looking nice and grades, etc

[E.A. Poe]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm starting 3rd year in July. I was wondering: what is the thought on one's style of dress and the way that impacts one's interactions with attendings & residents, one's grades, and so on while on the wards? Specifically, as a guy, how would it pan out IF I dressed nicer than the folks that are grading me? I mean, does it matter? My wife works so we have money and I've been buying nice ties, shirts, slacks, shoes. Not expensive, but nice stuff. I've noticed that I look much more dressed up than all of the other male 2nd years when we have classes/functions we need to dress up for. I wonder about standing out and, then, the possibility that graders might dislike a student that may look more like a doctor than a student. Anyone get what I'm talking about?

 

[Bevo]

I had a rotation with this one guy who would always dress up in like a 3 piece suit.

I dont think he did any better or worse than the rest of us.

I dont think it matters as you look professional and not like a thug. I would say its much better to look your best than look like a slob.

 

[Samoa]

When I was a 2nd year, one of the 4th years recommended keeping your white coat clean and pressed, especially whenever you rotate onto a new service. I agree with this. It makes a good first impression. But after that, let your work make the impression, not your clothes.

 

[E.A. Poe]

Cool thanks for the info. How about standing out and getting pimped more? Any possibilities?

 

[sophiejane]

Ties are not allowed at some hospitals and if they are, they are frowned upon by some attendings. They are germ receptacles.

We are clinicians, not lawyers You should dress nicely but also be practical. Button down shirts and khakis should be fine, and I seriously doubt that outdressing an attending or other students will have any sort of effect on your grade, or the rate at which you are pimped.

 

[pharmer]

Ties are not allowed at some hospitals and if they are, they are frowned upon by some attendings. They are germ receptacles.

We are clinicians, not lawyers You should dress nicely but also be practical. Button down shirts and khakis should be fine, and I seriously doubt that outdressing an attending or other students will have any sort of effect on your grade, or the rate at which you are pimped.

I agree ties are germ receptacles and plus they can seperate you, at times, more from your patients. That being said, I have gotten called out twice this last month by two different attendings for not wearing a tie. In fact, one attending that I was working with didn't even bother to introduce himself after I said, "hello my name is pharmer I am a MS3 that will be working with you today," he just looked at me and said, "no tie? Oh well follow me."

 

[bigfrank]

I agree ties are germ receptacles and plus they can seperate you, at times, more from your patients. That being said, I have gotten called out twice this last month by two different attendings for not wearing a tie. In fact, one attending that I was working with didn't even bother to introduce himself after I said, "hello my name is pharmer I am a MS3 that will be working with you today," he just looked at me and said, "no tie? Oh well follow me."

You should always wear a tie unless told explicitly not to. Regardless of them being "germ receptacles," they are a staple of academic medicine at *most* institutions.

 

[riceman04]

I had a rotation with this one guy who would always dress up in like a 3 piece suit.

I dont think he did any better or worse than the rest of us.

I dont think it matters as you look professional and not like a thug. I would say its much better to look your best than look like a slob.

is that a real cat (the black one)...if so what happened to the black cat when the fat one attacked it?

 

[deleted87716]

The saying goes something like, "Don't dress for the job you have, dress for the job you want." That being said, you should dress like a doctor, not a medical student.

When you're in professional attire (e.g., not wearing scrubs), men should wear collared shirts with ties, and dress trousers (no jeans...khakis are fine.) Avoid short-sleeved dress shirts if you don't want to look like Dr. Dilbert. If you're wearing a long-sleeved shirt and need to do a procedure or something, just roll 'em up. Don't walk around with the top shirt button open and the tie loose, either, even if you've been up all night...it just makes you look like a slob. White coats and name tags are mandatory. The bottom line here is, patients are trusting you with their lives...at least try to look competent.

As for looking too nice, as long as you aren't overdone or gaudy, you should be fine. Think "conservative." That means decent quality, good fit, and appropriate to the occasion. A three-piece suit is as inappropriate as a tuxedo, IMO. In fact, patient surveys have shown a negative reaction to suits on doctors...patients prefer ties and lab coats.

Those of you who are worried about being "germ receptacles" would be better served by washing your hands like you're supposed to, and cleaning your lab coats once in a while. The studies of ties and bacteria, incidentally, have never implicated them in disease transmission. Besides, if you keep them in your lab coat where they belong and don't drape them across your patients, it's a non-issue. Clean your stethoscope frequently, too...or use an antimicrobial diaphragm. You'll be doing more to reduce cross-contamination that way than by forgoing a necktie.

As far as grades go, there's another saying that goes "You only get one chance to make a first impression." You're more likely to draw fire from an attending for looking like an incompetent dufus than somebody who knows what they're doing. Dressing well also tends to have a subtle positive effect on how you feel, behave, and perform, which is always a good thing.

 

[automaton]

Ties are not allowed at some hospitals and if they are, they are frowned upon by some attendings. They are germ receptacles.

the same can be said for children. some places ban ties but it will be obvious which places those are. for the rest, if you don't wear a tie you look like an dingus.

 

[sophiejane]

the same can be said for children. some places ban ties but it will be obvious which places those are. for the rest, if you don't wear a tie you look like an dingus.

Thank god I'm female and I don't have to worry about the only thing standing between me looking like an dingus or looking like a doctor is a necktie.

 

[deleted87716]

Thank god I'm female and I don't have to worry about the only thing standing between me looking like an dingus or looking like a doctor is a necktie.

Actually, men have it easy. Male professional attire is rather uniform-like, with well-established rules that are simple to follow. Female professional attire is less defined and more flexible...but with far greater room for error. I'll leave specific recommendations to someone more qualified. 😉

 

[Hard24Get]

is that a real cat (the black one)...if so what happened to the black cat when the fat one attacked it?

Yeah Bevo, what gives? Everytime I see your posts I stare at the video trying to analyze it. That little cat is so cute (and funny), I worry about its safety. 😱 Story please!

The rest of you have me worried now about attire. What should women wear, exactly? I just kind of go for slacks and a nice top.....

By the way Kent, you look great, more like a handsome doctor than a student. You really proved your point. 😛

 

[sophiejane]

Actually, men have it easy. Male professional attire is rather uniform-like, with well-established rules that are simple to follow. Female professional attire is less defined and more flexible...but with far greater room for error. I'll leave specific recommendations to someone more qualified. 😉

True. I've seen enough cleavage and midriffs not too well covered up by short white coats this year to last me a lifetime.

I have cotton or linen slacks in neutral colors and light sweater type tops or suit-type t-shirts that work well under the white coat and are breathable and washable. Also, a few longer skirts in wrinkle-free polyester or rayon. When you come home from the hospital, a lot of times you just want to disinfect everything on your body. It's nice to be able to throw everything in the washing machine.

Flat shoes, no heels. Your back will thank you and you won't look like you are ready to go clubbing when you get off work.

 

[Bevo]

yeah. I got no explanation for the avatar. I found it on another forum and I couldn't stop laughing at it.


as for the cleavage. I've seen it. As a male I dont complain, but I guess some of the time it does push it. Sends off the wrong signals.

I dont agree with mid riffs in the clinical setting.

As my aunt says "I hate those midriffs. But if women insist on wearing it, might as well try and look good in it"

 

[mdphd2b]

I have cotton or linen slacks in neutral colors and light sweater type tops or suit-type t-shirts that work well under the white coat and are breathable and washable.

Yeah, I agree that the collarless sweater-tops and those you wear under a suit work far better! When I first started seeing patients, I bought a lot of botton-down shirts with collars, but these always seemed awkward with the lab coat collar PLUS the stetho around my neck! Some women do a good job of draping their shirt collar over the coat collar, but I just made a mess of things 😛

 

[fab4fan]

Cute picture, KentW. 😉

The one ED doc I worked with always dressed in a dress shirt, tie and an impeccable lab coat. I used to wonder if that coat was made of Teflon; no matter how messy things got, his coat was always spotless (and no, it wasn't because he wasn't a "hands on" doc). I have to say that the way he looked definitely influenced how many of the patients responded to him.

 

[wrx]

I'm starting 3rd year in July. I was wondering: what is the thought on one's style of dress and the way that impacts one's interactions with attendings & residents, one's grades, and so on while on the wards? Specifically, as a guy, how would it pan out IF I dressed nicer than the folks that are grading me? I mean, does it matter? My wife works so we have money and I've been buying nice ties, shirts, slacks, shoes. Not expensive, but nice stuff. I've noticed that I look much more dressed up than all of the other male 2nd years when we have classes/functions we need to dress up for. I wonder about standing out and, then, the possibility that graders might dislike a student that may look more like a doctor than a student. Anyone get what I'm talking about?

Dude- are you f'ing kidding me?? Yes, nice clothes your mommy, I mean wife, bought you will get you honors, regardless of your clinical performance.

 

[Sammich81]

Actually, men have it easy. Male professional attire is rather uniform-like, with well-established rules that are simple to follow. Female professional attire is less defined and more flexible...but with far greater room for error. I'll leave specific recommendations to someone more qualified. 😉

I have to agree with you. While as a girl I love that I have many many options for what to wear, I think sometimes women fall into the trap of looking too sexy/casual because of the lack of standardization. The difference between a wide-necked blouse vs a plunging neckline...well, it gets blurry for some people. I had a friend get dinged in an evaluation specifically for her dress. This is a girl who is known for looking cute and put together at all times, but her style is somewhat revealing. Just because you put a white coat over it doesn't make a provocative shirt less so.

On the other hand...sometimes I think male residents/attendings actually appreciate a well-dressed, attractive woman more, and not only on a "you look professional" level. Not that anyone has ever been inappropriate with me or any of my close girlfriends, but I have heard residents talking about their med students' appearance.