Wearing bright clothing on rotations

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
B

bowlofmushypeas

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2011
Messages
236
Reaction score
3
Members don't see this ad.
Yup..that's basically my question. I'm on IM and everyone seems wear shades of grey, brown, or black.. Is it frowned upon to wear something like a red dress? Should something like that be reserved for Derm? 🙂
 
I don't think anyone gives a crap what you wear as long as it falls within regulation and you're not prancing in wearing a g-string
 
I wore bright clothing all the time, especially on psych haha
 
I wore a few bright dresses on rotation in June, if it was sunny! Everyone said I looked nice, nobody shouted at me anyway. A good compromise if you don't want to go all out is to wear bright shoes.

It seemed that a few doctors dressed pretty much like hookers/homeless people anyway so I wouldn't worry too much, just keep the hemlines lowish and the necklines highish.
 
I wear orange shoes with scrubs and everyone loves it. Great conversation starter too. Another person purposely wears mismatched socks for the same reason.

My ties range from orange to pink to purple and various shades of blue and red. Patients love looking at my ties and I get comments almost weekly. No reason to limit yourself. You'll be an eyesore for the nurses who will compliment you every step of the way.
 
bowlofmushypeas said:
Yup..that's basically my question. I'm on IM and everyone seems wear shades of grey, brown, or black.. Is it frowned upon to wear something like a red dress? Should something like that be reserved for Derm? 🙂
Click to expand...

I wore a bright blue dress shirt on surgery and one of the residents called it a "medicine shirt" :laugh:. Basically a non-issue though

Just don't dress like you're going to the club and you'll be fine
 
You should always dress as conservatively as possible. There's nothing to be gained from looking hot on the wards. You want to be as asexual as possible.
 
SLUser11 said:
You should always dress as conservatively as possible. There's nothing to be gained from looking hot on the wards. You want to be as asexual as possible.
Click to expand...

those who bag nurses would beg to differ

Kanye-Shrug.jpg
 
vicinihil said:
I wear orange shoes with scrubs and everyone loves it. Great conversation starter too. Another person purposely wears mismatched socks for the same reason.

My ties range from orange to pink to purple and various shades of blue and red. Patients love looking at my ties and I get comments almost weekly. No reason to limit yourself. You'll be an eyesore for the nurses who will compliment you every step of the way.
Click to expand...

I hope you're kidding about the mismatched socks. That is just unprofessional.
 
i wore pink today and now that you mention it, i did look differerent
 
ArcGurren said:
I don't think anyone gives a crap what you wear as long as it falls within regulation and you're not prancing in wearing a g-string
Click to expand...

Uh, depending on what she looks like, I wouldn't mind that either.

I mean, TOTALLY unprofessional...
 
bowlofmushypeas said:
Yup..that's basically my question. I'm on IM and everyone seems wear shades of grey, brown, or black.. Is it frowned upon to wear something like a red dress? Should something like that be reserved for Derm? 🙂
Click to expand...

In all seriousness, I ascribe to the "act like a doctor, look like a doctor, get treated like a doctor." People's vision of a physician is the long white coat, the button shirt, the tie, and, unfortunately, usually male. Im not saying women should go wear a shirt and tie, but there is still "business dress."

That term has been dying in the current generation. We are more outgoing, more personable, more individual. We don't ascribe to everyone-in-the-same-suit anymore. Some people push the fringe (grey suit with a purple shirt on interview). PERSONALLY, a little dabbling on the part of the professional (a pink buttondown on a male, for example) is ok.

If it looks like you are going out on a saturday night, its not appropriate, even if that event is a black tie event. You want to be a doctor, not a date, not an escort, not a "woman." Yes, it does harpoon your individuality, it does sabotage your desire to show off your dress, your style, your class. But when you walk into a patient's room and they see a gal all done up, they think "someone's wife" not "my doctor."

People will say NO! That's so backwards! We are more progressive as a society! Oh yeah? YOU are more progressive as a society. *I* get it. People on this forum get it. But its not you are I who will be offended, who will get the wrong idea, who it even matters if we do. Its the impression on the patients that really matters (which is why, anything in the OR is ok... they're knocked out and won't remember the encounter anyway). But on the floor, "look like a doctor, get treated like a doctor."

Effect your evals? Nope (unless you are low cut to the breasts or skimpy skirt above the knee). Effect colleague's perception of you (only if you try really hard, and then its usually not the impression you want)? Nope. Effect how your patients see you and treat you? Yep.

How many times have you been called nurse? Or "what are you going to do when you grow up?" For me, every medical student introduces themself to the patients as "student doctor melburne," not "Matt the medical student." I believe in the principles of patient ownership, of responsibility, of the student being their patient's doctor. How can they do that if they don't look like one?

Ok. Does dress matter THAT much? No. But if you stick to the principles in the above paragraph, you shape dress, attitude, speech, involvement, and TOGETHER they make a huge difference.

All this being said, I've only ever seen one girl sent home or repremanded for dress. She wore a skirt that, while standing, was half way up her thigh. You can imagine when she sat down... Great for the VA vets, not great for establishing "im the doctor"
 
OveractiveBrain said:
In all seriousness, I ascribe to the "act like a doctor, look like a doctor, get treated like a doctor." People's vision of a physician is the long white coat, the button shirt, the tie, and, unfortunately, usually male. Im not saying women should go wear a shirt and tie, but there is still "business dress."

That term has been dying in the current generation. We are more outgoing, more personable, more individual. We don't ascribe to everyone-in-the-same-suit anymore. Some people push the fringe (grey suit with a purple shirt on interview). PERSONALLY, a little dabbling on the part of the professional (a pink buttondown on a male, for example) is ok.

If it looks like you are going out on a saturday night, its not appropriate, even if that event is a black tie event. You want to be a doctor, not a date, not an escort, not a "woman." Yes, it does harpoon your individuality, it does sabotage your desire to show off your dress, your style, your class. But when you walk into a patient's room and they see a gal all done up, they think "someone's wife" not "my doctor."

People will say NO! That's so backwards! We are more progressive as a society! Oh yeah? YOU are more progressive as a society. *I* get it. People on this forum get it. But its not you are I who will be offended, who will get the wrong idea, who it even matters if we do. Its the impression on the patients that really matters (which is why, anything in the OR is ok... they're knocked out and won't remember the encounter anyway). But on the floor, "look like a doctor, get treated like a doctor."

Effect your evals? Nope (unless you are low cut to the breasts or skimpy skirt above the knee). Effect colleague's perception of you (only if you try really hard, and then its usually not the impression you want)? Nope. Effect how your patients see you and treat you? Yep.

How many times have you been called nurse? Or "what are you going to do when you grow up?" For me, every medical student introduces themself to the patients as "student doctor melburne," not "Matt the medical student." I believe in the principles of patient ownership, of responsibility, of the student being their patient's doctor. How can they do that if they don't look like one?

Ok. Does dress matter THAT much? No. But if you stick to the principles in the above paragraph, you shape dress, attitude, speech, involvement, and TOGETHER they make a huge difference.

All this being said, I've only ever seen one girl sent home or repremanded for dress. She wore a skirt that, while standing, was half way up her thigh. You can imagine when she sat down... Great for the VA vets, not great for establishing "im the doctor"
Click to expand...

But, I thought MOST med students refer to themselves as med students to patients. It would be wrong to be mistaken for a doctor when you're just a student, right? I mean, I never introduce myself as a student doctor, more like a "3rd year med student working with XXX resident/attending". I know med students have the chance to do a few interviews with patients, kinda like "playing doctor", but I don't think it's bad to be asked "what do you wanna be when you grow up?" since it's true, we are students rotating and such.
 
KnuxNole said:
But, I thought MOST med students refer to themselves as med students to patients. It would be wrong to be mistaken for a doctor when you're just a student, right? I mean, I never introduce myself as a student doctor, more like a "3rd year med student working with XXX resident/attending". I know med students have the chance to do a few interviews with patients, kinda like "playing doctor", but I don't think it's bad to be asked "what do you wanna be when you grow up?" since it's true, we are students rotating and such.
Click to expand...

I usually introduce myself as "student doctor (last name), I'm a medical student working with the team/(insert med school here)"
 
KnuxNole said:
But, I thought MOST med students refer to themselves as med students to patients. It would be wrong to be mistaken for a doctor when you're just a student, right? I mean, I never introduce myself as a student doctor, more like a "3rd year med student working with XXX resident/attending". I know med students have the chance to do a few interviews with patients, kinda like "playing doctor", but I don't think it's bad to be asked "what do you wanna be when you grow up?" since it's true, we are students rotating and such.
Click to expand...

Here it seems most people say "med student" as well. I do know a few people who seem to think "student doctor" is way superior to med student, but personally I think the semantics don't matter; if you look and act professional most of the time you will be treated like a professional.
 
DrYoda said:
Here it seems most people say "med student" as well. I do know a few people who seem to think "student doctor" is way superior to med student, but personally I think the semantics don't matter; if you look and act professional most of the time you will be treated like a professional.
Click to expand...


I agree. And again, no one thing makes or breaks it. But when Mike Marshall starts saying "student doctor marshall" the words "Doctor Marshall"; are in that phrase. It gets people out of the mindset of "oh, Im just a student, i dont matter"; to the mindset of "im Doctor whatever." Its not about professionalism, or being perceived as such. Its about the overall picture. I try to encourage ownership. I try to encourage the "just-a-student" to be "the doctor in training" to be "the doctor."

Treat a man as he is, and make him worse.
Treat a man as what he could be, and make him what he should be.

People think "man, i don't want to lie to this patient... what if they think im their doctor?!" Yes. That is the point. YOU are their doctor. Do you have all the answers? No. But I WANT the students to start thinking that way, that they are the patient's doctor. I WANT the patient thinking the student is their doctor (and will therefore be more forthcoming with information to the student). It feeds into patient ownership (if Im their doctor, if they think I'm their doctor, i have to act like their doctor) and it feeds into the confidence building required to make a better student, a better intern.

And I know many med students who do just say "Med Student Mike." It works fine. Some Mikes are awesome. They don't need to be encouraged or tricked into being a great student, or a great doctor. But the principles I practice my leadership by aren't for the student who is going to be awesome anyway. They don't need my help. Its the other 90% of medical students, you know, the one's who actually live under the curve, that need a little support.

You shouldn't have to motivate, but often you must
 
Last edited:
2012mdc said:
I usually introduce myself as "student doctor (last name), I'm a medical student working with the team/(insert med school here)"
Click to expand...

At my school we are explicitly forbidden from using the phrase "student doctor". They also recommend that we use our last names, but I haven't figured out how to make that work on a practical basis.
 
mdpdgirl said:
At my school we are explicitly forbidden from using the phrase "student doctor". They also recommend that we use our last names, but I haven't figured out how to make that work on a practical basis.
Click to expand...

that's interesting.

med student "last name" just doesn't sound right
 
2012mdc said:
that's interesting.

med student "last name" just doesn't sound right
Click to expand...

We were taught to say our full name and then whatever year medical student we were, simple. Student doctor is misleading and was technically forbidden at my school too but nothing would happen if you said it.
 
Personally, I would try to dress in a way that would not give my patient an erection during a testicular exam... but thats just me.
 
bambi said:
We were taught to say our full name and then whatever year medical student we were, simple. Student doctor is misleading and was technically forbidden at my school too but nothing would happen if you said it.
Click to expand...

Got it.

I always say I'm student doctor last name followed by I'm a 3rd year working with the team.

Student doctor could be misleading by itself so that's why I usually add that I'm a 3rd year medical student

One time in urology clinicthe attending had me remove my badge saying I'm a medical student and he introduced me as a FM intern that was visiting. He said "nobody wants to be f****n examined by a medical student" :laugh:
 
Last edited:
2012mdc said:
Got it.

I always say I'm student doctor last name followed by I'm a 3rd year working with the team.

Student doctor could be misleading by itself so that's why I usually add that I'm a 3rd year.

One time in urology clinicthe attending had me remove my badge saying I'm a medical student and he introduced me as a FM intern that was visiting. He said "nobody wants to be f****n examined by a medical student" :laugh:
Click to expand...

Using the word doctor at all is misleading. Patients know that doctors are still learning during residency so student doctor could be taken to mean resident. Student doctor, 3rd year could easily be mistaken for 3rd year resident. Medics forget that patients don't know what all the different terms really mean because to us it's just normal language (it's much worse in the UK, we have loads of different terms and you can see it on pts faces that they have no idea what they mean when people use them).
 
bambi said:
Using the word doctor at all is misleading. Patients know that doctors are still learning during residency so student doctor could be taken to mean resident. Student doctor, 3rd year could easily be mistaken for 3rd year resident. Medics forget that patients don't know what all the different terms really mean because to us it's just normal language (it's much worse in the UK, we have loads of different terms and you can see it on pts faces that they have no idea what they mean when people use them).
Click to expand...

meant to say 3rd year medical student. my bad (edited original post)
 
Right. If I say student doctor, they might think I have responsibility or something. And we can't mislead that 😛

Save that part for the interns!
 
This is my personal preference, but I think it's better to wear good dress pants and sensible shoes. The shirt you wear doesn't matter so much, as long as it is clean and modest. I wear minimal makeup- bit of mascara, some powder, whatever. But a lot of the other girls are into looking super-girly. Too much work imo.
 
dinocalvin said:
Personally, I would try to dress in a way that would not give my patient an erection during a testicular exam... but thats just me.
Click to expand...

True. If that happens, it's obviously your fault. You had it coming.
 
I have to agree a bit with the long post above. Play the part if you want to be treated like a doctor. I always introduce myself as a medical student and about 90 percent of my patients still call me doctor. I gave up a long time ago on trying to correct, because it doesn't work. I always strive to act professional and behave confidently, even if I don't have a frigging clue what's going on, and I think it pays off in terms of patient confidence with the care they are receiving and the concern we have for them. I remember the first day I started suturing, on my third case of the day the mother of the patient I was suturing exclaimed how good I was and asked me how long id been doing suturing. I laughed and said about three hours.
 
mmmcdowe said:
I have to agree a bit with the long post above. Play the part if you want to be treated like a doctor. I always introduce myself as a medical student and about 90 percent of my patients still call me doctor. I gave up a long time ago on trying to correct, because it doesn't work. I always strive to act professional and behave confidently, even if I don't have a frigging clue what's going on, and I think it pays off in terms of patient confidence with the care they are receiving and the concern we have for them. I remember the first day I started suturing, on my third case of the day the mother of the patient I was suturing exclaimed how good I was and asked me how long id been doing suturing. I laughed and said about three hours.
Click to expand...

I don't totally disagree either. But I don't think patients disrespect female doctors who dress all feminine, that sounds made-up to me.
 
bambi said:
Using the word doctor at all is misleading. Patients know that doctors are still learning during residency so student doctor could be taken to mean resident. Student doctor, 3rd year could easily be mistaken for 3rd year resident. Medics forget that patients don't know what all the different terms really mean because to us it's just normal language (it's much worse in the UK, we have loads of different terms and you can see it on pts faces that they have no idea what they mean when people use them).
Click to expand...

I agree, I abhor the term "student doctor"... it sounds stupid and misleading. We're not doctors, we don't have the knowledge base of a doctor or the clinical skills of a doctor, and we're not nearly as responsible for care as a doctor. We're medical students. I always introduce myself as a "medical student", and if they ask what year, I tell them I'm a 3rd year. I'm going to do the same on my AI, even though that does entail more responsibility.
 
ArcGurren said:
I agree, I abhor the term "student doctor"... it sounds stupid and misleading. We're not doctors, we don't have the knowledge base of a doctor or the clinical skills of a doctor, and we're not nearly as responsible for care as a doctor. We're medical students. I always introduce myself as a "medical student", and if they ask what year, I tell them I'm a 3rd year. I'm going to do the same on my AI, even though that does entail more responsibility.
Click to expand...

This is the attitude I try to overcome. Let me ask you this: What is the difference between a fourth year medical student on May 1st and a first year intern on July 1st?... About 2 months. WHEN do have the knowledge base of a doctor? WHEN do get the clinical skills of a doctor? WHEN will you be responsible for patient care? WHEN do you become the doctor? What is the cutoff, the limit of knowledge where all of a sudden you pick up the flag and carry on to responsibility.

I intend to inspire confidence, to show medical students that a Medical Degree means diddly. Most residents will disagree, of course. They fought through **** and spit to get that degree, and thank god, now they are the doctors. NOW they're in charge. But as you will see, the more confidence a resident has in themselves, the more freedom they will give their students.

But honestly, how else are you supposed to learn? Classrooms, didactics, and books only go so far. The student has to be put in the position of responsibility, of decision making, in order to really put to use what you're learning.

So, EVERYTHING I do is to put the student into that position. Part of that, part of getting them into the role of the doctor, is to get them AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to doctor x. And so, I almost insist on Student Doctor X. For most people, its a release. Its the first time some one has told them to actually act like a doctor, to get involved, to be responsible. Too many students get comfortable in being the observer, paralyzed by "I'm just a student..." And yet they think that somehow theyll be magically ready the first day of internship.

The earlier the student accepts responsibility the earlier and easier it will be. The better a student they are, the better intern they will be, and the better resident they will become.
 
OveractiveBrain said:
This is the attitude I try to overcome. Let me ask you this: What is the difference between a fourth year medical student on May 1st and a first year intern on July 1st?... About 2 months. WHEN do have the knowledge base of a doctor? WHEN do get the clinical skills of a doctor? WHEN will you be responsible for patient care? WHEN do you become the doctor? What is the cutoff, the limit of knowledge where all of a sudden you pick up the flag and carry on to responsibility.

I intend to inspire confidence, to show medical students that a Medical Degree means diddly. Most residents will disagree, of course. They fought through **** and spit to get that degree, and thank god, now they are the doctors. NOW they're in charge. But as you will see, the more confidence a resident has in themselves, the more freedom they will give their students.

But honestly, how else are you supposed to learn? Classrooms, didactics, and books only go so far. The student has to be put in the position of responsibility, of decision making, in order to really put to use what you're learning.

So, EVERYTHING I do is to put the student into that position. Part of that, part of getting them into the role of the doctor, is to get them AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to doctor x. And so, I almost insist on Student Doctor X. For most people, its a release. Its the first time some one has told them to actually act like a doctor, to get involved, to be responsible. Too many students get comfortable in being the observer, paralyzed by "I'm just a student..." And yet they think that somehow theyll be magically ready the first day of internship.

The earlier the student accepts responsibility the earlier and easier it will be. The better a student they are, the better intern they will be, and the better resident they will become.
Click to expand...

As someone who has recently undergone the May 1st MS4 -> July 1st "Doctor" experience... I completely agree with this post. You'd be surprised how much of that knowledge goes away the first time you're put in a position of responsibility if you haven't practiced using it.
 
Where I went to medical school, the term "student doctor" was forbidden, and it's usage was supposed to result in a professionalism report to the dean's office. Never heard of it happening, but certainly no one wanted to have such a black mark on their record either.

Certainly dressing professionally is important, but for women, this is particularly ill-defined. There are red dresses and then there are RED dresses. Cut, length, and fit, certainly matter more than color, but I doubt you're pushing the bounds of good taste (at least I hope your smart enough not to). If anything, dressing more feminine may actually result in being confused for a nurse less often.

My suggestion would be to gradually work your way up to something bold on more conservative rotations like IM, but on rotations like Peds, it's unlikely to be an issue.
 
Update -- wore my red dress awhile ago and got compliments from patients and co-workers, attending included. Lesson here is to just do it. If grandma wouldn't care, neither will anyone else.
 
OveractiveBrain said:
This is the attitude I try to overcome. Let me ask you this: What is the difference between a fourth year medical student on May 1st and a first year intern on July 1st?... About 2 months. WHEN do have the knowledge base of a doctor? WHEN do get the clinical skills of a doctor? WHEN will you be responsible for patient care? WHEN do you become the doctor? What is the cutoff, the limit of knowledge where all of a sudden you pick up the flag and carry on to responsibility.

I intend to inspire confidence, to show medical students that a Medical Degree means diddly. Most residents will disagree, of course. They fought through **** and spit to get that degree, and thank god, now they are the doctors. NOW they're in charge. But as you will see, the more confidence a resident has in themselves, the more freedom they will give their students.

But honestly, how else are you supposed to learn? Classrooms, didactics, and books only go so far. The student has to be put in the position of responsibility, of decision making, in order to really put to use what you're learning.

So, EVERYTHING I do is to put the student into that position. Part of that, part of getting them into the role of the doctor, is to get them AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to doctor x. And so, I almost insist on Student Doctor X. For most people, its a release. Its the first time some one has told them to actually act like a doctor, to get involved, to be responsible. Too many students get comfortable in being the observer, paralyzed by "I'm just a student..." And yet they think that somehow theyll be magically ready the first day of internship.

The earlier the student accepts responsibility the earlier and easier it will be. The better a student they are, the better intern they will be, and the better resident they will become.
Click to expand...

You have a point with everything you've said but I also just think the actual term "student doctor _____" sounds stupid. Like when I say it I feel like giggling because of how dumb it comes out.

I've got no issue with taking responsibility from day one of 3rd year... I just think it's dumb to try and make myself SEEM like something i'm not, and adding "doctor" into my title just sounds facetious and pretentious.
 
dinocalvin said:
Personally, I would try to dress in a way that would not give my patient an erection during a testicular exam... but thats just me.
Click to expand...

winner


also, is it just me, or did anyone else literally just where whatever the hell wasn't in the hamper by the end of third year? I wore a bacon neck tshirt with khakis once and no one said anything
 
PokerDoc said:
winner


also, is it just me, or did anyone else literally just where whatever the hell wasn't in the hamper by the end of third year? I wore a bacon neck tshirt with khakis once and no one said anything
Click to expand...

They were judging you, though...
 
bowlofmushypeas said:
Update -- wore my red dress awhile ago and got compliments from patients and co-workers, attending included. Lesson here is to just do it. If grandma wouldn't care, neither will anyone else.
Click to expand...

"you're a pretty girl! what a beautiful red dress! Now be a good girl and get my doctor!"
 
yet we call them "nursing students" and that doesn't sound weird. why does "student doctor?" and it does. It's like "student driver" or "level 6 student wizard."

Anyone else have those random PhDs that then go to med school and insist that everyone call them Dr. ______ obnoxiously even when they're like a first year?
 
isoquin said:
yet we call them "nursing students" and that doesn't sound weird. why does "student doctor?" and it does. It's like "student driver" or "level 6 student wizard."

Anyone else have those random PhDs that then go to med school and insist that everyone call them Dr. ______ obnoxiously even when they're like a first year?
Click to expand...

I know a couple PhDs who entered med school... never met anyone who's asked to call them "Doctor", so you must be around a lot of mad unpleasant people.

And the reason Student Doctor sounds weird to me is because it's used as a title, as in "Student Doctor Smith", not as a description like "nursing student"... that's why I have no problem introducing myself as a "medical student"
 
ArcGurren said:
And the reason Student Doctor sounds weird to me is because it's used as a title, as in "Student Doctor Smith", not as a description like "nursing student"... that's why I have no problem introducing myself as a "medical student"
Click to expand...
👍
 
ArcGurren said:
I know a couple PhDs who entered med school... never met anyone who's asked to call them "Doctor", so you must be around a lot of mad unpleasant people.

And the reason Student Doctor sounds weird to me is because it's used as a title, as in -Student Doctor Smith", not as a description like "nursing student"... that's why I have no problem introducing myself as a "medical student"
Click to expand...

Let me give you an anecdote that illustrates why I don't like Medical Student X. And listen, you don't have to buy this. Honestly, does it REALLY matter that much which term you use? Of course not. If the student is offended by the term, I'm not going to make them use it. Frankly, if I'm the one doing the introductions, I just leave off ''student'' I wouldn't want the student doing that themselves, because I think most would find that uncomfortable.


----------------Begin Story---------------------
The Story: I was flying home from my first year of medical school for winter break. I sat next to this woman who saw I was reading some book, medically oriented. We started talking and she asked me what I was doing. "Medical Student" I replied. You could tell she was excited. Her daughter was also going to medical school. Wow! What are the chances? -Where does she go?- I asked. The response was not what I expected. It was some no name school in podunk virigina. At least I think it was Virginia. I faked it... she was so proud of her daughter I didn't want to be all like 'oh, never heard of that'

She then asked me what I was studying to become. Well, DOCTOR was obvious, so I chose something anybody could recognize... Cardiology (one because I thought maybe, but now I'm not, and two because everyone knows what a cardiologist is). Blank stare. I'm not sure if it was awe that she realized I was getting my medical degree, or that she really never heard the word cardiologist before. Detecting the awkward silence I followed up, 'what about your daughter?'

'Nursing Aid.' Her daughter was a medical student, attending medical school, to become a nursing aid. 'medical school' in her mind meant any training in the field of medicine. Now, this woman wasn't particularly unintelligent. We had a full conversation up to this point. She was flying, so she wasn't dirt poor. She was a run of the mill, maybe (probably) high-school educated middle american who actually beleived her daughter was in 'medical school.'

----------------End Story-------------

The point is that to you, to me, to everyone on this forum 'medical student' implies 'training to be a doctor' or 'Im going to get my MD' which also implies 'in a couple of years, I'll be a doctor.' And so it makes sense. We use the term to convey that meaning. But frankly, to the rest of the world, especially the patients poor enough and sick enough to end up under a student's care, that term really means 'anyone in the medical field who has not completed their training.' Of course, frequent fliers know the difference. But to most people in the hospital, you could be a nursing aid student for all they know. We assume that 'medical student' conveys what we think it conveys, but sometimes it doesn't. Often? Probably not. But sometimes. I like to eliminate the ambiguity. 'Student Doctor' has only one connotation: 'someone studying the persuit of being a doctor.' If it is mistaken to mean 'resident' that's really ok. The only difference between a resident and a medical student is the degree and the ability to sign a chart.
 
OveractiveBrain said:
Let me give you an anecdote that illustrates why I don't like Medical Student X. And listen, you don't have to buy this. Honestly, does it REALLY matter that much which term you use? Of course not. If the student is offended by the term, I'm not going to make them use it. Frankly, if I'm the one doing the introductions, I just leave off ''student'' I wouldn't want the student doing that themselves, because I think most would find that uncomfortable.


----------------Begin Story---------------------
The Story: I was flying home from my first year of medical school for winter break. I sat next to this woman who saw I was reading some book, medically oriented. We started talking and she asked me what I was doing. "Medical Student" I replied. You could tell she was excited. Her daughter was also going to medical school. Wow! What are the chances? -Where does she go?- I asked. The response was not what I expected. It was some no name school in podunk virigina. At least I think it was Virginia. I faked it... she was so proud of her daughter I didn't want to be all like 'oh, never heard of that'

She then asked me what I was studying to become. Well, DOCTOR was obvious, so I chose something anybody could recognize... Cardiology (one because I thought maybe, but now I'm not, and two because everyone knows what a cardiologist is). Blank stare. I'm not sure if it was awe that she realized I was getting my medical degree, or that she really never heard the word cardiologist before. Detecting the awkward silence I followed up, 'what about your daughter?'

'Nursing Aid.' Her daughter was a medical student, attending medical school, to become a nursing aid. 'medical school' in her mind meant any training in the field of medicine. Now, this woman wasn't particularly unintelligent. We had a full conversation up to this point. She was flying, so she wasn't dirt poor. She was a run of the mill, maybe (probably) high-school educated middle american who actually beleived her daughter was in 'medical school.'

----------------End Story-------------

The point is that to you, to me, to everyone on this forum 'medical student' implies 'training to be a doctor' or 'Im going to get my MD' which also implies 'in a couple of years, I'll be a doctor.' And so it makes sense. We use the term to convey that meaning. But frankly, to the rest of the world, especially the patients poor enough and sick enough to end up under a student's care, that term really means 'anyone in the medical field who has not completed their training.' Of course, frequent fliers know the difference. But to most people in the hospital, you could be a nursing aid student for all they know. We assume that 'medical student' conveys what we think it conveys, but sometimes it doesn't. Often? Probably not. But sometimes. I like to eliminate the ambiguity. 'Student Doctor' has only one connotation: 'someone studying the persuit of being a doctor.' If it is mistaken to mean 'resident' that's really ok. The only difference between a resident and a medical student is the degree and the ability to sign a chart.
Click to expand...

Well, you're right. I don't buy it at all, I've only once ever run into someone who didn't know what the difference between a medical student and a nursing student was. Despite the stupidity of a good portion of people, they can usually figure that much out.
 
ArcGurren said:
Well, you're right. I don't buy it at all, I've only once ever run into someone who didn't know what the difference between a medical student and a nursing student was. Despite the stupidity of a good portion of people, they can usually figure that much out.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't give the general pop that much credit. I've had to explain on several occasions that the fact I'm in medical school means I'm studying to get my MD.

I don't expect people w/o a college education to understand what is implied by saying "medical student"
 
2012mdc said:
I wouldn't give the general pop that much credit. I've had to explain on several occasions that the fact I'm in medical school means I'm studying to get my MD.

I don't expect people w/o a college education to understand what is implied by saying "medical student"
Click to expand...

I guess it's all subjective anyway, and we all have different experiences... all the same most of the patients that I interact with are used to having been in a teaching hospital so they know pretty much what a medical student is.
 
A white coat is the brightest darn clothing item you CAN wear, so anything else won't really stand out.

Plus, nothing bad about looking cheery.
 
We were specifically told to NOT introduce ourselves as student doctor because it is misleading to patients, who don't understand medical education. I had one attending introduce me as that and it led to a ridiculous amount of confusion amongst EVERYONE as to what my responsibilities were. We are also told before hand that we have all the rights reserved for physicians at the hospitals we rotate at in the community (attendings always one up us of course). In practice, this rarely happens because we are at community hospitals where I can't seem to get all the computer access I need to do my part well.

Basically, we were taught to introduce ourselves in some form of, "Hi, my name is _______, I'm the ______year medical student from *insert school name* working with Dr.________. " and then explain your role in their healthcare. I've done the schtick so many friggin times that it just rolls out without thinking. I suppose the nature of our school structure lends itself to feeling the autonomy though. We don't deal with interns/residents. The evening before my first day of my first rotation involved a phone call from my attending basically stating that we would meet on a certain floor and he'd look over my progress notes. I rounded on his patients with the help of some awesome nurses, wrote the notes and he signed them and moved on without comment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
audition rotations in EM
Replies
1
Views
692
Powdermonkey
Powdermonkey
S
Core Rotations
Replies
1
Views
1K
kirtar
K
94hdogs
Deciding between different away rotations
Replies
1
Views
3K
djo208
D
N
Attendance and Professionalism on Rotations
Replies
8
Views
6K
Redpancreas
Redpancreas
G
  • Locked
Away rotation in Atlanta
Replies
1
Views
648
wysdoc
wysdoc
Top