5 Reasons Nurses Need Compression Socks

Nurses are on their feet for hours and gravity can cause fluid to linger in the lower part of their legs. They may notice swelling of their legs, ankles, and feet.

This can be painful and make it uncomfortable to stand or walk. Wearing compression socks can reduce swelling by aiding the body's natural ability to keep fluid moving.

Varicose veins can be an unfortunate result of staying on one’s feet for extended periods of time. Standing and walking increases the pressure in the veins in your lower body, causing them to twist and enlarge. Varicose veins can be pretty uncomfortable, maybe even painful. There's also the fact that they cause cosmetic concern for most who develop them.  With continued use, compression socks can reduce signs and symptoms of varicose veins, help to prevent the development of them in the first place, and provide relief if the condition already exists.

Compression socks are great on and off the clock. After nurses spend long days on their feet, their legs will be exhausted. Even while relaxing at home, nurses should wear a pair of compression socks to support muscle recovery. TIP: Have dedicated pairs for work and set aside others of different fiber, look, and hand feel for when you're not working.

Compression socks provide support to reduce swelling, relieve soreness, and increases circulation -- all of which soothe tired muscles.

One of the more serious side effects of staying on your feet all day is blood clots. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which clots form in the veins.

Nurses, due to the nature of their job, are considered more at risk for DVT. Graduated compression socks are designed to apply gradually decreasing pressure from the ankle to the top of the calf. This encourages flow of blood back to the heart. By helping to keep the blood flowing, the chances of a clot forming in the lower body decrease.

As a nurse on your feet for extended periods of time, your body may struggle to do what it's meant to do. Poor circulation can result in your limbs feeling cold, numb, or heavy. Wearing compression socks and stockings helps relieve some of the symptoms of poor circulation, therefore making you more comfortable at work and prepared to do your job well.