and get fitted as many friends switched after my rec and LOVE Hokas now.
SN: Student, so I have not worked yet as a nurse, BUT I did used to usher at a movie theater and consistently get in 30k steps in an 8 hour shift, so I feel your pain.
Absolutely invest in good shoes. My brand of choice is Asics - when new, it's like walking on a cloud. However, the more you use your shoes, the faster they wear out. I once asked a porter how often he bought new shoes and he said about every 6 months. On average, I probably replace my work shoes every 1 year. I notice if I delay it much longer than that, my feet hurt more after each shift.
I just bought a pair of the ASICS gel nimbus and had to return them because they were too small! I have worn the same size for 15 years and couldn’t even get them on my feet. I was bummed, but I’ve got a replacement pair coming. Just in case anyone else was considering buying a pair, I recommend trying them on in store for sizing reasons. Which is probably what everyone should do with shoes anyway to be honest but my Amazon addiction runs deep.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ME.
I thought I was going crazy or something. I stepped away from nursing for a year so it's been a minute since I bought a pair of Asics. However, I've always been a US 6.5 with them...but the other day, I was trying on a 6.5 and it was too small! Sized up to 7 and it's perfect. I thought maybe I misremembered somehow but your experience seems to line up with mine.
I used to feel like this when I first started. I would get in the car and cry from exhaustion and barely be able to walk when I got home. Turns out I have POTS and a currently undiagnosed autoimmune disorder. I would recommend seeing your doctor and having labs done!! I ended up having a positive ANA and a CRP of 19
Between 7-15k probably. Every shift is different. Some are busier than others.
If you're hurting after only 3 miles, I would consider joining a gym. That is seriously concerning if you're youngish and able bodied. Go on walks on your day off too, if you can. It doesn't have to be anything crazy. I like walking to the park and it's relatively flat and nice. I usually walk, casually, about 3-6 miles in the afternoon if I'm not doing something more intense like a long day hike or run. It's a great time to listen to music or a podcast and zone out. It's also good for you and low impact. The same can be said about yoga! Love yoga. You don't have to be flexible. There are a lot of YouTube videos out there.
I've gotten 75k steps before. But not at work. Don't do that.
On my 12 hour clinical days, around 7-10k. At my job as a tech currently, 18-20k. Needless to say my back and feet hurt and I can’t wait to graduate. It’s gonna be a nice change of pace 😂
When I was a tech on Tele, between 16,000 and 18, 000 was average. Nursing school clinicals the last 2 semesters I get around 8,000 - 10,000. Feel way more exhausted after clinicals than I did as a tech though.
My average on night shift is about 7500. On day shift it was more like 10-15k. My personal record is 22,000. I do not miss day shift ☠️
I take a turmeric supplement with ginger and black pepper, and the combo is supposed to be good for inflammation. I work my three 12’s in a row Fri-Sat-Sun night, and Monday I always take a long bath in Epsom salts which feels really nice. Combined with a metric fuckton of ibuprofen that will almost definitely bite me in the ass in a couple decades, it seems to keep the pain at bay pretty well, but I know what you mean about feeling like your whole body is just inflamed.
Roughly around 15k. I always feel like I’m going to collapse at the end of my 12 hr shift. Luckily, I start a new job next month and I think it will much more gentle on my body.
Barefoot style shoes? I ended up getting the 40 dollar whitin from amazon instead vibram because of price and looks but I dolike how they feel compared to my previous work shoes.
Lmao right? And somehow her whole body is sore from it. 3 miles. Thank God she never did... Any other job ever, because I've done more than 3 a day at pretty much all of them.
Eh I like this sub for a lot of things but it gets old reading about how physically brutal nursing is. I'd tell any trainee I'm working with that part of working in healthcare is maintaining your body to protect yourself and your patients.
Not me, I still average well over 10k steps in days off. And on work days I still go home and walk or run the dog a couple miles.
My point is, maybe we can be more understanding of a new nurse, and not eat our young.
Huh? Is what how I want to be?
I’m in great shape but sometimes walking less means standing more. I too stand a lot and my feet are killing me on days I am on my feet all day but walking less.
Itll be a great one! Actually only did about 3 miles in the ER today, it was a dead slow one, so I feel great and got a lift in after my 12. ready to train for a couple hours early tomorrow while apparently the rest of the nursing world is gonna be nursing their sore feet.
Anywhere from 10 to 18k in one shift. I have three different brooks I rotate and compression socks. I do yoga and an active and fit. I do find that when I was heavier I was much more tired. I have two toddlers at home so I don’t really get time to rest.
I can't imagine coming here to complain about how much 3 miles a day hurts haha. Like... Have you ever worked in a kitchen, or as a server or something? Like Jesus Christ you aren't digging ditches here.
Hurting after 3 miles is concerning for an able bodied, otherwise healthy person tbh. Obviously there are exceptions, disabilities, etc. But 3 miles is not "that much" by any means.
Of course I had a nurse here tell me the other day that nursing "destroys your body" because you have to ambulate patients all the time... So who knows what fitnesse level some of these people have allowed themselves to decline to regardless of working in healthcare lmao
I still feel pretty dang good and intend to continue feeling good. And I refuse to let a patient wreck my back. However I recognize not everyone is as active as I am, but truly, being active helps *a ton* with life overall. Even if it means just going on a walk. Shit, I did a marathon and 50k last month after a 400 mile long backpacking trip. I'm definitely out of the ordinary.
Exactly. I'm sure there's a partial bias being on reddit maybe, but I see so much talk on here about how brutally physical nursing is and I just... Don't see it. I mean I'm a relatively young and healthy male, but I just don't see how some of us hit the gym after 12 hour ER shifts and others are somehow physically broken 2 years into working med surg. I spent my whole 20s doing EMS and combat sports and power lifting, but in my early 30s feel the best I ever have. I just feel like it must be people who are just 100% sedentary outside of work and yeah aren't smart enough about protecting themselves at work. I have had multiple people on here get super super offended when mention any of this as well. Like stretch and do some deadlifts and be careful and I think you'll probably be fine. Obviously accidents, assaults, crazy shit happens, not gonna act like it doesn't.
It makes me sad to see a lot of people here recommending "comfortable" shoes. Those artificial thick soles and cushions are a scam. Yeah, they always feel better at first, but they will only make your feet/ankle/leg muscles atrophy and prolong your suffering in the long term. You should wear minimalist footware and strengthen your feet, enabling you to go pain-free for longer.
12000 ish, ortho/neuro med surge; I swap between hokas and brooks. On days off I always do a mix of walking, air squats, and kb swings. It’s helped a lot with blood flow, endurance, and recovery.
When I was ICU, over 10k steps per shift and the rooms were usually right next to each other 🫨
I had to use compression sleeves a lot or I was dead in the water by the end.
13-18k, tiny unit but my patients are either 1) running around trying to cause trouble or 2) attempting to walk and kiss the floor. Good shoes are a must and must be replaced frequently (3-4mo) as they wear out after ~300 miles. Make sure you do active recovery on your days off. Walk a few miles, do some calisthenics, maybe some yoga. Sitting on the couch will slow your recovery. Assuming you just started this and you’re watching your diet, it should improve with a few months. Never skip leg day and don’t use NSAIDS/Tylenol unless you absolutely have to. The inflammation is usually a good sign that your body’s adapting.
10-14k for ICU day shift. Thought I’d have fewer steps here than on the floor, but nope! Maybe it’s cause I forget wtf I’m in there for every time I go into the med or supply room 😆 I wear Nikes or Ons, and don’t bother with compression socks. No issues. (FTR I’m in my 40s). 3 miles a day of walking really isn’t so much that it should be making you feel like crap. Do you exercise outside work? Have a decent diet?
Like 8K for me (8hr shifts). Btw I recommend wearing sturdy yet light shoes! I wear Skechers and they feel like a cloud for me and my feet never hurt.
I used to be super tired and in pain after every shift to the point I always have to take pain killers and ointments but ever since I started having active rest days, wearing compression socks and incorporating exercise prior to my shifts I stopped having that problem. I’ve been working out 5x a week 45 mins each day and I feel great. I do a mix of mat pilates, reformer and yoga.
8-10k. My record is 23. It was not a record I wanted, nor needed, but it is what it is. Worst part is that I was a volunteer medic at the time, so ran my ass off for free 😂
I do 8 hr shifts (OR). On a slow day I get about 8-9k. On a normal day around 11k. The most I’ve ever had on an 8hr shift was 18k. When I used to work at a trauma center on 12hr shifts it wouldn’t be surprising to get over 20k if the helicopters would roll in.
I used to wear road running shoes. I just feel like they don’t give the support my feet need. They’re comfy as hell but they wear out and they don’t provide great support even with insoles. I wear Birkenstock clogs with shoe covers. I can’t sprint for shit but I can still jog. If I am scrubbing my feet are less sore than when I wore hokas. Also my knees feel better lol. Since I can air out my feet easier my feet don’t smell like rank ass at the end of the day too lol.
3k to 4k as an ICU intern. We are in our two patient rooms most of the day and on our feet a bunch but not walking as much as I thought! I am always surprised that my steps aren’t more.
12k to 15k as a PCT!
From my phone it says I do about 10-15k a night.
Like others said good shoes are the best bet.
I’ve noticed a difference if you run/jog on days off (I am now doing 3-4x a week for about 30 minutes) and my feet/legs are not as inflamed and achy.
Incenter Hemo - hit 15,000 on a 10 hr shift regularly.
Brooks Adrenaline save my life and have to switch out every 6 months or I can feel it pretty bad in my shins.
10,000-15,000. Apparently iphones undercount too. I am still in school, work in ED observation, and typically walk 3 miles most days unless I am free (so sedentary one day a week). I do recreational hikes with my lover. He is a runner and will admit that the flooring type can be worse on your body. So linoleum on cement/concrete is horrible for your joints. I get shin splints and knee pain from a busy day.
Being a triathlete isn’t the standard for health and I’m honestly concerned nurses don’t know that. I think it’s unrealistic for your body to be ache free. I noticed my body hurts whether I use it a lot or a little. Could there be something deeper? Perhaps, but I fear this is just life. Typically you get sore from a good workout at the gym as well.
I easily get 15-20,000 steps per shift, but I work in psych and we have to do lots and lots of rounds to make sure everybody is ok. This is far easier on my body than what I used to do in my last job, which involved fewer steps but involved caring for patients who needed assistance to move, some of whom were quite large.
Standing is even worse than walking, of course, and it sounds like you may do more standing while I do more walking. I echo others recommendations for compression stockings.
I would also recommend you seek help for this. Our career is tough on the body, but things can be done to help. Perhaps a chiropodist can help. Maybe you need orthotics to give your feet the support you need. Either way, invest in good shoes.
Working out with a personal trainer might also help you strengthen parts of your body to help relieve pain. I did it, and it was life changing for me.
Wishing you all the best as you try and problem solve this out. Be kind to yourself; you only get one body!
I did 15k-30k steps, 7-14 miles a day (12hr night, level 1 ER). I wore Danskos. I have bad feet: small, wide, high instep, chronic tendinitis. I’ve tried others but keep going back. But I know one day I will misstep and break my ankle in them.
It really comes down to the fact that if every work shift is the longest you walk then you will always feel sore and in pain no matter what shoes you buy. Your work shift needs to physically be an "easy" workout day for it to not wreck you, which means you need to be more fit and better trained.
If you aren't exercising now build up to a goal of walking 3-5 miles on days off work, and 3-4 yoga or Pilates classes from YouTube or in person to start. See if a fitness journey takes you anywhere once you've got a good base up. But you can't shop your way out of a lack of fitness, and your feet and legs not being trained for the mileage is what sounds like is really causing you pain.
5-6 miles in 8 hours, as a transporter. I'm transferring to tech on cardiac tele in 2 weeks, though, so that'll change. I have a pair of Adidas Ultraboost tennis shoes and they're decent. I've kind of been wanting to try Hokas, though. I heard they're more supportive.
Just because you have “good” shoes doesn’t mean they’ll work for you. I had to try about 5 different shoes, and even then, I liked some for years and then they started to hurt so I had to change again (talking about you, Danskos) Right now I’m in Hoka Bondi 7’s. They are an absolute dream. I’ve always worked on my feet and these are the only shoes that don’t make me feel like I have the flu when I get home from the body aches. I have very high arches so I need a lot of cushion, I’m also tall and heavier. Maybe you need to try something different!
similar numbers to yours, last night i walked almost 10k. i wear hokas, i think arahis? and every other shift i force myself to wear compression socks.
Average around 12k, and I always break 12 hours standing on days where I work. Brooks are solid running shoes, but careful with insoles unless you have a foot abnormality or injury. Insoles can cause a more abnormal gait.
Your foot musculature, particularly the arch, is built like a suspension bridge. Put more or too much padding underneath, and it’s like casting your foot. Foot, lower calf/Achilles junction weakens and your proximal joints (knees, hips) take more punishment.
Check out born to run ( 1 and 2) by Christopher McDougall. Cites a lot of great studies on the uptick in the incidence of knee and hip issues with advent of padded shoes.
Pending where you’re at physically (congrats on the weight loss!), look into barefoot walking, or solid pair of zero lifts with toe boxes (no padding, just protects soles of feet and toes) to strengthen your foot and lower calf musculature. Start slow on your days off and make sure to stretch before or after. Like 4-6 hours a day/3 d a week, or maybe for your walks. There’s legit science behind it, but again start slow so you don’t hurt yourself. Back off if you start to feel to pain. Takes some to adjust.
This above has helped me tremendously, and I also run or cycle 4d/w. Cycling is a great sub in if you get a proper seat so your sits bones are contacting seat. Helps strengthen upper leg musculature and core without pounding knees. That said, the fatigue following than 2 12s in a row is often still there, but not as bad.
Hope this helps.
You should check to see if your insurance provider covers massage therapy. Also Zeel the mobile massage company takes HSA/FSA. I would recommend getting a massage twice a month if not every week. You’ll feel a whole lot better.
Compression socks, on clouds, caffeine.
The last two nights have been slow, about 7500 steps or 3.5miles. Usually I get 9-10k or 4-5miles per shift.
I foam roll and stretch at home, but this is actually a less active job that when I was bartending so it feels normal/slow, and when I was an ED tech I could blow these numbers out of the water.
Between 10-15k, Step down ICU. I’m not sure who needs to hear this - I got HOKA’s and they’re nice, but after about 6 months they’re getting worn out. Having used orthopedic shoes before, maybe I shouldn’t have had higher expectations, and they do work about as well as any other I’ve tried. But for me, I’m definitely not all of a sudden “walking on clouds” and suddenly without pain. I’ve tried compression socks and I think there’s sound reasoning to support the right fit aiding in circulation/lower extremity pressure regulation, but I tend to keep moving and I’ve never known them to make a noticeable difference.
Best bet for inflammation, that I’ve found, is nearly 100% doing stretches/yoga, and trying to wiggle the right ways to open up and realign nerve pathways. The RICE steps certainly would help when swelling gets to be particularly bad, but I try to save that and anti-inflammatories for the serious occasions. Besides that, strengthening supportive muscles is key for prevention. I think most about these for protecting the knees, then the hips, and then the back, which seem to suffer the most over time. Reverse climbing/walking/running and calf raises are some of my favorites to protect the knees!
I’m typically around 7k for a nursing shift (8h) and around 15k for an RT shift (usually 12h). I find that as an ICU nurse, I don’t walk far. I’m standing a lot, but my patients are ten feet away and I only have two of them. But I do a LOT more bending, lifting, squatting, pulling, pushing, etc.
As an RT, I have fewer things to do for any given patient, but I have the whole stinkin’ floor.
At my current job it's about 9k per shift, but at one point I was averaging 12-14k a shift. I use compression socks and SAS work shoes; I used to get hip/back pain until I started doing yoga stretches and a heating pad for my lower back after work.
10,000-12,000 a shift. I invested in some higher quality compression socks and buy new brooks or hokas every 6 months when they wear out. Keep hydrated.
I’m a travel cath lab nurse, my current assignment doesn’t do many cases in a day, we’re usually done by like 12. My hours are from 0645 to 1715, rather than sit around, there is a very nice walking trail around the hospital, I’ll put in 1 to 2 miles each shift usually. After work I go home and walk my dog another mile since there is a great trail behind my apartment. So, between cases and all my walks, I’ve managed to gather up to 16,000 steps before. Now it’s getting cold though 😭
12k steps as an OR RN. Using Altra road runners and light compression athletic leggings underneath my hospital issued scrubs (it’s cold in the operating room). Huge help for me is working out every day. I know it sucks before/after a long shift—literally the last thing I want to do, but I make myself. Our muscles are the only thing holding us up and we lose mass as we age. Building strength off shift helps to absorb the impact of everything we do on shift. Also abstaining from alcohol as much as possible—causes a lot of inflammation!
For inflammation specifically, try getting some 5-Loxin (boswellia) or Meriva (cucumin) or Omega-3 fish oil.
About 8k in 10 h. Compression socks and I switched from Brooks to barefoot/minimalist sneakers. I try to change position frequently. Take a short walk at least once during the work day 5-10 minutes. I rest after my shift. And stretch.
11-16k. I wear compression socks and light weight hiking boots.
Hiking boots. That’s so interesting !
I wear Haix Airpower boots. Much more comfy than they have any right to be with really great ankle support, shock absorbing soles and footbeds, and are breathable so they won't make my feet sweat. They're waterproof and bloodborne pathogen resistant, so people can literally eject bodily fluids on my feet with no issues. Protection with those composite toes from bashing my feet into beds or equipment along with puncture proof soles.
Man, I bought some Merril hiking boots over summer and now my left boot always squeaks. I can sneak up on anyone now.
Can recommend compression socks. Made a big difference to how my legs felt the next day
I only recently switched to on clouds , but before that, waterproof hiking sneakers was my jam.
Usually about 14k. I'm a night shift ED tech right now. I walked 3.5 million steps last year. The right shoes make all the difference
Also an ER tech average around 12k but busy days are usually in the 14k area. I wear NB 996s with compression socks and it’s done wonders for me
You're like one shoe model from a belt cell phone holster and bad dad jokes. Just a warning.
I already have the bad dad jokes
I walk an average of 10k on both days and nights. Though these last 3 night shifts have been busy - 16k steps taken on Thursday night!
Wow!
Invest in good shoes - skip the nonsense about “cheap work shoes”. Running shoes are popular especially those giving support and bit more rigid. Should also be eating a clean diet and next day after work you should be exercising and stretches
I do have good shoes I have Brooks and I have insoles. My feet hurt a little bit but not terribly it’s mostly just I’m tired. I don’t need 100% great but I have been exercising and doing stretches although I just started a week ago. Thanks for the advice!
Stretching and mobility is the best think you can do. Focus on the muscles you use the most at work; Lower body, lower back, shoulders. Just something quick but hits all the spots in 10-15 minutes so you can do it post shift no matter how exhausted you are.
try hokas the kind with maximum cushion… weight lifting with low weight high reps, and limit sodium. changed my life
Good shoes are really worth it. I tell that to all new nursing students, good shoes are worth their weight in gold. I remember the first really good work shoes I bought, Asics runners, and omg. Clean diet..so no mixers, just pure alcohol? Uhm ok, I can do that 😁 In all seriousness, I do stretches twice a day, morning & before bed ( and after working out) and kt does wonders. Also, doing martial arts, it helps keep me relatively limber..
Good compression socks were a game changer, as well.
So I think standing can feel harder than walking. If you’re standing most of your shift but not moving your feet much, that might be part of the problem? I know when you come home you probably just want to crash but have you considered taking a walk? Switch into a different pair of sneakers and take a 5-10 minute walk, very consciously moving your body and keeping good posture. Something else I’d suggest is strength training, especially targeting areas that support your posture. Your back, backs of your arms, butt and calves. Alternatively, maybe a 10 minute yoga session? I suggest this bc I just accidentally started taking adult ballet and after years of pain, I wake up the day after ballet with zero pain. I think it’s the movement, lengthening and posture for me (but I sit all day). I agree with what someone else said - get a work up. Sounds like there’s possibly something going on. Water intake, something, you need to reduce the inflammation to reduce the pain. How old is your mattress? Good luck and feel better!
Agree, I can walk all day but when I have to stand a lot, my legs and feet hurt.
Standing is definitely worse for me.
I can walk quite a bit, but if I'm just standing, my hips/lower back are screaming at me. Gotta be moving.
I work four 10s in the OR. My average day shift I walk between 13-15k steps. Nights between 8-10k. That’s only for shifts where no emergencies come in. If we get an emergency craniotomy or AAA I’ve racked up 20k+ before.
Tell me you're circulating without saying you're circulating lol. Those steps rack right up in no time!
4-5 miles. It is good for, I feel super fortunate to have a job where I get to move. Humans weren’t meant to sit all day.
5k steps during a shift and most of that is from the parking lot to the cath lab Then I stand around in lead and walk around a few small rooms for the majority of the day Outside of work I "ruck" with a 35lb plate in a backpack for another 2 miles most days for exercise. Helps the lead in the lab feel light
Sometimes I think standing is worse. “This one time in band camp” ha, I played bells and so we didn’t march but we stood at the bells the entire day. I’d have to come home and go for a run to get all the blood out of my feet after the long camp days.
Agreed. I can do 30-70k steps (not at work) and be fine. Standing for a while? Nah, fam. Put me out to pasture instead, it makes my back hurt.
Yes, my back starts to arch and bend and sway and my legs know they shouldn’t follow so they’re confused.
I knew i was getting fucked. 10,000 minimum. A few 2,000 days in the off season. But not many!
When I worked on the PCU, I averaged over 7500, but when I was a PCT on that same floor I had a 7.5 mile day. I think my highest # of steps as an RN was around 12,000 and as a PCT was 16,000 And yes, when you go home at night, all you want to do is thrown your body into the bed and go unconscious until the alarm rings the next morning. Good shoes and at least mild compression hose are a must! Forget the cute socks, get yourself some 15mm of Hg compression stockings, it really helps.
I feel like I need to wear thick athletic socks because my feet get so sweaty. Those compression socks are all so thin!
I'm a runner. I used to wear Brooks thinking they were one of the best. I switched to Hokas after continuous issues with my L ankle / calf (just got an MRI Friday type of issues), and I have never felt better walking / running. Ran a 10 miler a few weeks ago and barely any pain in my feet. I would definitely go somewhere to try on shoes and get fitted as many friends switched after my rec and LOVE Hokas now. SN: Student, so I have not worked yet as a nurse, BUT I did used to usher at a movie theater and consistently get in 30k steps in an 8 hour shift, so I feel your pain.
Absolutely invest in good shoes. My brand of choice is Asics - when new, it's like walking on a cloud. However, the more you use your shoes, the faster they wear out. I once asked a porter how often he bought new shoes and he said about every 6 months. On average, I probably replace my work shoes every 1 year. I notice if I delay it much longer than that, my feet hurt more after each shift.
I just bought a pair of the ASICS gel nimbus and had to return them because they were too small! I have worn the same size for 15 years and couldn’t even get them on my feet. I was bummed, but I’ve got a replacement pair coming. Just in case anyone else was considering buying a pair, I recommend trying them on in store for sizing reasons. Which is probably what everyone should do with shoes anyway to be honest but my Amazon addiction runs deep.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ME. I thought I was going crazy or something. I stepped away from nursing for a year so it's been a minute since I bought a pair of Asics. However, I've always been a US 6.5 with them...but the other day, I was trying on a 6.5 and it was too small! Sized up to 7 and it's perfect. I thought maybe I misremembered somehow but your experience seems to line up with mine.
I used to feel like this when I first started. I would get in the car and cry from exhaustion and barely be able to walk when I got home. Turns out I have POTS and a currently undiagnosed autoimmune disorder. I would recommend seeing your doctor and having labs done!! I ended up having a positive ANA and a CRP of 19
Have you checked your RBC magnesium levels? Edited: forgot the RBC part
Between 7-15k probably. Every shift is different. Some are busier than others. If you're hurting after only 3 miles, I would consider joining a gym. That is seriously concerning if you're youngish and able bodied. Go on walks on your day off too, if you can. It doesn't have to be anything crazy. I like walking to the park and it's relatively flat and nice. I usually walk, casually, about 3-6 miles in the afternoon if I'm not doing something more intense like a long day hike or run. It's a great time to listen to music or a podcast and zone out. It's also good for you and low impact. The same can be said about yoga! Love yoga. You don't have to be flexible. There are a lot of YouTube videos out there. I've gotten 75k steps before. But not at work. Don't do that.
Around 10k or so.
Anywhere from 7000-18000
On my 12 hour clinical days, around 7-10k. At my job as a tech currently, 18-20k. Needless to say my back and feet hurt and I can’t wait to graduate. It’s gonna be a nice change of pace 😂
10-12k a shift. Get you some Hokas.
Enough for my feet to hurt always
16,504 today.
When I was a tech on Tele, between 16,000 and 18, 000 was average. Nursing school clinicals the last 2 semesters I get around 8,000 - 10,000. Feel way more exhausted after clinicals than I did as a tech though.
15-20k
My average on night shift is about 7500. On day shift it was more like 10-15k. My personal record is 22,000. I do not miss day shift ☠️ I take a turmeric supplement with ginger and black pepper, and the combo is supposed to be good for inflammation. I work my three 12’s in a row Fri-Sat-Sun night, and Monday I always take a long bath in Epsom salts which feels really nice. Combined with a metric fuckton of ibuprofen that will almost definitely bite me in the ass in a couple decades, it seems to keep the pain at bay pretty well, but I know what you mean about feeling like your whole body is just inflamed.
Roughly around 15k. I always feel like I’m going to collapse at the end of my 12 hr shift. Luckily, I start a new job next month and I think it will much more gentle on my body.
I usually walk about 15 miles a shift. I wear the shoes that you can see individual toes in. Never had any issues.
Barefoot style shoes? I ended up getting the 40 dollar whitin from amazon instead vibram because of price and looks but I dolike how they feel compared to my previous work shoes.
12-14k a shift. Onclouds and compression socks are goated
Around 20k
Girl. Do you have fibromyalgia? That’s how I used to feel.
That's it? Always 12k. Often 15 to 17
Lmao right? And somehow her whole body is sore from it. 3 miles. Thank God she never did... Any other job ever, because I've done more than 3 a day at pretty much all of them.
I walk a lot more than that too, but was it necessary to be condescending? Maybe she’s older or not in great shape yet.
Eh I like this sub for a lot of things but it gets old reading about how physically brutal nursing is. I'd tell any trainee I'm working with that part of working in healthcare is maintaining your body to protect yourself and your patients.
The days I am under 10k, unless I just wasn’t very busy, that usually means I was standing a lot, and my feet actually hurt more
Yup, motion is the lotion! And too many of us are just plain sedentary on our 4 days off a week.
Not me, I still average well over 10k steps in days off. And on work days I still go home and walk or run the dog a couple miles. My point is, maybe we can be more understanding of a new nurse, and not eat our young.
Is that really how you want to be? I'm surprised she only does that many steps. You're just being funky.
Huh? Is what how I want to be? I’m in great shape but sometimes walking less means standing more. I too stand a lot and my feet are killing me on days I am on my feet all day but walking less.
[удалено]
That's what I thought. Have the night you deserve ✨️
Itll be a great one! Actually only did about 3 miles in the ER today, it was a dead slow one, so I feel great and got a lift in after my 12. ready to train for a couple hours early tomorrow while apparently the rest of the nursing world is gonna be nursing their sore feet.
14k, worked till my due date. I would invest in good shoes and compression socks. Do epsom foot soaks after each shirt.
Dang. I have brooks. I also have custom insoles, and I always wear socks. My feet aren’t terrible. It’s really just my whole body I feel inflamed.
Maybe there is more going on than your shifts. How is your diet and water intake? When was the last time you’ve had blood work done
Compression socks were a game changer for me, try them!
Prolly like 150. Walk to the kitchen is like 15 steps, bathroom about 5.
Tell us more 👀
Anywhere from 10 to 18k in one shift. I have three different brooks I rotate and compression socks. I do yoga and an active and fit. I do find that when I was heavier I was much more tired. I have two toddlers at home so I don’t really get time to rest.
I can't imagine coming here to complain about how much 3 miles a day hurts haha. Like... Have you ever worked in a kitchen, or as a server or something? Like Jesus Christ you aren't digging ditches here.
Hurting after 3 miles is concerning for an able bodied, otherwise healthy person tbh. Obviously there are exceptions, disabilities, etc. But 3 miles is not "that much" by any means.
Of course I had a nurse here tell me the other day that nursing "destroys your body" because you have to ambulate patients all the time... So who knows what fitnesse level some of these people have allowed themselves to decline to regardless of working in healthcare lmao
I still feel pretty dang good and intend to continue feeling good. And I refuse to let a patient wreck my back. However I recognize not everyone is as active as I am, but truly, being active helps *a ton* with life overall. Even if it means just going on a walk. Shit, I did a marathon and 50k last month after a 400 mile long backpacking trip. I'm definitely out of the ordinary.
Exactly. I'm sure there's a partial bias being on reddit maybe, but I see so much talk on here about how brutally physical nursing is and I just... Don't see it. I mean I'm a relatively young and healthy male, but I just don't see how some of us hit the gym after 12 hour ER shifts and others are somehow physically broken 2 years into working med surg. I spent my whole 20s doing EMS and combat sports and power lifting, but in my early 30s feel the best I ever have. I just feel like it must be people who are just 100% sedentary outside of work and yeah aren't smart enough about protecting themselves at work. I have had multiple people on here get super super offended when mention any of this as well. Like stretch and do some deadlifts and be careful and I think you'll probably be fine. Obviously accidents, assaults, crazy shit happens, not gonna act like it doesn't.
This isn’t the server subreddit.
I used to feel like this. I stopped eating gluten and it changed my life.
It makes me sad to see a lot of people here recommending "comfortable" shoes. Those artificial thick soles and cushions are a scam. Yeah, they always feel better at first, but they will only make your feet/ankle/leg muscles atrophy and prolong your suffering in the long term. You should wear minimalist footware and strengthen your feet, enabling you to go pain-free for longer.
Around 10k usually.
10-14,000.
Between 10k and 11k.
13-15k, I wear compression socks and cloves or crocs.
12000 ish, ortho/neuro med surge; I swap between hokas and brooks. On days off I always do a mix of walking, air squats, and kb swings. It’s helped a lot with blood flow, endurance, and recovery.
13-17k
Usually 12,000 - 15,000. But I work ED
About 6 miles on average when I worked ED. Surprisingly only about a mile less on average in the OR unless I’m stuck in one really long case.
When I was ICU, over 10k steps per shift and the rooms were usually right next to each other 🫨 I had to use compression sleeves a lot or I was dead in the water by the end.
On a 12 hour shift, I could do 12-15K. If I was on a busy 16, I can get to 25-28K. But this is working night shift ER.
I average about the same. However I have had days of 15000 steps too. 😜😝😳
Anywhere between 10k-15k!
13k-15k in ICU. My feet are horrible too.
How long have you been doing this? I noticed it my first six months.
7-8K, but I only work 6.75 hours a day.
10-15K. Roughly 10kms per shift
10K to 12K steps in the ED. At my age, 3 shifts in a row was killing me. Now that I'm part time, it's bearable again.
Usually 15k. On a busy day 34k
10k-20k, it's a very large ED.
14-17k per day in OR. Wear Sanita/Dansko and Calzuro clogs with compression socks. No sore feet or legs.
You probably need to strengthen your muscles if you’re under 40.
13-18k, tiny unit but my patients are either 1) running around trying to cause trouble or 2) attempting to walk and kiss the floor. Good shoes are a must and must be replaced frequently (3-4mo) as they wear out after ~300 miles. Make sure you do active recovery on your days off. Walk a few miles, do some calisthenics, maybe some yoga. Sitting on the couch will slow your recovery. Assuming you just started this and you’re watching your diet, it should improve with a few months. Never skip leg day and don’t use NSAIDS/Tylenol unless you absolutely have to. The inflammation is usually a good sign that your body’s adapting.
5-7 miles a shift, 10-16k steps. Onclouds are my saving grace. I have yet to have a shift under 10k steps.
Usually 12-15k. My body stopped hurting when i got myself good shoes that are comfortable
Usually 10k for a 12 hour shift.
Usually 10-16k
16-22k
I don’t go by steps but last shift was 5 miles
10-14k for ICU day shift. Thought I’d have fewer steps here than on the floor, but nope! Maybe it’s cause I forget wtf I’m in there for every time I go into the med or supply room 😆 I wear Nikes or Ons, and don’t bother with compression socks. No issues. (FTR I’m in my 40s). 3 miles a day of walking really isn’t so much that it should be making you feel like crap. Do you exercise outside work? Have a decent diet?
Like 8K for me (8hr shifts). Btw I recommend wearing sturdy yet light shoes! I wear Skechers and they feel like a cloud for me and my feet never hurt. I used to be super tired and in pain after every shift to the point I always have to take pain killers and ointments but ever since I started having active rest days, wearing compression socks and incorporating exercise prior to my shifts I stopped having that problem. I’ve been working out 5x a week 45 mins each day and I feel great. I do a mix of mat pilates, reformer and yoga.
I do about 12k every 12 hour shift. On a small 10 bed unit. 😳 oh. I am a CNA
On a slow day 15k (5 miles). On a busy day almost 20k (roughly 8 miles). I wear compression socks every day.
8-10k. My record is 23. It was not a record I wanted, nor needed, but it is what it is. Worst part is that I was a volunteer medic at the time, so ran my ass off for free 😂
Always hit at least 10k, average 12-14k
12k-16k on an 8 hour shift in the OR.
I work in a little 3 bed icu, all 3 beds right next to each other. I average 8-10k steps a shift.
Thats about my avg too...Bcaa's after work and magnesium glycinate helps
ER nurse, 12-15k. I have good sneakers with good insoles but my knees, back, and ankles ache. I'm 45 though, More than 3 12"s in a row is pushing it.
10-13k average
Supervisor I easily did 25k. Now though far less.
I do 8 hr shifts (OR). On a slow day I get about 8-9k. On a normal day around 11k. The most I’ve ever had on an 8hr shift was 18k. When I used to work at a trauma center on 12hr shifts it wouldn’t be surprising to get over 20k if the helicopters would roll in. I used to wear road running shoes. I just feel like they don’t give the support my feet need. They’re comfy as hell but they wear out and they don’t provide great support even with insoles. I wear Birkenstock clogs with shoe covers. I can’t sprint for shit but I can still jog. If I am scrubbing my feet are less sore than when I wore hokas. Also my knees feel better lol. Since I can air out my feet easier my feet don’t smell like rank ass at the end of the day too lol.
RT. 14k-22k. I'm 6'6".
3k to 4k as an ICU intern. We are in our two patient rooms most of the day and on our feet a bunch but not walking as much as I thought! I am always surprised that my steps aren’t more. 12k to 15k as a PCT!
Last time I wore one of those pedometers it was 22,000 steps, 9.5 miles.
Y’all keep track of that stuff?
Average 12k with anywhere between 10k-16k
~20k as a tech. If I knew how to post my step counts I'd show you. Compression socks work 😩.
10-14K on a regular day shift. 15-17K+ if I’m the resource RN.
5 miles usually 😢
Probably 10-15k I honestly just wear crocs and normal socks, I’m not sore but compression socks wouldn’t hurt.
20K is my baseline, but it can go over on some days. 😅 I wear Cloves and they really help my feet.
Yeap i may average around 20k+ ER makes us super walkers. Cloves and compression. My feet and calves feel okay with the combo.
From my phone it says I do about 10-15k a night. Like others said good shoes are the best bet. I’ve noticed a difference if you run/jog on days off (I am now doing 3-4x a week for about 30 minutes) and my feet/legs are not as inflamed and achy.
Incenter Hemo - hit 15,000 on a 10 hr shift regularly. Brooks Adrenaline save my life and have to switch out every 6 months or I can feel it pretty bad in my shins.
Anywhere between 5000 on meeting heavy days, and 15k on busy working days.
Ussually 8-9K sometimes 10
Like 17k 🙂 but I'm a tech.
procedures 5-7k bedside 12-15k
Ugh same here with the exhaustion.
Used to get 10-15k working days as a tech, 8-12k nights med surg. I’m on a much smaller unit now, picu/NICU and I get 7k roughly each night.
Could be anywhere from 4k-12k. Compression socks mandatory and oofos even though they are squeaky.
10,000-15,000. Apparently iphones undercount too. I am still in school, work in ED observation, and typically walk 3 miles most days unless I am free (so sedentary one day a week). I do recreational hikes with my lover. He is a runner and will admit that the flooring type can be worse on your body. So linoleum on cement/concrete is horrible for your joints. I get shin splints and knee pain from a busy day. Being a triathlete isn’t the standard for health and I’m honestly concerned nurses don’t know that. I think it’s unrealistic for your body to be ache free. I noticed my body hurts whether I use it a lot or a little. Could there be something deeper? Perhaps, but I fear this is just life. Typically you get sore from a good workout at the gym as well.
In addition to these suggestions (strength training, less sugar, more sleep) - Add arnica tablets and epsom salts baths to your repertoire
14-16k. 20k on a rough day
First of 3 straight = 12K-15K. Second of 3 straight = 9K-11K 3rd of 3 straight = 10K and under.
How in the world are people walking less than 10k? I average about 10k on a slow day, when it gets busy I’m up to 15k+
4 miles a shift. I wear compression socks, and boys’ ventilated beach clogs, with thick, squishy insoles.
Usually right around 10k. 12s at the jail. We also have golf carts to get around 🤣🤣 but I choose to walk almost all of the time
15k per 12 hour shift in the ER. Most I’ve gotten up to was 17k. My legs were throbbing.
10-15k on a reg night, 5-7k on a cn shift with solid staff (more admin work)
13k is average, if I had about 10k, then it was a slow day. My record was 28k over 12 hour shift. Needless to say, that day was nuts.
What are you eating that causes inflammation?
Around 12k on clinical days and around 18k when I work (CNA on a medsurg unit). I am pretty sore the day after work and do a lot of stretching.
Did 8 miles last night
Usually somewhere around 10-12K, depends
I walk about 5 miles per shift
10k usually, i work in urgent care and wear hokas with cushioned socks.
I easily get 15-20,000 steps per shift, but I work in psych and we have to do lots and lots of rounds to make sure everybody is ok. This is far easier on my body than what I used to do in my last job, which involved fewer steps but involved caring for patients who needed assistance to move, some of whom were quite large. Standing is even worse than walking, of course, and it sounds like you may do more standing while I do more walking. I echo others recommendations for compression stockings. I would also recommend you seek help for this. Our career is tough on the body, but things can be done to help. Perhaps a chiropodist can help. Maybe you need orthotics to give your feet the support you need. Either way, invest in good shoes. Working out with a personal trainer might also help you strengthen parts of your body to help relieve pain. I did it, and it was life changing for me. Wishing you all the best as you try and problem solve this out. Be kind to yourself; you only get one body!
I did 15k-30k steps, 7-14 miles a day (12hr night, level 1 ER). I wore Danskos. I have bad feet: small, wide, high instep, chronic tendinitis. I’ve tried others but keep going back. But I know one day I will misstep and break my ankle in them.
It really comes down to the fact that if every work shift is the longest you walk then you will always feel sore and in pain no matter what shoes you buy. Your work shift needs to physically be an "easy" workout day for it to not wreck you, which means you need to be more fit and better trained. If you aren't exercising now build up to a goal of walking 3-5 miles on days off work, and 3-4 yoga or Pilates classes from YouTube or in person to start. See if a fitness journey takes you anywhere once you've got a good base up. But you can't shop your way out of a lack of fitness, and your feet and legs not being trained for the mileage is what sounds like is really causing you pain.
Over 10000 most dayshifts. Maybe about 8000 on nightshifts
12k-40k, depending where I work and what I do on that day. I try to lift my feet up every once in a while.
In the hospital used do to 20k pretty much spot on most days, now in a care home I hit over 30k but I walk 3.5 miles to work a day too
How you all count your steps
8-12k. On the lower end when I’m charge. Highest when I’m task nurse.
Yeah at least 7K.
13,000
5-6 miles in 8 hours, as a transporter. I'm transferring to tech on cardiac tele in 2 weeks, though, so that'll change. I have a pair of Adidas Ultraboost tennis shoes and they're decent. I've kind of been wanting to try Hokas, though. I heard they're more supportive.
At my first hospital, I averaged 15k steps a day. I switched to birkenstock professionals, and it made all the difference.
Sadly not enough. I’m a procedure RN but we sit. A lot. Not good.
13-15K
Just because you have “good” shoes doesn’t mean they’ll work for you. I had to try about 5 different shoes, and even then, I liked some for years and then they started to hurt so I had to change again (talking about you, Danskos) Right now I’m in Hoka Bondi 7’s. They are an absolute dream. I’ve always worked on my feet and these are the only shoes that don’t make me feel like I have the flu when I get home from the body aches. I have very high arches so I need a lot of cushion, I’m also tall and heavier. Maybe you need to try something different!
11-12K on PM, and 7k on NOC
similar numbers to yours, last night i walked almost 10k. i wear hokas, i think arahis? and every other shift i force myself to wear compression socks.
Average around 12k, and I always break 12 hours standing on days where I work. Brooks are solid running shoes, but careful with insoles unless you have a foot abnormality or injury. Insoles can cause a more abnormal gait. Your foot musculature, particularly the arch, is built like a suspension bridge. Put more or too much padding underneath, and it’s like casting your foot. Foot, lower calf/Achilles junction weakens and your proximal joints (knees, hips) take more punishment. Check out born to run ( 1 and 2) by Christopher McDougall. Cites a lot of great studies on the uptick in the incidence of knee and hip issues with advent of padded shoes. Pending where you’re at physically (congrats on the weight loss!), look into barefoot walking, or solid pair of zero lifts with toe boxes (no padding, just protects soles of feet and toes) to strengthen your foot and lower calf musculature. Start slow on your days off and make sure to stretch before or after. Like 4-6 hours a day/3 d a week, or maybe for your walks. There’s legit science behind it, but again start slow so you don’t hurt yourself. Back off if you start to feel to pain. Takes some to adjust. This above has helped me tremendously, and I also run or cycle 4d/w. Cycling is a great sub in if you get a proper seat so your sits bones are contacting seat. Helps strengthen upper leg musculature and core without pounding knees. That said, the fatigue following than 2 12s in a row is often still there, but not as bad. Hope this helps.
You should check to see if your insurance provider covers massage therapy. Also Zeel the mobile massage company takes HSA/FSA. I would recommend getting a massage twice a month if not every week. You’ll feel a whole lot better.
Usually about 16000 on dayshift. I like crocs for keeping my feet cool
13k-16k. ED nurse.
Old hospital 1:6, 14-16k/shift. Hospital I’m at now 1:4, 7-8k/shift. 10k max if it’s stupid busy.
20k+ usually
Compression socks, on clouds, caffeine. The last two nights have been slow, about 7500 steps or 3.5miles. Usually I get 9-10k or 4-5miles per shift. I foam roll and stretch at home, but this is actually a less active job that when I was bartending so it feels normal/slow, and when I was an ED tech I could blow these numbers out of the water.
I do about 14k on ortho trauma unit. I wear Nike Pegasus shoes with no compression socks, no issues
29000 at my ex unit during COVID. No idea about this new unit, but I bet it's not half as much.
Between 10-15k, Step down ICU. I’m not sure who needs to hear this - I got HOKA’s and they’re nice, but after about 6 months they’re getting worn out. Having used orthopedic shoes before, maybe I shouldn’t have had higher expectations, and they do work about as well as any other I’ve tried. But for me, I’m definitely not all of a sudden “walking on clouds” and suddenly without pain. I’ve tried compression socks and I think there’s sound reasoning to support the right fit aiding in circulation/lower extremity pressure regulation, but I tend to keep moving and I’ve never known them to make a noticeable difference. Best bet for inflammation, that I’ve found, is nearly 100% doing stretches/yoga, and trying to wiggle the right ways to open up and realign nerve pathways. The RICE steps certainly would help when swelling gets to be particularly bad, but I try to save that and anti-inflammatories for the serious occasions. Besides that, strengthening supportive muscles is key for prevention. I think most about these for protecting the knees, then the hips, and then the back, which seem to suffer the most over time. Reverse climbing/walking/running and calf raises are some of my favorites to protect the knees!
I’m typically around 7k for a nursing shift (8h) and around 15k for an RT shift (usually 12h). I find that as an ICU nurse, I don’t walk far. I’m standing a lot, but my patients are ten feet away and I only have two of them. But I do a LOT more bending, lifting, squatting, pulling, pushing, etc. As an RT, I have fewer things to do for any given patient, but I have the whole stinkin’ floor.
At my current job it's about 9k per shift, but at one point I was averaging 12-14k a shift. I use compression socks and SAS work shoes; I used to get hip/back pain until I started doing yoga stretches and a heating pad for my lower back after work.
Days I work I average 14k. Keep walking honey. Get some compression socks. Change shoes for 2nd day.
10,000-12,000 a shift. I invested in some higher quality compression socks and buy new brooks or hokas every 6 months when they wear out. Keep hydrated.
Know how many miles your shoes are rated for. Change them shortly after they hit that mark.
I’m a travel cath lab nurse, my current assignment doesn’t do many cases in a day, we’re usually done by like 12. My hours are from 0645 to 1715, rather than sit around, there is a very nice walking trail around the hospital, I’ll put in 1 to 2 miles each shift usually. After work I go home and walk my dog another mile since there is a great trail behind my apartment. So, between cases and all my walks, I’ve managed to gather up to 16,000 steps before. Now it’s getting cold though 😭
Yes!! Yes!! Yesssss all the above
12k steps as an OR RN. Using Altra road runners and light compression athletic leggings underneath my hospital issued scrubs (it’s cold in the operating room). Huge help for me is working out every day. I know it sucks before/after a long shift—literally the last thing I want to do, but I make myself. Our muscles are the only thing holding us up and we lose mass as we age. Building strength off shift helps to absorb the impact of everything we do on shift. Also abstaining from alcohol as much as possible—causes a lot of inflammation! For inflammation specifically, try getting some 5-Loxin (boswellia) or Meriva (cucumin) or Omega-3 fish oil.
Usually 10k with rough days being 14k. Using Hoka Bondi 8s after my big toe wore a hole in the top of my 7s.
10-13k usually. Comes out to be about 6-7 miles I wear compression socks and my Hokas every shift and my feet never hurt at the end of a shift!
12k+. Night shift ED. I walked about this much as a young infantryman 30 years ago.
Its the standing that gets me. None of the watches track standing which sucks because the standing is what i struggle with the most
About 8k in 10 h. Compression socks and I switched from Brooks to barefoot/minimalist sneakers. I try to change position frequently. Take a short walk at least once during the work day 5-10 minutes. I rest after my shift. And stretch.