Shadowing a Pediatrician Monday. How to make the most of this?

[ahens23]

Any tips/advice on shadowing a pediatrician and how to make the most of this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[nadaba]

Any tips/advice on shadowing a pediatrician and how to make the most of this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I thought it was helpful to jot down my impressions after shadowing. They were helpful to look over for secondaries and interviews, mostly because I forget things pretty quickly. Otherwise, your only task is to not be annoying.

 

[deleted357625]

be yourself and watch. chillax

 

[RookTookIt]

Dress presentably.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Keep your mouth shut around the patients except if a child is deterring from the doctor and the parent. Engage the kid and keep his attention while the doctor talks to the parent. I did this and the physician thanked me as it was very distracting. But don't engage the patients much.

But smile like crazy around the kids.

 

[dashwater]

Dress presentably.

Is there an unwritten dress code? Will a t-shirt and jeans with sneakers not suffice? I can buy a cheap dress shirt, but would just that be okay with jeans and sneakers? Or do I have to buy the entire set with khakis/slacks, dress shoes, etc. because I don't have that much money, unless it's not weird to wear the same set of clothing every 'shadowing day' (obviously I'll wash them).

 

[JasonicBoom]

Is there an unwritten dress code? Will a t-shirt and jeans with sneakers not suffice? I can buy a cheap dress shirt, but would just that be okay with jeans and sneakers? Or do I have to buy the entire set with khakis/slacks, dress shoes, etc. because I don't have that much money, unless it's not weird to wear the same set of clothing every 'shadowing day' (obviously I'll wash them).

Dress pants and dress shoes for sure. Especially if you're shadowing in a hospital. You'll have to buy dress shoes and a suit for interviews anyway so might as well do it now.

 

[azerkail]

Is there an unwritten dress code? Will a t-shirt and jeans with sneakers not suffice? I can buy a cheap dress shirt, but would just that be okay with jeans and sneakers? Or do I have to buy the entire set with khakis/slacks, dress shoes, etc. because I don't have that much money, unless it's not weird to wear the same set of clothing every 'shadowing day' (obviously I'll wash them).

you could probably get away with polo and comfortable but professional looking jeans/pants... kids are more active patients and you wouldn't want your only tie/nice shirt to be ruined by projectile vomit... if possible a cheap set of scrubs if in hospital but all in all don't dress 'lower' than the employees.

on second thought, if you can, don't wear a tie. i've been nearly strangled by enough kids to know that one... lol

also thrift stores are a god send.

 

[dashwater]

Dress pants and dress shoes for sure. Especially if you're shadowing in a hospital. You'll have to buy dress shoes and a suit for interviews anyway so might as well do it now.

You need an entire suit for interviews? Like, with the jacket and all? Even if the interview is during the summer? Man, I remember wearing these cheap Goodwill shoes for my band concert in junior high school, and after 3 hours in them my pinky toes were bleeding and the top of the shoes indented painful marks right on the dorsa of my feet. 🙁

 

[azerkail]

i'm guessing you have wide feet or those shoes didn't fit. its a bit pricey, but at those army/navy surplus stores they have shoes police officers wear that look like dress shoes but are really REALLY padded inside and forgiving. some come with a plastic coating that keeps the shine but that's not what your after. i had a pair of them in JROTC and kept wearing them as my dress shoes ever since sans the shine.

 

[Cinclus]

You need an entire suit for interviews? Like, with the jacket and all? Even if the interview is during the summer? Man, I remember wearing these cheap Goodwill shoes for my band concert in junior high school, and after 3 hours in them my pinky toes were bleeding and the top of the shoes indented painful marks right on the dorsa of my feet. 🙁

My right foot is wider than the left, and this happens to my right pinky toe. Solution: wrap a band-aid around this toe. But first, see if you can find more comfortable shoes.

 

[RookTookIt]

Is there an unwritten dress code? Will a t-shirt and jeans with sneakers not suffice? I can buy a cheap dress shirt, but would just that be okay with jeans and sneakers? Or do I have to buy the entire set with khakis/slacks, dress shoes, etc. because I don't have that much money, unless it's not weird to wear the same set of clothing every 'shadowing day' (obviously I'll wash them).

I would go with slacks, a collared shirt, and nicer shoes than sneakers (but not necessarily dress shoes).

 

[JasonicBoom]

You need an entire suit for interviews? Like, with the jacket and all? Even if the interview is during the summer? Man, I remember wearing these cheap Goodwill shoes for my band concert in junior high school, and after 3 hours in them my pinky toes were bleeding and the top of the shoes indented painful marks right on the dorsa of my feet. 🙁

Yah man. For shadowing, I never wore a jacket or a tie, but dress shirt, pants, and shoes for sure. But then again, I shadowed at a pretty fancy tertiary care hospital so I guess we were expected to dress up a little more than usual.

For interviews though definitely have the jacket and tie. Every single male and 95% of the female interviewees I've met wears a suit jacket. If your dress shoes are super uncomfortable though, I've seen some female applicants go into their interviews in heels but then change into cross trainers for the tour. You could do that😛

 

[BigRedBeta]

Until you've been to an office at least one, you need to overdress if at all possible. At a bare minimum that means a long-sleeved collared shirt with at least chinos, but dress slacks would be preferable. If you have a tie, wear it. Dressing appropriately and adhering to standard norms is part of demonstrating respect and interest. If you run afoul of these things, there can be consequences. Regardless of your thoughts on formality, you're trying to gain access to this field, so why take any risks when they're easily avoidable?

It's true that most pediatric practices are less formal than other specialties, but some pediatricians may not fit that stereotype. You're trying to make a good first impression, so dress well until you've spent a day at the office. If you get there and everyone is in polo's and chinos, then you'll know for the next time. No one will ever fault you for being overdressed, but as a peds resident, if you showed up in just jeans to shadow me, I would ask you to leave.

For when you're actually there, keep quiet until you're out of the room. In cases where the kids are being difficult, if you feel comfortable with kids, you can try to interact with the kids while the physician talks with the parents. Keep in mind that most kids from the ages of 10 months to about 30 months will have significant stranger anxiety - not all, and some overcome it readily - but it may mean your efforts will be counterproductive. Toys and stuff may help, but tread carefully. If you're not comfortable with kids, don't try to do too much.

 

[beanbean]

Absolutely no jeans or t-shirts! I would send you home if you showed up to shadow in those. Khaki pants or dress pants and button down shirt or polo.

 

[rbnsafsadgf]

Any tips/advice on shadowing a pediatrician and how to make the most of this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

1) be early
2) listen carefully
3) be friendly to staff; introduce yourself to staff and tell them your roll if you are going to be there for >a few hours.
4) dress professionally
5) be ready to help if asked (fetching materials; holding pts, etc.)
6) jot down some notes about your experience afterwards for future essay writing for yourself

PS: good dress shoes should fit like a dream. time to grow up.
PPS: In addition to what others said about dressing up, wear clothes that fit well.

 

[pinipig523]

Is there an unwritten dress code? Will a t-shirt and jeans with sneakers not suffice? I can buy a cheap dress shirt, but would just that be okay with jeans and sneakers? Or do I have to buy the entire set with khakis/slacks, dress shoes, etc. because I don't have that much money, unless it's not weird to wear the same set of clothing every 'shadowing day' (obviously I'll wash them).

Do not wear jeans or a tshirt - that's just tacky.

As med students, when we used to shadow - we always wore dress shirt, tie, nice pants, leather shoes.

Even as a senior resident now, I'm looking to shadow a podiatrist sometime this week just to get a better idea of podiatry - and I'm going in with a nice shirt, tie, nice pants, leather shoes.

 

[schwabejr]

I agree with the dress code above. Until you know EXACTLY what the expectation is at the practice its best to overdress.

My advice would be this, pay attention ALL THE TIME. You'll learn just as much from watching the office staff, nurses and Dr. outside of the exam room as you will inside the exam room.

I found that chatting with the Dr. immediately before and after the patient visit (while they were prepping or charting) helped me understand what I saw in the exam.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

When I shadowed a pediatrician he was laid back, like wear a Hawaiian shirt to work everyday, laid back. He didn't care what I wore, but I always dressed either in a suit or just a dress shirt, dress pants, and a tie. I'd say wear what you have or can afford, most doctors will understand if you aren't made of money as a premed. 😀

 

[Procyon]

When I shadowed peds, I wore khakis and a polo every day, because that's what the doc was wearing. Then I began to think that was the norm for some reason, so when I was shadowing EM the first time, the attending was like, "You better wear a tie tomorrow..." Funny how different specialties all follow a different dress code.