Doctors in Blue Jeans?

[GreenShirt]

At my school they really hammer us on professionalism. We have a strict business casual dress code and we're not even allowed to drape our stethoscopes around our neck because its too "cavalier". Overall, I think it's good practice, because once we're out in a clinical setting we'll have to get used to wearing professional attire.

Although, recently I had an appointment with a new primary care physician, who walked into the exam room wearing blue jeans, a T-shirt, and sneakers. I just about died. One of the instructors at my school says that many offices are actually purposely transitioning away from professional attire and white coats (especially in the pediatric world where white coats and stethoscopes frighten children) in order to be less intimidating to patients.

What do you guys think of this? Do white coats and professional attire create an elitist divide between patient and physician? Or does professional attire inspire confidence in patients?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Ashers]

So you have to dress up even as an M1 and M2?

I hate dressing up. A couple of my friends and I have discussed this, and we'd just rather wear scrubs all day every day than dress up for clinic. I think it's just tradition and the culture you're in that people dress up. I wouldn't mind wearing jeans either. My friends and I also agreed we feel like stooges with the short white coats. My neck would be a lot happier if I didn't have to wear it.

For example, when my dad practiced in Southern California, he wore a suit and tie to work every day, even on rounds on the weekends, and I remember he had a whole bunch of saddle shoes and really nice shoes. When we moved to Hawaii, he started wearing aloha shirts or polo shirts to work with khaki pants, etc (basically stuff you can buy at Lands End), and boat shoes. And when he has rounds on the weekend, he may go to the hospital in a polo shirt and shorts. I've seen doctors go to the ER in their board shorts and slippers when they've been on call.

There's a big culture difference, and if someone went to work every day in HI with a suit and tie, the locals might think that the doctor crazy for actually wearing a suit and tie when it's hot out. I don't even see people wearing ties unless it's to church on Christmas or Easter, occasionally a person wears one at a wedding.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

I give my response in the immortal words of Neil Diamond:

[YOUTUBE]http://youtube.com/watch?v=9JE17Qz-pdE[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Law2Doc]

What do you guys think of this? Do white coats and professional attire create an elitist divide between patient and physician? Or does professional attire inspire confidence in patients?

Medicine is a few decades behind the rest of the professions. Law, banking, finance all tried the business casual thing, in theory that it would help them relate to clients (particularly the young kids of the dotcom era), and not be regarded as "suits". It ultimately was found that it didn't work -- clients wanted their lawyer, banker, financier to look the parts, not look like them, and the door has now largely swung back toward more formal dress. Medicine may try this same thing, but will quickly find that the public has an image of physician that it wants its physicians to look like. So doctors will ultimately end up with fairly formal professional attire and white coats in the doctors' offices, regardless of what a few offices are trying in the short term. I wouldn't get too excited about the prospect of dressing casual. If you really want casual, go into a surgical field where you can wear scrubs daily.

 

[akpete]

I've never quite understood why people are uncomfortable when dressed nice. It's just pants and a shirt, like any other day, except that the pants aren't denim. Unless you are a nudist I suppose. 🙄

 

[Ashers]

I've never quite understood why people are uncomfortable when dressed nice. It's just pants and a shirt, like any other day, except that the pants aren't denim. Unless you are a nudist I suppose. 🙄

The shirt's not a t-shirt. Something about collared shirts that I don't like. I try to buy nice non-collared shirts.

 

[MrBurns10]

I went to a PCP once when I was in high school that wore blue jeans and a regular shirt. I remember thinking it was really unprofessional and made me actually feel less confident in whatever she had to say...I never went back. I don't think doctors necessarily need to wear a tie, but nice pants and a dress shirt is a must.

 

[akpete]

The shirt's not a t-shirt. Something about collared shirts that I don't like. I try to buy nice non-collared shirts.

Okay. I'll give you that. I don't wear too many collared/button-down shirts. More T-shirts that are cut well.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

The shirt's not a t-shirt. Something about collared shirts that I don't like. I try to buy nice non-collared shirts.

This is one reason why I'm so happy I'm not a guy. I had the buttoned up collared shirts -- they're just so uncomfortable. Luckily women have so many more options for dress up wear. 👍

I would say that most doctors I've seen are a little more casual than other professionals (well, excluding engineers and IT folks) even when dressing up. I'd probably be a little thrown by doctors wearing ragged jeans and a t-shirt, but I doubt I'd notice if a doctor wore jeans and a nicer top. I also don't think the return to more professional wear is happening quite as definitively as Law2Doc is saying. Maybe in law firms, but I haven't seen it anywhere else.

 

[Ashers]

I wouldn't get too excited about the prospect of dressing casual. If you really want casual, go into a surgical field where you can wear scrubs daily.

Most surgeons I know dress up for clinic. However, my OB/gyn wears scrubs all the time, even in clinic.

There was this news article this year, I thought it was earlier. I guess I was thinking of the better looking doctor survey from like 2005/2006.

Physician's attire doesn't matter to patients

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Whether a doctor wears business attire, casual clothing or scrubs seems to make little difference in a patient's satisfaction with treatment, the results of a new survey show.

And here's the study it was taken from.

Fischer RL - Am J Obstet Gynecol - 01-FEB-2007; 196(2): 186.e1-5

EDUCATION
Does physician attire influence patient satisfaction in an
outpatient obstetrics and gynecology setting?
Richard L. Fischer, MD; Clare E. Hansen, RN; Robert L. Hunter, MD; J. Jon Veloski, MS
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to determine whether physician
attire played a role in patient satisfaction after a new obstetrician/
gynecologist encounter.
STUDY DESIGN: Over a 3-month period, 20 physicians were randomly
assigned to dress in business attire, casual clothing, or scrub suit each
week. One thousand one hundred sixteen patients who had an office
visit with a new obstetrician/gynecologist for at least 10 minutes completed
a satisfaction survey, which assessed patient comfort as well as
perception of the competency and professionalism of the physician.
Patients were blinded to the physician attire manipulation.
RESULTS: There was no difference in the mean overall satisfaction
score among the 3 physician attire groups. No differences existed in
satisfaction scores when analyzed by individual survey item or by demographic
factors, after controlling for attire.
CONCLUSION: Patients are equally satisfied with physicians who dress
in business attire, casual clothing, or scrub suit.
Key words: patient satisfaction, physician attire, physician-patient
relations

 

[nlax30]

We have a dress code at my school as well, professional dress when on campus.
I think everyone has gotten used to it, and there is something nice about everyone looking nice and professional from the start, it's at least getting me used to dealing with a tie for a good part of the day.

Here's a viewpoint from a blog I read: http://emphysician.blogspot.com/2007/10/white-blue-coat.html

 

[ZagDoc]

We have a dress code and the school constantly harps on professionalism as well. That being said, I think it all depends on context. For something like primary care, I can understand wanting patients to be more comfortable and having it be a more relaxed atmosphere, since primary care is managing a patients overall well being, and you want them to feel comfortable conveying everything about their well being, physical and psychological. People that feel uncomfortable or intimdated are a lot less likely to confide certain things (like stresses over a breakup or death in the family or something) that might be producing some psychosomatic symptoms. On the other hand, I think if a person is going into surgery, the patient would likely be disturbed and worried if their surgeon showed for the pre-op consult up in jeans. I think dress is a balance of the environment of the encounter, what the patient is facing and what expectations they have for the physician encounter, and what the physician wants to convey to the patient about their own expectations from the patient.

My 2 cents at least.

 

[Blade28]

When we moved to Hawaii, he started wearing aloha shirts or polo shirts to work with khaki pants, etc (basically stuff you can buy at Lands End), and boat shoes. And when he has rounds on the weekend, he may go to the hospital in a polo shirt and shorts. I've seen doctors go to the ER in their board shorts and slippers when they've been on call.

Only in Hawaii. 🙂

 

[45408]

I've never quite understood why people are uncomfortable when dressed nice. It's just pants and a shirt, like any other day, except that the pants aren't denim. Unless you are a nudist I suppose. 🙄

It's the shoes, for me. I wear my Merrell's until there are holes in them, and then I buy another pair. I haven't found any dress shoes that compare, but if anyone knows of any, I'd be willing to spend some decent money for them. And a shirt and tie can be a bit constricting on the neck. Try one sometime.

 

[Law2Doc]

Most surgeons I know dress up for clinic. However, my OB/gyn wears scrubs all the time, even in clinic.

There was this news article this year, I thought it was earlier. I guess I was thinking of the better looking doctor survey from like 2005/2006.



And here's the study it was taken from.

They did those studies in law too before they tried the casual thing. Turned out the studies did not hold water. It's one thing for a patient to think in the abstract that doctor dress doesn't matter, or to stick with a doctor they have already been seeing who previously dressed the part; It's another thing altogether when they are choosing their own doctor and have the choice of someone who dresses the part versus one who looks like he just came in off the street. These things end up mattering regardless of how many people tell surveys otherwise, because it is something that sounds better to people in the abstract than in reality. People in fact often judge a book by its cover. Medicine may try the casual dress thing, for a time, but like the many other professions which ALREADY tried this over a decade ago and have since switched back, it too will be a failed experiment. So I certainly wouldn't bother getting excited about it. Get comfortable in a tie.

 

[Law2Doc]

It's the shoes, for me. I wear my Merrell's until there are holes in them, and then I buy another pair. I haven't found any dress shoes that compare,

Ditto.

 

[Ashers]

Only in Hawaii. 🙂

I miss that. =( Especially now that it's getting cold.

They did those studies in law too before they tried the casual thing. Turned out the studies did not hold water. It's one thing for a patient to think in the abstract that doctor dress doesn't matter, or to stick with a doctor they have already been seeing who previously dressed the part; It's another thing altogether when they are choosing their own doctor and have the choice of someone who dresses the part versus one who looks like he just came in off the street. These things end up mattering regardless of how many people tell surveys otherwise, because it is something that sounds better to people in the abstract than in reality. People in fact often judge a book by its cover. Medicine may try the casual dress thing, for a time, but like the many other professions which ALREADY tried this over a decade ago and have since switched back, it too will be a failed experiment. So I certainly wouldn't bother getting excited about it. Get comfortable in a tie.

Oh, dang it. I was really hoping I could dress down.

It's the shirts that bother me the most, since I don't own all "nice Ts," I have an assortment of collared shirts.

 

[DoctaJay]

If I could be in scrubs all day every day, I would be content.

 

[TheMightyAngus]

Elsewhere in the world, I'd say most people dress nicely anytime they leave the house, let alone going to work. Only in America would doctors even consider wearing casual clothes to the clinic. Good or bad, it's a cultural thing. American stereotype.

 

[GodoShingo]

The shirt's not a t-shirt. Something about collared shirts that I don't like. I try to buy nice non-collared shirts.

Well you could instead buy some with smooth cotton that doesn't cut into the neck. Or shirts with fabric that are just like you like it.

Personally I am all for the proper dress-code with shirt and stuff. Of course I prefer white coats, but it's most because of that it serves as protection against fluids ect. and that you can fit alot of stuff in them.

Normally I dress in normal clothes and white coat, but on special occasions I dress in shirt and white coat.

But most of all, I would prefer to go in scrubs all day long for the rest of my life. They are so damn comfortable! Never too cold, nor too warm. Always cut perfectly to fit my body and just simply very comfy.

 

[brianmartin]

What medical school do you attend? I will not be applying there.

 

[hardy]

My lawyer and banker have to wear a suit. So do the diplomat and politician representing me. Everybody else can wear business casual. But please, jeans and Tshirt is just too much. You can look professional in business casual but not so much in jeans and Tshirt.

 

[Ashers]

But most of all, I would prefer to go in scrubs all day long for the rest of my life. They are so damn comfortable! Never too cold, nor too warm. Always cut perfectly to fit my body and just simply very comfy.

Never too warm is right. I carry a sweatshirt with me when I have call nights because the hospitals are so darn cold. I'll probably just have to start wearing shirts under the scrub tops.

I love scrubs though, they're great. I have a few pairs that I wear as pajamas that I got when I was working as a phleb, and for some reason, they're extra-soft.

 

[deleted29780]

At my school they really hammer us on professionalism. We have a strict business casual dress code and we're not even allowed to drape our stethoscopes around our neck because its too "cavalier". Overall, I think it's good practice, because once we're out in a clinical setting we'll have to get used to wearing professional attire.

Although, recently I had an appointment with a new primary care physician, who walked into the exam room wearing blue jeans, a T-shirt, and sneakers. I just about died. One of the instructors at my school says that many offices are actually purposely transitioning away from professional attire and white coats (especially in the pediatric world where white coats and stethoscopes frighten children) in order to be less intimidating to patients.

What do you guys think of this? Do white coats and professional attire create an elitist divide between patient and physician? Or does professional attire inspire confidence in patients?

i love a good professional look. It makes a lot of difference. What would your patients make of you, if you walk into the consulting room dressed up like those rap artistes on MTV. ---- With chains hanging down from your neck. With "ice" in your mouth.

 

[45408]

So I certainly wouldn't bother getting excited about it. Get comfortable in a tie.

Knowing her, I think Ashers would look kind of silly in a shirt and tie.

 

[spicedmanna]

At my school they really hammer us on professionalism.

Mine does, too. It's tolerable, but I'm generally mildly annoyed about that. It's not so much that I dislike the concept; it is a pretty good idea. Physicians should certainly be professional and look the part. It's part of the whole package. What upsets me is that I sometimes feel like I'm in an English boarding school rather than medical school. Maybe it's because I'm older, but I don't particularly like to be told how to dress, talk, etc. I'm old enough and experienced enough to know what's appropriate professionally and I don't need big brother telling how to be, or that I'm being monitored for my own good.

Oh well, I've gotten accustomed to it and it's not that big of a deal at present. At least we are permitted to wear scrubs most of the time. Sometimes I feel that it would be nice to see my classmates just wear normal clothes for a change, though. The class can appear rather homogenous at times.

 

[Ashers]

Knowing her, I think Ashers would look kind of silly in a shirt and tie.

Haha, thanks. I didn't even notice L2D saying that.

While I don't like collared stuff, the rule is broken, when it's cold like today, and I wear a turtle-neck. =)

 

[Mr. Freeze]

Knowing her, I think Ashers would look kind of silly in a shirt and tie.

I dunno, coming home and finding the SO in ONLY one of your shirts and a tie (not tied, that's too uptight) might be cause for a study break...👍

Jeans? C'mon now. I'm all about comfort, casual, whatever. I enjoy a ratty shirt, cargo shorts, and some flip-flops. But there's a time and place. If I'm a patient, I want a doc that at least LOOKS like he takes his job seriously.

 

[45408]

I dunno, coming home and finding the SO in ONLY one of your shirts and a tie (not tied, that's too uptight) might be cause for a study break...👍

Jeans? C'mon now. I'm all about comfort, casual, whatever. I enjoy a ratty shirt, cargo shorts, and some flip-flops. But there's a time and place. If I'm a patient, I want a doc that at least LOOKS like he takes his job seriously.

My wife wore a tie for me once. I thought it was nice....😀

 

[34140]

House wears jeans and tshirts, he looks nice.

but i think that docs should look a little more professional than jeans and a tshirt

 

[howelljolly]

House wears jeans and tshirts, he looks nice.

but i think that docs should look a little more professional than jeans and a tshirt

Yeah and Dr House is supposed to be portraying the epitome of unprofessionalism. There was one episode where Cuddy forced him to wear a white coat... and that didnt last. The other characters, as well as the ones on ER or Scrubs are more along the lines of how the public expects us to look.

I read something along the lines of what Law2Doc mentioned.... might have been Time magazine a couple of months ago. Something along the lines of Other fields such as Law having tried and failed to dress more casually; and that the public expects professionals to dress professionally. Regardless of what they say, they behave otherwise, and tend to "hire" professionals that dress the part.

Check out Dr 90210. For those guys to work in Beverly Hills, they have to dress appropriately, in strange flashy suits, and with cutoff scrubs and greased up arms. Depending on where we all end up working, we will have to dress the part as well.

If it were up to me, Id dress like Dr House.

 

[Blade28]

I miss that. =( Especially now that it's getting cold.



Oh, dang it. I was really hoping I could dress down.

Yeah, tell me about it.

And don't even get me started on people who call them "Hawaiian shirts." Argh! 👎

 

[Blade28]

If I could be in scrubs all day every day, I would be content.

Another reason to consider surgery! 👍

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

I think 'ties' should be against the law in the hospital...

I think we should wear whatever is comfortable....even if its shorts. Although, for the most parts, a pant in some regard is important for 'universial precautions'.


I use to wear jeans all the time when I shadowed in my schools emergency department.....just because the ED doctors did too. The whole hospital cracked down on that though, and no more jeans... sad I think.


Here is my BIGGEST pet peeve on the professionalism and all thing. In on respect, we are told that 'as doctors, patients look up to you, everyone looks up to you, your a role model to all'....then next door the lecture is 'doctors are real people too, treat the nurses and janitors the same, treat all patients the same.....etc etc'. That doesnt make sense to me. We need one or the other. Either let me be the almight god and everyone in the hospital bow away at my knees....or let me be the normal person that wears what patients wear (jeans and a tshirt or whatever).

Unless I am doing some type of presentation (which I think it is fine to wear a tie), I will always be in scrubs or hopefully (one day) jeans and a t shirt.....i dont care how good the money is, if there is a dress code, I wont be interested.

 

[Ashers]

Yeah, tell me about it.

And don't even get me started on people who call them "Hawaiian shirts." Argh! 👎

Or call slippers "flip-flops" or "thongs."

 

[Blade28]

Or call slippers "flip-flops" or "thongs."

Or...

shoyu ("soy sauce")
nori ("seaweed")
saimin ("Top Ramen")
shave ice ("shaved ice")

etc.

Ah, feeling homesick now. 🙂

 

[t33sg1rl]

At my school they really hammer us on professionalism. We have a strict business casual dress code and we're not even allowed to drape our stethoscopes around our neck because its too "cavalier". Overall, I think it's good practice, because once we're out in a clinical setting we'll have to get used to wearing professional attire.
to patients.

What do you do with your stethoscope, then? Tie it around your waist? I can tell you my white coat pockets are nowhere near large enough to fit a stethoscope, especially after Pocket Medicine, Maxwell's, note cards, penlight, pager, snack bar, PDA, Advil, etc.

 

[da8s0859q]

I went to a PCP once when I was in high school that wore blue jeans and a regular shirt. I remember thinking it was really unprofessional and made me actually feel less confident in whatever she had to say...I never went back. I don't think doctors necessarily need to wear a tie, but nice pants and a dress shirt is a must.

I love professionals that dress casually...

 

[Northerner]

For some reason hearing dumb girl med students complain about having to dress professionally gets under my skin. It gets multiplied by a factor of 2 when they add "I wanna just wear scrubs all the time!" as if we're talking about "Grey's" night at a sorority house and everyone shows up with a pint of ice cream in their pajamas. It's the same dumb girls who wear frickin' sweat pants and a sweatshirt every day to campus & classes M1/M2 year, because they apparently want to be "comfy".

Yeah. Yeah my jeans were really uncomfortable, I don't know how you would have possibly been able to put up with the abrasions I sustained all over my legs from having to wear a pair of proper pants - it was really pretty awful. And yeah, you're right, the collar on my shirts I wear really is so stifling, I can barely breathe. I mean every once in a while, my neck brushes it, and of course the extent of my discomfort at that is so severe I have had to talk to the school counselor on numerous occasions.

You women just can't seem to get it right. If I'm sitting across a conference table from you on a rotation and I'm distracted by your goddamned perfume, it's inappropriate. How about - wear no perfume at all, since it's stupid and totally unnecessary and can be offending to patients (with whom you are constantly in close quarters, depending on your luck). Scented lotion? Fine. Fragrant shampoo? Ok. I'm not going to be burrowing my face in your neck any time soon and neither are your patients, God-willing. But dressing professionally is not the same as "dressing up", so I don't want to smell any perfume and I don't want to see 3 inch heels on you, either. You can't walk in them and they slow you down. How long exactly are you planning on working today, dear? Twenty minutes and then hitting the nightclub? I've got news for you, there's patients to be seen and the guy with the bad leg in 572 is going to take you down when you try to help him onto the toilet. If you happen to catch a glimpse of those stilettos while you're looking down to wipe his ass, make note that he's probably sprinkling urine on them, too. And who are you to complain? He's got a prostate the size of a baseball and he's lucky to get anything through that ****er. Get some comfortable, professional, flat-ish shoes. No, not the ones from the tramp aisle.

Sure, guys do idiotic stuff like this too - as if it's some sort of HUGE TRAVESTY that they've got to look like a ****ing doctor. They act as if it's some big shock that they need a few collared dress shirts and a few pairs of slacks to see patients. But women actually complain more, which is even stupider since they get more range for what they can wear. Guys = dress shirt + slacks, sometimes tie. Girls can get away with a freakin' long-sleeved t-shirt if they washed it recently. Sweaters, collared shirts, short-sleeves...the list goes on.

So I don't want to hear "tee hee, I think it's silly we have to wear prom dresses to the hospital!" because you don't, and you're being a *****.

 

[45408]

Or call slippers "flip-flops" or "thongs."

You only wear slippers if you're in your pajamas.

 

[da8s0859q]

So I don't want to hear "tee hee, I think it's silly we have to wear prom dresses to the hospital!" because you don't, and you're being a *****.

Fantastically amusing post, but I think you're overshooting some of the complaints here just a little bit.

 

[Ashers]

Or...

shoyu ("soy sauce")
nori ("seaweed")
saimin ("Top Ramen")
shave ice ("shaved ice")

etc.

Ah, feeling homesick now. 🙂

People always ask me what I'm talking about when I say some of those. But I've got a bunch of people to realize what nori is because I've made spam musubi so much.

You only wear slippers if you're in your pajamas.

WRONG!

And I'll have Blade28 to agree with me, yeah?

 

[Skelfie]

><

 

[Misterioso]

Bleh. This is just another example of people becoming sloppier and sloppier. Before it meant something to be a physician and they looked the part. Now you sometimes can't tell the difference between a physician and some schmo off the street. Back in the day you had better show up in slacks, a collared shirt, tie, polished shoes, and a crisp white coat or don't bother showing up at all. I remember my dad telling me how he got chewed out by an attending when he showed up to morning report one day with stubble...post-call. But I guess it was different back then, there was a sense of pride that went along with being a doctor.

 

[45408]

WRONG!

And I'll have Blade28 to agree with me, yeah?

This is like driving down the freeway and thinking "Oh, gee, everyone ELSE is going the wrong way."

 

[lil pook]

But I guess it was different back then, there was a sense of pride that went along with being a doctor.

look...this isn't "back then" anymore. the way i see it...pride gets you nowhere anymore...if this profession is so fabulous, and there is soooo much "pride," then why do we all get sued?

i think it's just all a damn joke.

we work with germs, and fluids, and all other kinds of nastiness...no reason why we should have to be looking "professional" for all that...

kind of silly really, if ya think about it...don'tcha think?

 

[CCLCMer]

At my school they really hammer us on professionalism. We have a strict business casual dress code and we're not even allowed to drape our stethoscopes around our neck because its too "cavalier". Overall, I think it's good practice, because once we're out in a clinical setting we'll have to get used to wearing professional attire.

Although, recently I had an appointment with a new primary care physician, who walked into the exam room wearing blue jeans, a T-shirt, and sneakers. I just about died. One of the instructors at my school says that many offices are actually purposely transitioning away from professional attire and white coats (especially in the pediatric world where white coats and stethoscopes frighten children) in order to be less intimidating to patients.

What do you guys think of this? Do white coats and professional attire create an elitist divide between patient and physician? Or does professional attire inspire confidence in patients?

We have a business casual dress code for first and second years at CCLCM too. At first I didn't like it, especially because the main Case program students could still wear jeans, sweatshirts, and flip flops to class, if they even came. (We have a mandatory attendance policy also.) But after I had a chance to get used to the idea, I started to think it was a good thing. I actually don't think the point of having a dress code for students at our stage of training is to create an elitist divide or to inspire confidence in patients. (Anyone who has ever been examined by me in clinic already has no confidence in me anyway. ) It's supposed to get US to be in the mindset of being professionals and all that it entails. And I have to admit that the administration has a point. When I come to school dressed nicely, I feel differently than I would if I were wearing a sweatsuit or jeans. I feel, well, more professional, not like I'm some kind of college kid still.

 

[GreenShirt]

What do you do with your stethoscope, then? Tie it around your waist? I can tell you my white coat pockets are nowhere near large enough to fit a stethoscope, especially after Pocket Medicine, Maxwell's, note cards, penlight, pager, snack bar, PDA, Advil, etc.

LOL...I haven't tried tying it around my waist but we do have to get creative when not wearing a white coat. We're allowed to wear it with the ear pieces around our neck and the bell hanging down. However, mine are tight and cut off the circulation to my head, not to mention the bell dangling between your legs and makes it awkward to walk or sit. I've also tried sticking it behind my belt samurai style when I'm wearing normal pants.

But really, the whole stethoscope thing is the only ridiculous part of the dress code.....oh wait, I forgot that we're only allowed to wear dress shoes with scrubs (no clogs). I can never decide if I should go with stiletto's or flats🙄.

 

[Northerner]

look...this isn't "back then" anymore. the way i see it...pride gets you nowhere anymore...if this profession is so fabulous, and there is soooo much "pride," then why do we all get sued?

i think it's just all a damn joke.

we work with germs, and fluids, and all other kinds of nastiness...no reason why we should have to be looking "professional" for all that...

kind of silly really, if ya think about it...don'tcha think?

No.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

kind of silly really, if ya think about it...don'tcha think?

That sums up how I feel about all dress codes. But then I did have a professional job where I had to dress up (well, technically business casual, not suits) every day. When we had our rare jeans days, I didn't feel any less professional or competent than I did when I dressed up. Also, I've known plenty of workaholic types who work in the technology field, and no one dresses up there. Doesn't mean they don't work their butts off and do a good job.

Which gets to me to why I hate the professionalism emphasis in schools now. It all focuses on appearances and has about zero substance.