They are also easy to clean, and some kinds are autoclaveable, therefore hygienic. They offer good safety protection from fluids and good shock absorption. Some have vents for breathability and massage knobs built into the insoles for comfort. The polyurethane can become uncomfortable and is not as easy to break in, according to some. Breathability may not be as good as with leather.
Most brands are expensive, since they are imported from Europe.
These are hard to run in. Dansko and some NurseMates designs are approved by American Podiatric Medical Association. The shoes provide good shock absorption with soles and are easy to slip on and off. Some look nice enough for dressy wear too. Sometimes they are hard to run in, but you can get these shoes with backstraps.