Hi,
I have kind of a silly problem, but it bothers me everyday nonetheless. I am almost six and a half feet tall, so the typical student white coat (consultation length coat), which are 30" long, fall above my belt and look ridiculous. I already look awkward enough without the addition of this weird, white, vest-length coat stuffed with reference material and granola bars. I hate walking into a patient's room and feeling like a clown in my ill-fitting coat. So, my question is this: Does anyone wear the mid-length white coats?
I am kind of torn on the subject. On the one hand, I want to look and feel like a professional in front of my patients. Sometimes that is the first step in earning a patient's trust. I also don't like to draw attention to my proportions by wearing a coat that just points out that I am too tall. I really don't enjoy explaining that I am far too clumsy to play basketball (which is invariably everyone's first question). Sure, the mid-length coats are about 8 inches longer than traditional, but I am about 8 inches taller than the average guy. The mid-length coats are still a good six inches shorter than the full length coats that real doctors (as well as a lot of non-professional medical staff for that matter) wear. On the other hand, I don't want my peers and residents to think that I am trying to elevate my status or something. I want to be a part of the team and adhere to my role on that team. I don't want to give the impression that I think I am special when compared to my peers. I especially don't want people to assume I am a douche before they have a chance to meet me. To be honest, I can't decide which is worse: to look silly or to look arrogant. Maybe there's a third option that I haven't considered. Maybe I'm just overthinking the whole issue and no one else cares. Any thoughts on the subject?
I have kind of a silly problem, but it bothers me everyday nonetheless. I am almost six and a half feet tall, so the typical student white coat (consultation length coat), which are 30" long, fall above my belt and look ridiculous. I already look awkward enough without the addition of this weird, white, vest-length coat stuffed with reference material and granola bars. I hate walking into a patient's room and feeling like a clown in my ill-fitting coat. So, my question is this: Does anyone wear the mid-length white coats?
I am kind of torn on the subject. On the one hand, I want to look and feel like a professional in front of my patients. Sometimes that is the first step in earning a patient's trust. I also don't like to draw attention to my proportions by wearing a coat that just points out that I am too tall. I really don't enjoy explaining that I am far too clumsy to play basketball (which is invariably everyone's first question). Sure, the mid-length coats are about 8 inches longer than traditional, but I am about 8 inches taller than the average guy. The mid-length coats are still a good six inches shorter than the full length coats that real doctors (as well as a lot of non-professional medical staff for that matter) wear. On the other hand, I don't want my peers and residents to think that I am trying to elevate my status or something. I want to be a part of the team and adhere to my role on that team. I don't want to give the impression that I think I am special when compared to my peers. I especially don't want people to assume I am a douche before they have a chance to meet me. To be honest, I can't decide which is worse: to look silly or to look arrogant. Maybe there's a third option that I haven't considered. Maybe I'm just overthinking the whole issue and no one else cares. Any thoughts on the subject?
