dress code during rotations?

orion113 · Feb 7, 2010

Hey everyone,

This might seem like a weird question, but I'm a european student doing an elective in NY this summer, and I was just wondering how doctors and students dress in the US while in hospitals?

In France students (and doctors) can wear nearly anything (decent of course) as they'll be wearing a white coat anyway. But I mean sneakers, jeans, T-shirts, sweatshirts...they're all fine for women or men. I've heard that's not the case in Australia, so I was wondering how it was on your side?

Thanks for your help!!!

SeminoleFan3 · Feb 7, 2010

orion113 said:
Hey everyone,

This might seem like a weird question, but I'm a european student doing an elective in NY this summer, and I was just wondering how doctors and students dress in the US while in hospitals?

In France students (and doctors) can wear nearly anything (decent of course) as they'll be wearing a white coat anyway. But I mean sneakers, jeans, T-shirts, sweatshirts...they're all fine for women or men. I've heard that's not the case in Australia, so I was wondering how it was on your side?

Thanks for your help!!!

Generally:
Men wear slacks and a shirt and tie
Women wear skirts and blouses, or slacks and blouses.

Definitely no jeans and sweatshirts.

orion113 · Feb 7, 2010

Thanks for your answer (and here i was hoping i wouldn't have to invest in new clothes for my elective 😳 )..oh well

Oh by the way I forgot to mention that I'm a woman 😀 hoping heels aren't a necessity??

smq123 · Feb 7, 2010

orion113 said:
Thanks for your answer (and here i was hoping i wouldn't have to invest in new clothes for my elective 😳 )..oh well

Oh by the way I forgot to mention that I'm a woman 😀 hoping heels aren't a necessity??

Heels are not a necessity. Loafers or flats are perfectly acceptable. Just no sneakers, although clogs (particularly Danskos) are all right as well.

ShyRem · Feb 7, 2010

If you're on surgery, sneakers are usually ok.

orion113 · Feb 7, 2010

thanks for your answers!!!

hmmm well i guess I'll have to ask my future supervisor about this...as I will actually be in a surgical ward...but then I guess that with formal wear I can't really get it wrong, it's just that I can't say I've got a lot of that kind in my cupboard, I'm more of a jeans/sneakers person but gonna have to get used to it anyway. 😛

Depakote · Feb 7, 2010

orion113 said:
thanks for your answers!!!

hmmm well i guess I'll have to ask my future supervisor about this...as I will actually be in a surgical ward...but then I guess that with formal wear I can't really get it wrong, it's just that I can't say I've got a lot of that kind in my cupboard, I'm more of a jeans/sneakers person but gonna have to get used to it anyway. 😛

I've found the dress code for surgery to be site dependent.

One hospital had us wear scrubs/tennis shoes every day. My home institution had us wearing our dressier clothes on the wards and only changing into scrubs when going to do cases. I would talk to your site coordinator, but plan on having some dressier clothes.

Winged Scapula · Feb 7, 2010

As Depakote notes, it varies by site.

Our old department chair would not allow scrubs on the wards/outside of the OR. The new one would, as long as they were clean. We were only allowed to wear scrubs in Trauma Clinic; all the others required us to wear regular clothes.

If you are doing a surgical rotation you should bring some nice clothes and your white coat - no sweatshirts, jeans, flannel shirts, etc. If you are allowed to wear scrubs, the hospital will supply them.

Also bear in mind that surgery in the Northeast tend to be more conservative and dress up more.

orion113 · Feb 7, 2010

Thanks guys, this is really helpful.

I really should talk to my supervisor about this, because I don't have a personnel white coat anyway. In France white coats are the property of the hospital so they lend them and clean them etc. It just feels awkward to talk clothes with him 😳

Smart wear it will be then, thanks a lot...at least now you know that if you ever come to France for an elective you can bring those chuck taylor's with you 😀

MeowMix · Feb 7, 2010

I rotated with some European residents this summer at a US hospital. They were definitely underdressed by US standards, even though they put on white coats. The only people who can get away with jeans are attendings on weekends.

The irony is that these women came from a European country where women are generally EXTREMELY well dressed by US standards i.e. you do not see people out on the street in sweatshirts and jeans and sneakers.

Also, dress standards on the East coast are even more formal than further out west in the US.

Winged Scapula · Feb 7, 2010

And if you are asked/told to wear a white coat, please bear in mind that medical students *generally* wear a short/hip length white coat.

I have seen some European medical students wear the knee length or longer coat and it tends not to go over well with the other students.

orion113 · Feb 8, 2010

ooohhhhh!!! :idea:

We don't have short coats here, all knee length (well on me they're more like half-calf length cause I'm kinda short 😀) so it's a good thing I won't be bringing my own coat then!!! That's why jeans and all are OK, you can't see any of it anyway...except for the shoes of course.

rahulb · Feb 9, 2010

i wear shirt + tie until its appropriate for me to start slacking and wearing scrubs

scrubs ftw

dress code during rotations?

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