white coat

[jeesapeesa]

saw a fresh third year student carry his white coat on a hanger on the first day of rotations a few months ago. thought this was funny and stupid (the student).

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[apricotattack]

ha! mine is balled up inside my backpack right now, coffee stains and all.

 

[Slevin]

When I was a first year, I wanted to keep it pristine, pressed and clean. After a month on the wards I said screw that, it's too much effort

 

[2012mdc]

When I was a first year, I wanted to keep it pristine, pressed and clean. After a month on the wards I said screw that, it's too much effort

I washed mine once every 1 or 2 weeks unless there was an obvious stain

 

[MilkmanAl]

I've never given a **** about my white coat. Now that I actually use it regularly, it gets washed whenever I do a load of whites, which I guess would be every 2 weeks or so. It helps that I have 2 coats, too.

 

[username456789]

I've never given a **** about my white coat. Now that I actually use it regularly, it gets washed whenever I do a load of whites, which I guess would be every 2 weeks or so. It helps that I have 2 coats, too.

4th year should be the time you're trying to ditch that awful thing at every possible moment.

 

[Mr hawkings]

saw a fresh third year student carry his white coat on a hanger on the first day of rotations a few months ago. thought this was funny and stupid (the student).

There are some folks who believe its douchy for a med student to wear a white coat unless thay are physically in the hospital already. Same goes for visible sthethoscopes.


I dont really get it either

 

[2012mdc]

4th year should be the time you're trying to ditch that awful thing at every possible moment.

I've gone months without wearing it. The last time was in August, the next time will be CS.

 

[septoplasty]

saw a fresh third year student carry his white coat on a hanger on the first day of rotations a few months ago. thought this was funny and stupid (the student).

This, doesn't count if its hung up in the car. Carrying it while its on the hanger is a different story.

 

[tco]

There are some folks who believe its douchy for a med student to wear a white coat unless thay are physically in the hospital already. Same goes for visible sthethoscopes.


I dont really get it either

Fortunately for me, I don't care if someone thinks I'm a douche or not, so I'll continue to wear my coat and stethoscope into the hospital from the parking lot. It's idiotic to carry something that can be worn.

 

[MossPoh]

We have long white coats, so I'm a little less spiteful of mine. Still don't want to use it, but I also kind of consider it my hall pass around the hospital. I've found things go much smoother when I just wear the stupid thing and patients are a little more eager to talk to me with it on.

I have 3 white coats (one without patches and junk), so they get rotated fairly often. I do iron it whenever there are significant wrinkles. Having to work 1 on 1 with attendings a lot, I tend to look like I care somewhat about my appearance.

 

[Dharma]

Fortunately for me, I don't care if someone thinks I'm a douche or not, so I'll continue to wear my coat and stethoscope into the hospital from the parking lot. It's idiotic to carry something that can be worn.

Douche

 

[septoplasty]

Douche

Pre-medical.

 

[Wilf]

Why is it considered douchey to wear the white coat?

 

[Dharma]

Pre-medical.

ouch? uh, no.

 

[Dharma]

Why is it considered douchey to wear the white coat?

Because it looks like you're walking around saying "ooh, look at me in my white coat!" It doesn't take a medical student to spot a DB. I've seen tools wearing there coats in the subways here in NYC and it's just lame. Many people snicker and laugh these folks. No joke. And this is the real world I'm talking about, not the sheltered world of academia that most of you have yet to step out of, minus internships and summer jobs.

 

[Rollo]

Because it looks like you're walking around saying "ooh, look at me in my white coat!" It doesn't take a medical student to spot a DB. I've seen tools wearing there coats in the subways here in NYC and it's just lame. Many people snicker and laugh these folks. No joke. And this is the real world I'm talking about, not the sheltered world of academia that most of you have yet to step out of, minus internships and summer jobs.

It's fine to wear it from the hospital to the parking lot but seriously on a subway? Now that's just too much...bring a backpack or just fold it and hold it under your arms or something.

I'm more comfortable without my white coat on, anyway so I definitely take every opportunity I have to take it off.

 

[Wolverines83]

Not quite on the same topic (well, sort of). Isn't wearing that coat for two or three weeks in the hospital, then (by those who exhibit "douchey tendencies") on the subways, home, etc just straight up nasty? I'm not saying I'd wash it either (I'm a guy) but damn I can't imagine what that thing would look like under a microscope. Remind me never to "bro-hug" anyone wearing a white coat!

 

[tco]

Because it looks like you're walking around saying "ooh, look at me in my white coat!" It doesn't take a medical student to spot a DB. I've seen tools wearing there coats in the subways here in NYC and it's just lame. Many people snicker and laugh these folks. No joke. And this is the real world I'm talking about, not the sheltered world of academia that most of you have yet to step out of, minus internships and summer jobs.

If you were to call me out on wearing it, and call me a douchebag, as you just did, I would shrug and walk on because that's not my purpose for wearing it. I don't care who knows or doesn't know that I'm a medical student. I don't care about popular opinion, or status, or any stupid thing like that.

 

[2012mdc]

Because it looks like you're walking around saying "ooh, look at me in my white coat!" It doesn't take a medical student to spot a DB. I've seen tools wearing there coats in the subways here in NYC and it's just lame. Many people snicker and laugh these folks. No joke. And this is the real world I'm talking about, not the sheltered world of academia that most of you have yet to step out of, minus internships and summer jobs.

There are some people who find it more convenient to wear the coat rather than fold it and hold it for whatever reason. And many of these people don't care what others think. Just because some DB's like to flaunt it for attention doesn't mean anyone who wears outside of the hospital is a DB. They just might not gaf

It's fine to wear it from the hospital to the parking lot but seriously on a subway? Now that's just too much...bring a backpack or just fold it and hold it under your arms or something.

I'm more comfortable without my white coat on, anyway so I definitely take every opportunity I have to take it off.

I find it more comfortable to hold it as well but it is annoying when you have to worry about stuff falling out.

 

[bleeker10]

I hate the white coat but the only reason I wear it is because it gives me somewhere to put my crap and gives me a place to put my hands without having them in my pants pockets. Both of my front pockets started to lose the stitches so I just stapled them back together until I had a chance to sew them. White coats (especially short ones) are not a status symbol anymore since pretty much everyone in the hospital wears one. It would actually be more of a status symbol to not wear the white coat.

 

[jeesapeesa]

another situation which i think really deserves the title of DOUCHEBAG:

medical student wears his white coat around barnes and noble with his stethoscope and badge clearly visible. the nearest hospital is 5 blocks away (this was in manhattan).

 

[Dharma]

If you were to call me out on wearing it, and call me a douchebag, as you just did, I would shrug and walk on because that's not my purpose for wearing it. I don't care who knows or doesn't know that I'm a medical student. I don't care about popular opinion, or status, or any stupid thing like that.

I was actually just messing with ya. But the many I've seen in Manhattan (as the above poster states) deserve the stamp of DB, whether they care or not.

 

[Slevin]

Hey that's the way to pick up chicks at BN. Don't hate on the player, hate on the game.


I've actually had friends who go to SB and put out their path and Harrison's books so that people notice them as med students in an attempt to pick up La senoritias.

 

[Dharma]

Hey that's the way to pick up chicks at BN. Don't hate on the player, hate on the game.

If you need to wear your shortie white to pick up women, you are far from a player.

 

[Slevin]

Not saying that I ever did it, but I know people who go there to study just so they can do that.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

You people care too much.

 

[KnuxNole]

ha! mine is balled up inside my backpack right now, coffee stains and all.

haha, that's how mine is when I commute to rotations via train

when I rotate at sites via driving, it at least gets to lie in the passenger seat.

But yeah, there's at least one coffee stain no matter how many times it gets washed

 

[Wilf]

I'm still confused as to why it is considered douchey to wear the white coat as a med student. We are always looked down upon by doctors, residents, nurses, and basically everyone in the hospital. So why is wearing something that identifies us as a med student douchey?

 

[Rollo]

I'm still confused as to why it is considered douchey to wear the white coat as a med student. We are always looked down upon by doctors, residents, nurses, and basically everyone in the hospital. So why is wearing something that identifies us as a med student douchey?

Wearing it outside the hospital and/or immediate hospital area such as the parking lot is douchey.

 

[fzwarrior]

I had an anatomy professor who was an MD and he never wore his white coat in to see patients. He thought it made patients feel more comfortable if he just wore bright polo shirts with some dress pants. Makes sense though.

 

[Wilf]

Wearing it outside the hospital and/or immediate hospital area such as the parking lot is douchey.

I understand that some or maybe most people on SDN feel this way. What I'm asking is why is it considered douchey?

 

[Rollo]

I understand that some or maybe most people on SDN feel this way. What I'm asking is why is it considered douchey?

Why do you care to be recognized, outside of the hospital, as a med student?

 

[Wilf]

Why do you care to be recognized, outside of the hospital, as a med student?

I'm not sure why someone would want to.

But I ask once again: why it is considered douchey?

 

[Rollo]

I'm not sure why someone would want to.

But I ask once again: why it is considered douchey?

You said in your earlier post that wearing a white coat identifies you as a med student and why is that douchey. Then you said why is it douchey to wear it outside the hospital. Connecting the two statements, I assumed that you wanted to know why is it douchey to wear it outside the hospital where it will identify you as a med student. Hence, my question regarding why do you care to be identified as a med student outside the hospital.

 

[SLUser11]

You said in your earlier post that wearing a white coat identifies you as a med student and why is that douchey. Then you said why is it douchey to wear it outside the hospital. Connecting the two statements, I assumed that you wanted to know why is it douchey to wear it outside the hospital where it will identify you as a med student. Hence, my question regarding why do you care to be identified as a med student outside the hospital.

I'm sorry, but as cool and non-douchey as you have all made yourselves sound, I guarantee you've all done something to ID yourselves as a med students in public, and you've also likely done other things in the hospital to mislead people into thinking you're doctors instead of med students (the real reason students are so fast to shed the short coat).

Some people wear their scrubs out in public because they didn't have enough time to change....but really they did. Some people leave their badge on when it's not necessary. Some people just talk about patients or "interesting cases" in public, talking about medical conditions that they've become temporary experts on because of their reading, but they act as though they are very experienced in the matter...ultimately bringing attention to their career choice.

I point this out not to clown on you guys, but to say that this behavior is natural and inevitable. No matter how hard you try to be cool and above it all, you'll eventually cave in. My guess is that 100% of the people that posted in this thread are guilty of something large or small that is considered med-student-douche by someone else. It's up to you if you want to share. I'll go first.

For me, it was during my third year medicine rotation. I left the hospital in a hurry and went to a dinner party in scrub pants and a T-shirt...with my badge and pager on.....At the time, I felt as if I didn't have time to change...but really I did. That pager wasn't going to go off.

Just because you're beyond it now doesn't mean you should turn around and make fun of the people just slightly more naive than you. In my opinion, that's more douchey than having your white coat on a hanger.

 

[Mr hawkings]

I'm sorry, but as cool and non-douchey as you have all made yourselves sound, I guarantee you've all done something to ID yourselves as a med students in public, and you've also likely done other things in the hospital to mislead people into thinking you're doctors instead of med students (the real reason students are so fast to shed the short coat).

Some people wear their scrubs out in public because they didn't have enough time to change....but really they did. Some people leave their badge on when it's not necessary. Some people just talk about patients or "interesting cases" in public, talking about medical conditions that they've become temporary experts on because of their reading, but they act as though they are very experienced in the matter...ultimately bringing attention to their career choice.

I point this out not to clown on you guys, but to say that this behavior is natural and inevitable. No matter how hard you try to be cool and above it all, you'll eventually cave in. My guess is that 100% of the people that posted in this thread are guilty of something large or small that is considered med-student-douche by someone else. It's up to you if you want to share. I'll go first.

For me, it was during my third year medicine rotation. I left the hospital in a hurry and went to a dinner party in scrub pants and a T-shirt...with my badge and pager on.....At the time, I felt as if I didn't have time to change...but really I did. That pager wasn't going to go off.

Just because you're beyond it now doesn't mean you should turn around and make fun of the people just slightly more naive than you. In my opinion, that's more douchey than having your white coat on a hanger.

great post

 

[Rollo]

I'm sorry, but as cool and non-douchey as you have all made yourselves sound, I guarantee you've all done something to ID yourselves as a med students in public, and you've also likely done other things in the hospital to mislead people into thinking you're doctors instead of med students (the real reason students are so fast to shed the short coat).

Some people wear their scrubs out in public because they didn't have enough time to change....but really they did. Some people leave their badge on when it's not necessary. Some people just talk about patients or "interesting cases" in public, talking about medical conditions that they've become temporary experts on because of their reading, but they act as though they are very experienced in the matter...ultimately bringing attention to their career choice.

I point this out not to clown on you guys, but to say that this behavior is natural and inevitable. No matter how hard you try to be cool and above it all, you'll eventually cave in. My guess is that 100% of the people that posted in this thread are guilty of something large or small that is considered med-student-douche by someone else. It's up to you if you want to share. I'll go first.

For me, it was during my third year medicine rotation. I left the hospital in a hurry and went to a dinner party in scrub pants and a T-shirt...with my badge and pager on.....At the time, I felt as if I didn't have time to change...but really I did. That pager wasn't going to go off.

Just because you're beyond it now doesn't mean you should turn around and make fun of the people just slightly more naive than you. In my opinion, that's more douchey than having your white coat on a hanger.

Fine, I don't change out of my scrubs either and I may or may not have had to take a friend to a retinal specialist office for an appointment on one of those occasions. Of course, my intentions weren't to have people identify me as a med student or whatever. Honestly, it was just out of laziness and the comfortable feel of wearing scrubs i.e. pajamas.

For the record, I never claimed to be holier than thou.

 

[DeadCactus]

I wear my coat and/or scrubs when it's more convenient than not doing so. Over time that's led me wear it in parking lots, on short car rides, and at the gas pump. If my pockets get a little more empty, I may even wear it on the motorcycle one of these days. Why? Because I'm not some douchebag student-in-denial with a constant need to salvage style points. It doesn't matter if you're putting it on or taking it off, if you're going out of your way you already failed...

 

[hrandani]

However hard you try you can't beat the dentist trolling around for chicks at night down at my local barnes & nobles. He wears freshly pressed, impeccably ironed brand new scrubs with a nametag that ends with DDS. I've seen him in at least 6 different colors so far.

The funny thing is you know he had to have just changed into those.

 

[septoplasty]

However hard you try you can't beat the dentist trolling around for chicks at night down at my local barnes & nobles. He wears freshly pressed, impeccably ironed brand new scrubs with a nametag that ends with DDS. I've seen him in at least 6 different colors so far.

The funny thing is you know he had to have just changed into those.

I bet he also rolls up in a Porsche. Gah.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I wear my coat and/or scrubs when it's more convenient than not doing so

I take my coat off because it gets in the way and is a huge pain in the ass, but I can be seen in public wearing scrubs fairly often. It's usually a matter of convenience, but almost as often, it's because I just don't care enough to change.

 

[VisionaryTics]

I occasionally wear my coat on the bus when I've got too much crap in the pockets and I don't want it all to fall out when I fold it up.

After reading this thread, it's nice to know that my classmates rank me somewhere between Hitler and Idi Amin on the douchebag meter.


Get a life. Stop worrying so much about what other people do with something as stupid as a coat.

 

[SLUser11]

Fine, I don't change out of my scrubs either and I may or may not have had to take a friend to a retinal specialist office for an appointment on one of those occasions.

For the record, I never claimed to be holier than thou.

I take my coat off because it gets in the way and is a huge pain in the ass, but I can be seen in public wearing scrubs fairly often. It's usually a matter of convenience, but almost as often, it's because I just don't care enough to change.

Exactly. Scrubs are cooler than short white coats, so it's more tempting to wear them in public. Students initially think their white coat is cool, but then realize it's a scarlet letter, and eventually grow to hate it. For some, the fascination starts over when you get the long white coat.

My point was not to insinuate that you guys are "holier than thou," but only to point out that we're all guilty of this behavior on some level, and so I wanted to inject some perspective. What I will say is that the farther along you get, the more you want to keep a low profile out in public.

As for the white coats themselves, I think we should all try to keep them clean, and change/wash them periodically. A dirty, yellow, wrinkled white coat is unprofessional. This morning, I managed to get chocolate frosting on my coat arm while eating a donut. Given my choice of careers, I'll definitely be changing it before I go talk to a patient's family.....

 

[badasshairday]

We have long white coats, so I'm a little less spiteful of mine.

lol, wtf? That is funny. I can only imagine seeing a bunch of freshly minted 3rd year med students walking around the hospital clueless in long white coats.