Do compression socks actually help nurses? You may be surprised…

Every nurse knows someone who swears by compression socks. And for every die-hard fan, there’s another nurse who wouldn't touch them with a ten-foot pole.

So what’s the deal with compression socks? After all, aren’t they just another pair of socks? How can they have a cult-like following in the healthcare world? Maybe you love them, maybe you hate them. Maybe you’ve tried some downright sh*tty ones and now you’re scarred for life.

Either way, you’re here because you’re wondering: Do compression socks actually help nurses? Or are they just overrated rubbish that fill your sock drawer?

Time to unpack this compression sock conspiracy, because the truth might surprise you.

What Do Compression Socks Actually Do?

The first thing we need to uncover if we want to determine if compression socks actually help nurses is: what do they do?

If you’re a nurse, you likely already know — but for those who don’t, here goes. Compression socks apply gentle pressure, or compression, to your feet and legs. This gives your blood a helping hand (or foot in this case 😂) to fight gravity and get back to the heart. Pretty simple and self-explanatory, huh?

Sure, your patients with circulation issues wear them — but why are they relevant to nursing? Great question!

As a nurse, you’re always on your feet for long periods of time — 8 to 12 hours in most cases. Without a doubt, you’ve experienced your legs feeling different during the tail end of your shifts. Slightly achy, maybe heavy or tired, and potentially visibly swollen. This is the result of your vascular system in your lower limbs getting tired from pumping blood up against gravity for an extended time.

Compression socks give that blood a boost upwards. Think of it like a gentle escalator. This, in theory, should help your legs stay fresh, energized, and comfortable on shift while minimizing those pesky negatives mentioned above.

But theory’s one thing — so let’s hit the ward and see what real nurses have to say.

 

Real Nurses' Opinions: The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Evil

We asked a few of our colleagues from ICU and ED for firsthand opinions on why they love or despise wearing compression socks on shift.

Question: As a nurse, do compression socks help you on shift?

 “Oh my gosh no! I tried some compression socks and they were terrible. They were so long I had to fold them down and the material was scratchy and I got really hot. Never again.”

— Emily, ICU Nurse

 “Yes yes yes. If I don't wear them, my legs and feet feel terrible. They used to get so achy.”

— Hannah, ED Nurse

 “No thanks. I found them really hard to get on and off and they were super tight and left marks all over my legs.”

— Jake, ICU Nurse

 “I would swap one of my children for a good pair of compression socks haha. They let me focus on my job and not how sh*t my body is feeling.”

— Joanne, ED Nurse

 “I'm super scared of varicose veins, so I wear them all the time [every shift]. I do notice my legs feel better wearing them too.”

— Marisol, ICU Nurse

 “I tried them and they weren't comfortable on my feet at all.”

— Anika, ICU Nurse

 

 “I love compression socks. They make my legs feel supported, and I also know that they are reducing the chance of getting varicose veins, which is important as I plan to work as a nurse for a long time.”

— Lauren, ICU Nurse

 

 “I am currently pregnant, so they have been a great addition to my everyday wear. They help reduce the swelling and strain on my legs.”

— Sarah, ED Nurse

 

So, Do Compression Socks Actually Help Nurses?

Wow, what a mixed bag of responses. As expected, some die-hard fans and some haters.

But the common thread? Comfort. The negatives were always about the socks being uncomfortable, hot, hard to get on, or digging into skin. Definitely not a recipe for a good time on shift!

Honestly, those are some very valid points. Here at Scrubcare Footwear, we’re massive fans of compression socks. Crikey, we make them for goodness’ sake! Before we created our own, we had similar awful experiences. We came across some real sh*tty ones. They just weren't designed for standing 12 hours straight or walking 10,000 steps on hard hospital floors.

We knew deep down the potential compression socks had for nursing. So we decided — SCREW IT. Let’s make some of the most bad ass socks for nurses, and no one but nurses!

Lets get back on track here though. Bad compression socks are definitely not going to help you on shift. They’ll likely make your life miserable — and no nurse deserves to be uncomfortable on shift. We already have enough to worry about…

In that regard, don’t get bad compression socks. You may be left disappointed, or even develop a compression sock phobia!

But… if you can get your hands on a pair that works for you, you may be in for a real treat.

If you want to have a look at our blog post on what to look for in a pair of compression socks for nursing, then click here: 🧦 The Best Compression Socks for Nurses in 2025

But to summarize quickly — try to find some that are made for nursing. After all, you do spend 8–12 hours in them.

What Happens If You Don’t Wear Compression Socks as a Nurse?

You might be wondering, “What will happen if I wear compression socks?” But the real question is — what happens if you don’t?

As a nurse, you’re on your feet for long hours — standing, walking, sprinting to alarms… This extended time upright puts constant pressure on your vascular system in your lower limbs.

In the short term, that can look like:

• Swelling
  
• Achiness
  
• Tired and/or heavy legs
  
  

But those short-term symptoms can translate into long-term repercussions.

It’s well known that nursing is considered a high-risk profession for venous disease (e.g. varicose veins and spider veins). Standing for extended timeframes on a repeated basis leads to chronic stressing of your vascular system — especially in your legs. If your blood has to fight its way up all shift long, that strain adds up over months and years.

In other words, compression socks can aid your vascular system, and long-term use might make the difference between healthy legs or venous disease.

So, in that regard, compression socks can seriously help you on shift — both in the short term and the long term — if you choose the right ones. Your legs are precious, after all. They take you everywhere.

Try a Pair of Compression Socks Designed by Nurses, for Nurses

We spent a long time designing our socks from the ground up for nursing. If you’d like to try a pair of compression socks designed by nurses, for nurses, then check out our range here.

We’ve tried to make them as fun as possible — so you (and your patients) love them.

Plus, we believe in our socks so much that if you try them and don’t love them, we’ll not only refund you — we’ll also send you a $6 Starbucks voucher as an apology for wasting your time.

And hey, trust us — if this guarantee got used half as much as you’d think, we’d be bankrupt by now.