If you haven’t but watched the unimaginable feat that is the Bala shoe business, I’m going to need to ask you to do me a favor and go watch it instantly. The decided dash, the battle for the ever-elusive and most-coveted bladder scanner, the gravity-defying bounce off the wall, the superhero grande finale pose–all of it works collectively to create what might be the best business I’ve ever seen.
And I’m not alone in love for it–the business truly went viral and led many nurses to find the Bala nurse shoe line. BALA Nurse Shoes have been designed cooperatively with footwear professionals and tens of 1000’s of actual nurses, combining the most effective of RN-favorite clogs and trainers to create an optimum shoe only for the wants of nurses. The cooperation between actual nurses and the corporate is essential to Zach Smith, Bala’s major marketer and Head of Community as a result of he’s a nurse himself. He sat down to speak with Nurse Alice concerning the significance of advocating for nurses, the worth RNs can carry to the desk in roles past the bedside, and the way his profession has taken him from start-ups to success within the enterprise world.
Listen to Zach’s episode on the Ask Nurse Alice Podcast! Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast participant.
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Nursing Skills Transfer Excellent to Business
Zach Smith, BSN, RN, who’s been a nurse for 12 years, spent the primary half of his profession at the bedside and the second half of his profession working in different well being roles with start-up corporations. But as he defined to Nurse Alice, he at all times had profession aspirations past the bedside.
“I went into nursing understanding that I actually needed to work with individuals and I actually liked what I was in a position to present and the providers I might present society by being a nurse and caring for sufferers,” he stated. “But I knew and I felt that I had extra to supply than a bedside function.”
Smith received his begin by stacking his shifts each time he might, so he’d have a stretch of day off so as to work on his personal start-up corporations. His first enterprise into enterprise was in video advertising and from there, he moved into different alternatives. For occasion, he was a founding member and former VP of Nursing at NurseGrid, a health-tech startup just lately acquired by HealthStream. Smith nonetheless serves as their Strategic Advisor and now works as the first marketer and Head of Community for BALA Nurse Shoes.
Smith factors out that the majority of his enterprise alternatives since these early days have fallen with the nursing discipline, so he feels “lucky” to mix each his ardour for advertising together with his love of being a nurse. “I suppose it’s nice,” he stated.
Advocating for Nurses, Combating “Imposter Syndrome”
Because of his means to mix each enterprise and nursing, Smith sees his function as considered one of an advocate for nurses within the discipline. “Nurses are carrying a lot of the healthcare system and oftentimes, as a nurse, your job is to advocate to your sufferers–however who’s advocating for the nurses? That’s the place I wish to assist make an impression,” he says. “I wish to advocate for nurses so we will put ahead the most effective merchandise potential that symbolize actual nursing and never simply the notion of what nursing is. You have to do this as an insider, as a nurse your self.”
It’s essential to Smith to current merchandise for the truth of nursing (on this case, sneakers, that are type of a giant deal once you spend 12+ hours in your ft), as a result of he is aware of that actuality–he notes that as a result of nurses have that insider data and firsthand data, they really are primed to make wonderful entrepreneurs. So not solely is he advocating on behalf of all nurses with the merchandise he’s concerned with, however he’s additionally serving as an advocate for different nurses who’re eager about increasing their bedside care into roles the place their insider data is extraordinarily worthwhile.
“I’m hoping that different individuals can hear this and we will get extra entrepreneurs out within the discipline as a result of nurses want extra advocates for themselves and locally and thru that, we will begin to see a few of the modifications we all know we want,” he provides.
Although Smith admitted to Nurse Alice that he initially struggled with emotions of guilt and a little bit of “what the heck am I doing?” moments when he transitioned to the enterprise world from nursing, he factors out that there are a lot of parallels between nursing and enterprise that really make RNs excellent for different inventive roles. For occasion, he used an instance of how his years of listening to affected person complaints and issues, acknowledging their considerations, problem-solving collectively, and speaking to make sure affected person satisfaction truly was the only finest coaching for a job in buyer assist that you possibly can get. “Forget about speaking on the cellphone or chatting on-line,” he notes. “When you might be within the room with a affected person, that’s an intense assist state of affairs.”
In addition to customer support, Smith famous that nurses possess loads of different abilities which are worthwhile within the enterprise world, from understanding tips on how to work with a workforce to tips on how to handle your time appropriately and prioritize urgent duties. “There are many, many parallels between nursing and enterprise,” he says. “I hope extra nurses make that leap and stretch out to the enterprise discipline as a result of I suppose the enterprise discipline might be higher off having extra nurses concerned of their companies.”
Bala Shoes – Designed By Nurses, For Nurses
Fortunately, Bala Shoes places this thought into motion, actively incorporating actual nurses into their design course of. Smith defined that Bala has actual nurses actively work with their design and manufacturing workforce to create a shoe that works for the wants of nurses on the ground. After the preliminary design course of, they’d 50 nurses take a look at the shoe at work, then integrated their suggestions to create their ultimate product. Nurse Alice–herself additionally a nurse entrepreneur–spoke to a few of the particular wants an RN would possibly want in a shoe. For occasion, nurses:
Stand for lengthy durations of time
Sprint to emergency conditions
Stop and begin all of the sudden
Get splashed with bodily fluids
Hold awkward positions
The two additionally mentioned the true well being impression that nurses face from extended durations on their ft, comparable to again and neck ache and leg swelling. Bala sneakers are designed with options, like the correct heel pitch (top) and weight distribution over the foot to assist align the physique and assist lower ache nurses encounter of their knees and hips. “It’s been fascinating to find out about sneakers and simply how crucial it is for the remainder of the physique,” he observes.
Of course, Bala sneakers additionally embody sensible options like their Shift Shield, the versatile outer membrane on their shoe that deflects liquids and fluids. “We wish to say it’s in case you get somewhat shift in your sneakers,” Smith laughs. “Which everyone knows occurs.”
Ready to get your personal pair of Balas? You can purchase them right here for $130. They’d make an AWESOME present to your particular nurse.
Bala Shoes Review and Where To Buy Them
Bala Shoes bought out inside their first week. Proof that nurses love the sneakers. Need extra proof? Well, we polled our group of over 132,000 nurses and requested THEM to TELL us what their favourite sneakers to put on to work have been?
Bala Shoes made the listing – Top 10 Best Shoes For Nurses, Reviewed by Nurses. Pretty good for a brand new firm!
We put all of the sneakers to the take a look at, on the ft of precise nurses. And, had the nurses rank the sneakers in line with,
Quality
Cost
Comfort
Water-Resistant
Sharpes Resistant
Non-Slip
Style/Fashion
Ankle/Foot Support
Durability
Ability to Clean
Nurse Alice truly wore the sneakers to work within the hospital and ambulance (she’s a Critical Care Transport Nurse) – she rated them a 5 in all areas! Read Alice’s full assessment of Bala Shoes right here.
Here’s a photograph of Nurse Alice in motion dawning her Balas!
Buy Bala Shoes for $130
Right now, Bala Twelves can be found in 3 colours on wearebala.com – with extra colours being launched later in 2021!
Women’s Athletic Shoes Don’t Exist
Bala additionally addressed a pivotal lacking piece within the shoe trade that’s truly a bit stunning to study: there’s no such factor as a ladies’s athletic shoe. Smith allow us to all in on somewhat shoe trade secret, which is that every one operating and athletic sneakers are designed round a male foot, then “shrunk” to grow to be a shoe for ladies. “Shrink it and pink it” is the time period generally used, which, he factors out, is not solely horribly offensive but additionally only a dangerous solution to construct a shoe that works, particularly within the nursing trade, which is predominantly female-based. He notes that there are variations in feminine ft, comparable to the form of the foot, a narrower heel, differing stress factors and sensitivities, and aesthetic preferences.
Because of the dearth of sneakers created for ladies and the truth that nursing is a female-dominated trade, Bala began their launch with sneakers created primarily for women–a “Her First Approach”–but are increasing and together with sizes and types for males that might be launched within the subsequent few months.
Smith ended his dialog by stressing how teamwork and group are so essential for all healthcare professions, which Bala fosters via their footwear and social media networks. You can observe @wearebala on Instagram to affix within the nursing group, get encouragement and recommendation and study all about different unimaginable nurses within the discipline. And psssttt: you possibly can maintain your eyes peeled for a really particular restricted version coloration of Bala sneakers dropping quickly.
Buy Bala Shoes for $130
