How to dress when shadowing

[337771]

I have a bit of an off-beat question. How should one dress when shadowing a doctor? I figure a t-shirt and jeans is probably under-dressing, wearing a suit and tie is probably over dressing, and wearing scrubs would probably be a little awkward. Anyone have any suggestions?

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[Geekchick921]

IMO, business casual would be fine: khakis or other slacks would be fine, with a nice polo or a button down. I don't think I tie would be necessary, but I guess that's up to you.

I think it depends on the specialty if scrubs would be more appropriate. Maybe you can give the doctor a quick e-mail or phone call and ask them?

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

just ask the doc. i've had docs tell me i can just wear jeans and polo, but then i've had docs ask me to where a shirt and tie. it depends on the docs personality and expecations of the practice.

 

[Procyon]

I agree with Geekchick. Business casual is probably fine for shadowing. Makes you look professional without being too formal.

 

[Ischemic]

yeah it really depends with the doctor and whether or not you'll be seeing patients with him. I would err on the more formal but I remember when I was shadowing it was khakis and random t-shirt. My doctor never said anything about it and I did see some patients with him too.

On a more observatory note, I find it kinda amusing that premeds ask these kind of questions on this forum where they get varying answers when they could save themselves a lot of trouble and shoot this same question to their doctors for a direct response... Wrong priorities I guess.

 

[nogolfinsnow]

First day shirt and tie (if you're a guy) or whatever the female equivalent is. You can always tone it down after that. I've seen an MD send a med student home to get a tie before, and you definitely don't want to get sent home if you're shadowing!

 

[Tesseract]

The PCP that I shadowed was cool with me in a sweater, khakis, and steel-toed boots.

The oncologist that I shadowed wanted me in a shirt/tie, khakis, and dress shoes.

Dress code depends on the physician.

 

[NYRN]

I agree with Geekchick. Business casual is probably fine for shadowing. Makes you look professional without being too formal.

One of the docs I work with makes the residents that work with him in his office wear business casual.

Do NOT show up in scrubs whatever you do, if you are working in a private office, unless they tell you specifically that is OK.

 

[chman]

The docs really like it if you go out and get a white lab coat that looks as close to theirs as possible. They also like it if you get your name on said coat. Along with the coat, get a stethoscope. Anything else that makes you look like a doctor is optimal.







JK. Anyways, business casual is fine IMO.

 

[Ilvcurst]

One of the docs I work with makes the residents that work with him in his office wear business casual.

Do NOT show up in scrubs whatever you do, if you are working in a private office, unless they tell you specifically that is OK.

It just DEPENDS. At the hospital I worked at everyone wears scrubs even all the volunteers wear scrubs. So often times the doctors will actually make the students change into scrubs so that they can blend in better and not have people wondering what they are doing there.

So it just depends...I don't get what everyone's problem on SDN is with scrubs. I've been wearing them when volunteering since 2004. It is the mandatory uniform at our hospital....get over it.

 

[EMS5]

Whenever I shadow, day one is shirt/tie, and I'll ask the doc what they would prefer I wear.

 

[KTownGT]

Slacks, button up, and a tie.

The first doctor I shadowed mentioned that, "when in doubt, err on the side of the tie..."

 

[AcclratngCharge]

I recommend freshly pressed/dry cleaned khakis, solid shirt, solid tie. I'm in pharmacy school where they push the heck out of professionalism behavior/appearance so I lean towards over dressed(but not a suit). The allo doctor's seemed to like it.

I also shadowed a DO, he actually told me on the phone, w/o my asking, to NOT wear a tie, just a polo and dress pants. Maybe he could sense a tie in my voice...

 

[AcclratngCharge]

The docs really like it if you go out and get a white lab coat that looks as close to theirs as possible. They also like it if you get your name on said coat. Along with the coat, get a stethoscope. Anything else that makes you look like a doctor is optimal.

Love it

 

[Trantrum]

What type of shoes?

 

[NYRN]

It just DEPENDS. At the hospital I worked at everyone wears scrubs even all the volunteers wear scrubs. So often times the doctors will actually make the students change into scrubs so that they can blend in better and not have people wondering what they are doing there.

So it just depends...I don't get what everyone's problem on SDN is with scrubs. I've been wearing them when volunteering since 2004. It is the mandatory uniform at our hospital....get over it.

I wasn't talking about the hospital, if you read my post, I said that you should not wear scrubs to a private office. The docs that I work with make the residents/med students who are rotating through their offices wear a shirt and tie. If they show up in scrubs they will be sent home.

Many hospitals do not allow volunteers to wear scrubs as it may confuse patients. You have to check with the hospital you will be rotating at.

As far as wearing scrubs so that the patient thinks you are a physician or med student and doesn't questions who you are..That is a whole 'nother story. I don't know how that is not a HIPPA violation unless you are introduced to the patient first and the patient is given the opportunity to decline you observing.

 

[familyaerospace]

I've had one doc who wanted me in scrubs.

I've had one doc who wanted me in business casual (no tie), no white coat.

I've had two docs who wanted me in business casual with a tie, no white coat.

I've had one doc who wanted me in business casual with a tie and a long white coat.

It's really varied.

 

[oglio]

I went with a nice, well-ironed button down shirt, dress pants, and dress shoes. I figured that you can't go wrong in an outfit that you feel professional in, and it served me well! Also it's better to feel a bit over-dressed than to feel under-dressed and sloppy. Ended up wearing the same shoes that two of the doctors had on, so I felt that was a sign that I was dressing in the right way

Also, as some others have said, it's not a bad idea to double-check with the doctor. I emailed regarding the dress code and had it clarified.

 

[oglio]

What type of shoes?

Black leather professional shoes. Not the super-shiny, fancy-dinner-party ones, but a step above everyday sneakers. Also, make sure they're broken in and comfortable enough to walk around in.

 

[Baron Samedi]

It just DEPENDS. At the hospital I worked at everyone wears scrubs even all the volunteers wear scrubs. So often times the doctors will actually make the students change into scrubs so that they can blend in better and not have people wondering what they are doing there.

So it just depends...I don't get what everyone's problem on SDN is with scrubs. I've been wearing them when volunteering since 2004. It is the mandatory uniform at our hospital....get over it.

It's not that SDNers have a problem with scrubs..it's that it's presumptuous to just show up wearing scrubs.

 

[akinetopsia]

Instead of asking us or wearing a shirt & tie on the first day, you could always call the doctor and see what he/she says. That's what I did the very first time I shadowed, it was a specialist in private practice, and I knew I'd be at his office but when he called me back to tell me when I could come in, he asked if I had any questions while he was putting the dates into his iPhone, so I asked if shirt & tie would be appropriate in his office, and he said yes, thanks for asking.

I showed up and it's what he wore, plus the white coat. I think it makes the patients feel more at ease when you at least "look the part" (minus the white coat, of course!). I think shirt & tie is the default "uniform" for office-based private practice, much like trunks, a visor, sunglasses and sunblock is the "uniform" for beach volleyball players.

 

[surftheiop]

Just ask what you should wear, one physician said wear whatever I wanted and he would give me scrubs when I get there. More typically long pants and a polo or button-down is the answer. Never have been asked to wear a tie

 

[Hurricane95]

It depends on the doctor himself, what specialty, what you will be doing...etc.

Your best bet = call the office and ask.

 

[pennstate4life]

Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have. So buy a stethoscope and a long white coat!

 

[Hurricane95]

keep the patient in mind, too. you might be in the room when they are talking to the doc about private/personal details, etc. they will feel more comfortable if you look like you belong there and not like you wandered in randomly off the street. so look professional. i think ties are optional but they do look nice couldnt hurt to at least bring one just in case.

also i dont know why you would be wearing scrubs unless you were shadowing a surgeon. and in that case you'd have to put on new ones anyway because the ones you showed up in wouldn't be sterile?

They're not supposed to be. Actually, my used gym clothes are probably more sterile than most scrubs worn in the hospital.

 

[mysteryman123]

I've been shadowing for the past month. I am a guy so I wear button down shirt, tie, and slacks. It's what most of the doctors wear (tie sometimes optional). you want to blend in as much as possible. not be the kid shadowing who just stands out extrraa If patients dont look twice at you when you walk into a room, you are doing it right!

 

[Trantrum]

Black leather professional shoes. Not the super-shiny, fancy-dinner-party ones, but a step above everyday sneakers. Also, make sure they're broken in and comfortable enough to walk around in.

What do you recommend?

 

[chman]

What do you recommend?

ecko brand. Not the rap ecko brand, but the Italian shoes ecko.

 

[familyaerospace]

also i dont know why you would be wearing scrubs unless you were shadowing a surgeon. and in that case you'd have to put on new ones anyway because the ones you showed up in wouldn't be sterile?

Most shadows would not be scrubbing in for surgery and are unlikely to even be within a foot or so of the patient. Plus if they are scrubbing in, then there would be a gown over their scrubs.

 

[HappyG0Lucky]

I had someone tell me before I started clinics that I would never look out of place in business-casual type clothing. This is what most 3rd and 4th year medical students wear in clinics and I think it's what you should wear shadowing as well.

 

[MaryLennox]

They're not supposed to be. Actually, my used gym clothes are probably more sterile than most scrubs worn in the hospital.

i guess it depends on the place. when i worked at a hospital cleaning ORs we were strictly forbidden to arrive wearing scrubs, we had to show up in clothes and put on fresh scrubs just to enter the surgical floor (even though i was rarely in the OR during cases). another dr at a different hospital that i shadowed (and scrubbed with) gave me scrubs beforehand to wear there, but when i got there i felt uncomfortable about how clean they were (having taken the train there) and changed into new ones the locker room anyway.

but yeah . . . the story of how clean peoples' scrubs are once they are in the hospital is definitely questionable. i know there are docs who wear them all day all over the place and its kinda gross. but my point was more to do with the shadow-er trying to present the appearance of caring about cleanliness

 

[Baron Samedi]

They're not supposed to be. Actually, my used gym clothes are probably more sterile than most scrubs worn in the hospital.

This. They are supposed to be clean, not sterile.

In fact, if you are in an OR the surgeon and anyone scrubbing in(this is different than standing there in scrubs) will specifically tell you to make sure not to brush against them or any of the equipment.

 

[FutureMD129]

I went with a nice, well-ironed button down shirt, dress pants, and dress shoes. I figured that you can't go wrong in an outfit that you feel professional in, and it served me well! Also it's better to feel a bit over-dressed than to feel under-dressed and sloppy. Ended up wearing the same shoes that two of the doctors had on, so I felt that was a sign that I was dressing in the right way

Also, as some others have said, it's not a bad idea to double-check with the doctor. I emailed regarding the dress code and had it clarified.

Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have. So buy a stethoscope and a long white coat!

I'm tempted to do just that.