Is it rude to wear jeans when shadowing

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Don't wear jeans, even if they're very nice or more formal looking. At least wear khakis or dockers or something more along those lines. A dress shirt and tie are also good.
 
Ask your doc what to wear. For most places slacks and a button down shirt will suffice...or whatever it is that females wear for such semi-formal occasions.

The forensic pathologist I shadowed strictly told me to wear old jeans and old t-shirt because he had apparently had some trouble with people dressing up too nice to shadow him and getting random body tissue/fluid on their clothing.
 
flatearth22 said:
The forensic pathologist I shadowed strictly told me to wear old jeans and old t-shirt because he had apparently had some trouble with people dressing up too nice to shadow him and getting random body tissue/fluid on their clothing.
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Hmm, did the hospital run out of scrubs that day?
 
aSagacious said:
Hmm, did the hospital run out of scrubs that day?
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Not sure. He just gave me a plastic overall to wear at the hospital. He himself was also dressed in jeans and a t-shirt so maybe he didn't want me to outdress him?

Also spent some time at the morgue which was....fun.
 
Depends, my fam doc asked me who I was taking on a date after I showed up in a dress shirt.
 
...
 
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cge0 said:
Then the PMC replies, "She's 5, get the **** out of my office."
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Pedo_Bear_Too_Old.jpg
 
When I shadow a physician for the first time I usually wear a shirt and tie, if they want you to be more casual you can take off the tie and even roll up the sleeves. This actually happened to me when I shadowed a pediatrician, all of the doctor's were in polo's and he said it was to try to keep from scaring the young children. Contrasting this was a dermatologist's office, where a shirt and tie was the absolute minimum.
 
Haha.

Who cares? Whenever I shadow physicians, I usually wear whatever I want. Obviously since you are shadowing them for a brief period of time and due to the nature of the role (literally not doing anything), you aren't looking for a LOR. So go ahead and make that crappy first and lasting impression on them. As a matter of fact, a fun game I played on the last group of physicians I shadowed (pediatrists....god I hate them) was to see how much I could piss them off without making it seem like I was purposefully pissing them off.

It was hilarious. I burped loudly at the lunch table, cracked my fingers constantly when I was sitting behind them in a lecture hall (even after one of them turned and gave me a dirty look), and just generally carried a nonchalant attitude regarding pretty much everything. Oh, and about half the time I showed up pretty hung-over! LOL
​
 
kmedbro88 said:
Haha.

Who cares? Whenever I shadow physicians, I usually wear whatever I want. Obviously since you are shadowing them for a brief period of time and due to the nature of the role (literally not doing anything), you aren't looking for a LOR. So go ahead and make that crappy first and lasting impression on them. As a matter of fact, a fun game I played on the last group of physicians I shadowed (pediatrists....god I hate them) was to see how much I could piss them off without making it seem like I was purposefully pissing them off.

It was hilarious. I burped loudly at the lunch table, cracked my fingers constantly when I was sitting behind them in a lecture hall (even after one of them turned and gave me a dirty look), and just generally carried a nonchalant attitude regarding pretty much everything. Oh, and about half the time I showed up pretty hung-over! LOL
​
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Uhhh... Cool story bro?

Oh, I get it! You're trying to be cool.
 
aSagacious said:
Probably, I'd stick to khakis with a polo t-shirt or button-down shirt with a tie.
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Not for me lol, I asked the doctor I'm shadowing what I should wear a day before and asked him if khakis and a polo were ok, and he was like "Absolutely not, you must dress professionally just like medical students and doctors do, I expect no less than dress pants, dress shirt, and a tie." good thing I asked him :x. If you really suck up to them and act professional, you can expect a very nice LOR from them if they like you at the end.
 
always dress up the first time, usually if they want you to dress down they'll tell you..If you'll be in clinic I think it's ridiculous to think you shouldn't wear a shirt and tie when seeing patients, just my opinion.
 
YouNeverKnow22 said:
If you'll be in clinic I think it's ridiculous to think you shouldn't wear a shirt and tie when seeing patients, just my opinion.
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+1

I think that's a key--and easily overlooked--point. Consider the patient's point of view. They don't want some wackjob standing in the corner of the room with his HyperColor on, feigning interest and gravity.

I would guess that, when the doc introduces you as his or her student, it's more comforting for a patient to look up and see somebody who's dressed respectfully.

And if obtaining a sweet LOR factored even moderately into your decision to shadow, then you're a dufus.
 
I've seen some very rural docs wear jeans - I think its all about the situation and making your patient base feel comfortable. I also know a physician who wears scrubs every day in his office because he hates wearing collar/tie. He says "I didn't take a desk job for a reason" :laugh:

Still - as has been said with any business/professional dress situation be overdressed the first day and then match those around you.
 
Business casual is the absolute minimum unless told otherwise.

As an intern, I was allowed to to shadowing depending on the types of pts that had appointments that day. One day the Doc comes up to me frowns, a then tells me that I am not dressed appropriately for shadowing and would have to wait for another day. I look down and I am wear lose black slacks and a yellow polo shirt. You better believed I dressed to impress from then on!
 
The surgeon I shadowed was really chill about my apparel. The first day I wore gray(ish) tweed slacks with a black blouse and flats. After that day, he just said I could wear scrubs to be more comfortable. No argument from me! 😛
 
DinoSaysRawr said:
The surgeon I shadowed was really chill about my apparel. The first day I wore gray(ish) tweed slacks with a black blouse and flats. After that day, he just said I could wear scrubs to be more comfortable. No argument from me! 😛
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I have an outfit that fits that description to a T that I absolutely love! It is my go to outfit when I want to make a good impression.
 
TooMuchResearch said:
Yes, it is rude. Have you ever seen a doc wearing jeans while working with patients? Not likely.
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haha funny story-- I was volunteering in an ER and the orthopod showed up in jeans and a Harley shirt to set a broken arm. I had to ask the ER tech if he was the doctor (I wanted to watch the doc set the arm)

Based on the OP's other threads, I suspect troll. But in case someone else is wondering, I would go with business casual unless told otherwise.
 
kmedbro88 said:
Haha.​


Who cares? Whenever I shadow physicians, I usually wear whatever I want. Obviously since you are shadowing them for a brief period of time and due to the nature of the role (literally not doing anything), you aren't looking for a LOR. So go ahead and make that crappy first and lasting impression on them. As a matter of fact, a fun game I played on the last group of physicians I shadowed (pediatrists....god I hate them) was to see how much I could piss them off without making it seem like I was purposefully pissing them off.​

It was hilarious. I burped loudly at the lunch table, cracked my fingers constantly when I was sitting behind them in a lecture hall (even after one of them turned and gave me a dirty look), and just generally carried a nonchalant attitude regarding pretty much everything. Oh, and about half the time I showed up pretty hung-over! LOL​
Click to expand...


Arent you the guy who got his AMCAS withdrawn by his frat brahs??
 
Medicine is a conservative field, so skip the jeans and wear dress pants and a button-down shirt and you'll be golden.
 
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