Scrub Caps...

[Surgeon Guy]

So, is it "ok" for residents to have their own scrub caps? I like different designs and don't like those one time use ones that hospitals have. Thanks.

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[Winged Scapula]

So, is it "ok" for residents to have their own scrub caps? I like different designs and don't like those one time use ones that hospitals have. Thanks.

Sure - you will almost invariably find a nurse in the hospital who makes them to sell. However, they are usually too flowery/butterfly-y for me, so I have provided them with fabric or ordered them on-line in designs which are more appealing to me.

I have worked in several hospitals and have never seen a policy against having your own caps instead of the disposable ones.

 

[Bovie2Me]

At my institution it's OK, within reason - just nothing offensive. Does anyone know of any good websites where they can be purchased?

 

[TheThroat]

I have scrub caps for the Cowboys, Rangers, Baylor Bears, Nemo, Superman, Star Wars, Spiderman, Cars (the Movie), and Beatle Bailey (may be more). Some were made for me by a patient, some I got for Christmas, some I bought off a website (hovihats.com, I think). Like to wear them to indicate my mood, and my pedi patients love some of them. Spiderman and the Star Wars one seem to get the biggest responses.

 

[tussy]

I like greenscrubs.com I have a bunch of hats from there.

Ii would see what the trend is. If none of the residnets in your program have their own hats then i wouldn't. That being said, most do.

 

[Winged Scapula]

At my institution it's OK, within reason - just nothing offensive. Does anyone know of any good websites where they can be purchased?

I've ordered from:

http://www.scrubcaps.com/ (has lots of skulls,flames and less girly caps)

http://www.surgicalcaps.com/viewcaps.htm (I have the sushi and shanghai dragon ones. Might order the leopard one after looking at the site again tonight.)

http://www.scrubcaps4u.com/ (one woman company; she sews to order so it takes longer)

http://www.allheart.com/college-scrubs.html (they have others but the college ones are pretty popular)

 

[Dunce]

This one would have been perfect to wear when I was stuck working in the Family Medicine clinic -- too bad scrub caps aren't worn there.
Micky D's single handedly keeps that place in business with a never ending supply of comorbidities.

 

[SocialistMD]

If I were a bariatric surgeon, I would wear this every day.

 

[Tigger14]

I'll add one to Kimberli's list... these are awesome!

http://www.kimkaps.com/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=7

 

[ESU_MD]

one word of advice-

don't wear a custom scrub hat if you are an intern. (esp if you are my junior)

i think it sends a message that you are already "comfortable" in the OR

 

[Dr JPH]

one word of advice-

don't wear a custom scrub hat if you are an intern. (esp if you are my junior)

i think it sends a message that you are already "comfortable" in the OR

😕

I would think it would send the message that you are trying to hold on to some sort of identity during a time (surgical residency) when many other parts of your life are suffering greatly.

I dont think me wearing a New England Patriots hat says Im comfortable in the OR. It means "Since I am on call and cant watch any games on Sunday, I might as well do something to remind me that I am more than just a 100hr/week monkey".

BTW, I recommend this ebay seller:

http://myworld.ebay.com/hovihats/

 

[Winged Scapula]

I think there is some truth to what ESU_MD says. It is rather unusual for interns and junior residents to wear unique caps in the OR. There may be some subtle message from the more senior residents and faculty that you have to "earn" your cap. Regardless of the "real" reason someone wears a unique cap, you have to remember that surgery, perhaps more than any other field, is full of tradition and mystique, rules and regulations - said and unsaid. Your best bet is to see what the others do IF you don't want to be thought of as having an "attitude" as a junior resident. I know...its ridiculous, but its there.

That said, it was pretty unusual in my program for any of the surgical residents to wear anything other than the paper ones; more common among the female residents, I would say.

 

[SocialistMD]

It's just so easy to grab a paper cap and go rather than filling your pockets (which, by a general surgery standard should be pretty much empty by the end of your intern year) with fluffy cloth bulk. That spot is reserved for nothingness if you ask me. I'm down to a pharmacopoeia (2005 edition), my stethoscope, my list of "important phone numbers" and my patient list. I one day aspire to just have my patient list, and a custom hat gets in the way of that goal.😎