Dress code for observing surgery

[Lindlar]

Going to observe a surgeon for a day. If there are any surgeons looking through this forum, how would you expect an observer to dress?
I'm planning on dress slacks and dress shirt without a tie. For shoes, I'm going with black street shoes (comfortable).
I'd like to make a good impression and increase chances of being asked to come back to observe more.
Advice is appreciated c:
Thanks, lind

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[DrBowtie]

Wear a tie. If you are in clinic then you'll need one and dress shoes. Bring tennis shoes if you go to the OR, they will give you scrubs to wear.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

Just ask the doc you're going to shadow and like Bowtie said if you make it to the OR look presentable but don't worry too much because you'll be in scrubs.

 

[orthomyxo]

Wear a tie. If you are in clinic then you'll need one and dress shoes. Bring tennis shoes if you go to the OR, they will give you scrubs to wear.

Do it.

I mean c'mon, look at his username.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

I shadowed a surgical team. Ten minutes after arriving in my fancy pants (+tie), I was stripping down and changing into scrubs in the locker room (with the med student and attending). You should still wear the tie.

 

[plauto]

Going to observe a surgeon for a day. If there are any surgeons looking through this forum, how would you expect an observer to dress?
I'm planning on dress slacks and dress shirt without a tie. For shoes, I'm going with black street shoes (comfortable).
I'd like to make a good impression and increase chances of being asked to come back to observe more.
Advice is appreciated c:
Thanks, lind

in the clinic you better dress better than that. You will get to hear patients' deepest problems and you need to show respect and dress appropriately.

 

[seelee]

Tear away tank top, running shorts and flipflops. Oh and when you sit facing the patient, keep your legs spread wide so they can see your junk. I lets them know who's in charge.

 

[anfleisch]

I thought ties were no longer worn in and around the hospital because they carry bacteria.

 

[tkim]

I thought ties were no longer worn in and around the hospital because they carry bacteria.

Uh, no.

 

[MrCheetah]

Make sure you wear tennis shoes if you're going into the OR...

 

[Hoody]

I thought ties were no longer worn in and around the hospital because they carry bacteria.

I think that's the white coat issue. Hardly any of the physicians I work with (hospital setting) wear white coats anymore tho. most wear dress shirt/slacks/shows or scrubs....very few wear ties.

OP - Be prepared to be both in the OR and in the Clinic or rounding in the hospital. You could have OR in the morn and clinic follow ups in the afternoon. Dress to impress, but don't stress. Enjoy! 🙂

 

[deuce924]

Wear scrubs. You aren't going to scrub in but at least you won't be the one standing there in dress pants, shirt and tie.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Wear scrubs. You aren't going to scrub in but at least you won't be the one standing there in dress pants, shirt and tie.

Depends. If you show up to clinic wearing scrubs then you will be the one looking out of place. Also some hospitals have policies requiring you to wear their scrubs and not outside ones.

You rarely go wrong by dressing professionally.

 

[Abby_Normal]

I thought ties were no longer worn in and around the hospital because they carry bacteria.

To my understanding, that is only an issue because the tie often swings forward when its wearer is leaning over/close to the patient. If you are only observing, this is not likely to be an issue.

Anyway, if you are concerned, you can always ask if there is a no-tie policy.

 

[plauto]

Tie clips anyone?

 

[DRMRL]

wear scrubs

 

[seelee]

I would absolutely not wear scrubs unless told to before hand. Call him, ask him if professional dress is appropriate. If you go into the OR, they will give you scrubs and a gown.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Students and residents rotating with me are expected to wear dress clothes (including a tie for males) in the office; someone observing would be expected to do the same. As others have noted, unless you are told otherwise, this is the uniform. Surgery is more conservative in dress than many other specialties. If you get to enter the OR, the hospital will provide you scrubs to wear and you can bring along some tennis shoes.

 

[Sammich117]

I agree with the dress professionally consensus. It's always better to be overdressed than underdressed. No one will fault you for dressing up, but if they want professional dress and you show up in jeans, that would pose a problem.

 

[rmadell]

I am shadowing a few different types of doctors this week. One of them is a cardiovascular surgeon, and the other is an oncologist. I'm pretty sure I will be in the OR with the surgeon, so I am assuming they will give me scrubs, but for the oncologist, I got the impression from SDN that you were supposed to wear khakis/nice pants (I have some nice black slacks) and a polo. Would this be inappropriate/too informal? (I am female)

 

[DrBowtie]

I am shadowing a few different types of doctors this week. One of them is a cardiovascular surgeon, and the other is an oncologist. I'm pretty sure I will be in the OR with the surgeon, so I am assuming they will give me scrubs, but for the oncologist, I got the impression from SDN that you were supposed to wear khakis/nice pants (I have some nice black slacks) and a polo. Would this be inappropriate/too informal? (I am female)

Dress shirt, NO POLO.

 

[Morsetlis]

Depends on the type of polo! For example, all the silly volunteers at my hospital wear a clean solid blue polo.

Dress shirts are more formal and comfortable though, I think. As long as you don't button them up all the way.

 

[snorlax]

just wear whatever. you're going to have to change into scrubs anyways..

 

[DrBowtie]

just wear whatever. you're going to have to change into scrubs anyways..

You do realize surgeons have clinic right? They aren't in the OR the whole time.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I am shadowing a few different types of doctors this week. One of them is a cardiovascular surgeon, and the other is an oncologist. I'm pretty sure I will be in the OR with the surgeon, so I am assuming they will give me scrubs, but for the oncologist, I got the impression from SDN that you were supposed to wear khakis/nice pants (I have some nice black slacks) and a polo. Would this be inappropriate/too informal? (I am female)

Again, as noted above by several people, you may be seeing patients with the CT surgeon. Some hospitals or surgeons will not allow you to wear scrubs outside of the OR. If the surgeon allows you to go see his/her patients in the unit or wards with them and THEY are changing out of their scrubs, you'd better be in some nice clothes. This of course, obviously leaves out the real possibility you might also be seeing patients in the office. What the volunteers wear in the hospital is totally irrelevant to what you, as a future white collar professional, should be wearing. Same goes for what the techs, therapists, nurses, etc. wear.

And I don't know a single male radiation/medical/surgical oncologist who doesn't wear a tie when they see patients in the office and the females are dressed nicely as well. I'm not sure where you got the idea that khakis and a polo is acceptable clinical rotation/office wear. This is acceptable to wear to lecture, not when seeing patients. If you are female, wear your nice black slacks, a blouse or sweater set, some dress shoes and modest jewelry.

 

[seelee]

To the OP: Notice that the attendings, residents, and medical students are almost overwhelmingly in agreement that you should dress professionally, while almost every person who has said to go in scrubs or casual clothes is a pre-med. You feel free to take whatever course of action you feel is appropriate.

 

[298609]

I would absolutely not wear scrubs unless told to before hand. Call him, ask him if professional dress is appropriate. If you go into the OR, they will give you scrubs and a gown.

agreed. the surgeon i've shadowed (who i am now on a friends basis with) and i had a convo about how i thought about wearing scrubs on my first day. i decided against it. he was like 'wtf where would you get them, how would you know what color to get, whyyyy would you ever buy them? do you even know how much they cost?" and i was like "oh idk, they cant be more than like, 15 bucks a piece can they?" to which he replied with a literal facepalm. we had a good laugh about how premeds (myself including) know nothing yet think we know everything.