Shadowing Attire

[ShoTyme]

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Hello all. I did search and read a variety of responses, but I still feel I should ask. I am shadowing an anesthesiologist on Friday and was wondering what I should wear. This is my first time shadowing and don't want to make an bleep outta myself. Jeans and a polo? Shirt, slacks, and tie? Nix the tie, but save the rest? Thanks!

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Jeans and a polo mean you'll never come back

Colored dress shirt, nice pants (any color incl. khaki/tan), and a tie, best thing would be to ask the doc what he/she is wearing. Either way, that should be fine, and find nice comfortable shoes.

 

[doctor712]

I agree with SBB, jeans are a no-no, it's not a cold day in med school in March just yet.

Even though you might expect to quickly get into scrubs with your anesthesiologist, and head to their domain, the OR, you have to show a professional side from day one. Khakis and shirt tie is the way to go.
Alternatively, you might be with an anesthesiologist who is a "pain doc" and you may spend the day in clinic, before spending the next day in the OR. So, jeans in the clinic would be bad. Jeans meeting the chairman in the locker room would be equally bad. Dress up, you'll be thankful. You NEVER know who you are going to meet...

I've had a TON of shadowing and observing time (across every imaginable specialty of medicine, practically), and I feel strongly about this. I'd say I'm at 1000+ hours, could be 1500. And that's shadowing. Not paid work. Which would be another few 1000s. Translation: dress to impress, trust me.

Knock em dead. And have fun with anesthesiology, by far my favorite group of docs and specialty. Enjoy the fascinating physiology you are about to witness these physicians handle...

D712

 

[simondimond]

When you shadow a physician either in their office or in the hospital you wear a shirt and tie with dress slacks or khakis and dress shoes.

I did a shadowing program in a hospital and I shadowed a doctor in a family practice office. Both times, shirt and tie required.

Where did you get the idea of jeans and a t-shirt?

 

[ShoTyme]

Jeans and a polo mean you'll never come back

Gotcha! Thanks.

Where did you get the idea of jeans and a t-shirt?

I didn't set this up. I spoke to a classmate at school who hooked me up with the gig. So I haven't talked to the doctor directly. I asked her what I should wear and she said what I was wearing was fine… that was where the jeans and polo idea came from.

Knock em dead. And have fun with anesthesiology, by far my favorite group of docs and specialty. Enjoy the fascinating physiology you are about to witness these physicians handle...

Thanks for the solid info. I’m extremely excited about this opportunity!
👍👍

 

[plauto]

and bring a crossword or sudoku if you are in the OR...IMO one of the most boring specialties out there unless it's a big cardiac or liver transplant case....

 

[doctor712]

Op

To be sure, do NOT bring puzzles or sudokus to the OR. Or any shadowing experience. Despite the above posters' attempt at humor/distraction/opinion.

Boring is personal opinion. And that's why some are cutout to be surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians and psychiatrists etc. And others aren't.
But to advise you to bring games (even in possible jest) where it's not clearly a joke, is poor form. You never know who might follow such advice. Enjoy the experience.

D712

 

[ShoTyme]

Op

To be sure, do NOT bring puzzles or sudokus to the OR. Or any shadowing experience. Despite the above posters' attempt at humor/distraction/opinion.

Boring is personal opinion. And that's why some are cutout to be surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians and psychiatrists etc. And others aren't.
But to advise you to bring games (even in possible jest) where it's not clearly a joke, is poor form. You never know who might follow such advice. Enjoy the experience.

D712

Yeah. I would never bring puzzles or sudokus to the OR. However, I will bring a notepad and pen to with which to take notes. Again this is my first shadowing opportunity, so if you have any other suggestions, I am more than open to them. Thanks D712!

 

[simondimond]

Yeah. I would never bring puzzles or sudokus to the OR. However, I will bring a notepad and pen to with which to take notes. Again this is my first shadowing opportunity, so if you have any other suggestions, I am more than open to them. Thanks D712!

I don't think you need the note pad and pen. My suggestion is just to record everything mentally (which you can do) and then record a journal at home after every day that you shadow. I have a 20 page word document from my four week experience.

Also, don't get in the way but try to help whenever you can. When they are moving the patient from the table to the bed, try and at least hold the feet. Don't ever get near anything sterile and try to anticipate when you can get up close and when you should get out of the way. Don't wait for them to tell you to move.

In short, be memorable.

 

[ShoTyme]

I don't think you need the note pad and pen. My suggestion is just to record everything mentally (which you can do) and then record a journal at home after every day that you shadow. I have a 20 page word document from my four week experience.

Also, don't get in the way but try to help whenever you can. When they are moving the patient from the table to the bed, try and at least hold the feet. Don't ever get near anything sterile and try to anticipate when you can get up close and when you should get out of the way. Don't wait for them to tell you to move.

In short, be memorable.

Solid!! 👍👍👍

 

[TriagePreMed]

Hello all. I did search and read a variety of responses, but I still feel I should ask. I am shadowing an anesthesiologist on Friday and was wondering what I should wear. This is my first time shadowing and don't want to make an bleep outta myself. Jeans and a polo? Shirt, slacks, and tie? Nix the tie, but save the rest? Thanks!

I wore a shirt and tie for my shadowing experience. I suggest not over-thinking this and just directly asking "What is the appropriate attire to wear to shadow your profession?" You're a student. They will expect you not to know these things.

 

[ShoTyme]

I wore a shirt and tie for my shadowing experience. I suggest not over-thinking this and just directly asking "What is the appropriate attire to wear to shadow your profession?" You're a student. They will expect you not to know these things.

I agree this would be the most efficient way of handling it, but I've never spoken to the doctor before. I was set up with this shadowing experience by a fellow student who is also a surgical technician. I would hate for my first contact with this doctor to be, "by the way, what should I wear." 😳

 

[doctor712]

ST,

You've been given the correct advice: khakis and shirt/tie. No need to ask doc. As for helping, sure, that's a touchy one though. Grabbing a patient's feet after a surgery, even if sliding over, should be handled by a tech/transporter. Be there, but don't be in the way. Be ready. If a nurse or doc asks you to help, help. Don't move in on a patient post-op though as if it's your right to assist, it's not. I've done it, others have, but there's a protocol here. Wait to be asked the first time unless your arms are direly needed.

Have fun with it. Don't stress. Be early, have fun.

HERES AN IMPORTANT TIP! The OR environment creates some stress whether or not you are observing, operating, providing anesthesia. EAT BEFORE YOU GO IN THERE. Every morning. Last thing you want is to get light headed and pass out. You'll have a cap on, a mask, and if you're not used to this, you could get jittery and lightheaded. You wouldn't be the first one. I've seen it. Make sure you eat in the AM. Best advice I can give you!

D712

 

[Druggernaut]

I don't think you need the note pad and pen. My suggestion is just to record everything mentally (which you can do) and then record a journal at home after every day that you shadow. I have a 20 page word document from my four week experience.

Sorry to derail things, but I'm curious: what did you write 20 pages about?

I shadowed nowhere near as extensively as the people above, but I forwent the tie, and ended up dressed similarly enough to the physicians that one of the nurses made a joke about it as we walked down the hall. Probably not a bad idea to err on the side of dressing up more though, especially if you're going somewhere with students, who are often required to wear a tie.

 

[simondimond]

Sorry to derail things, but I'm curious: what did you write 20 pages about?

I shadowed nowhere near as extensively as the people above, but I forwent the tie, and ended up dressed similarly enough to the physicians that one of the nurses made a joke about it as we walked down the hall. Probably not a bad idea to err on the side of dressing up more though, especially if you're going somewhere with students, who are often required to wear a tie.

I shadowed four weeks in the ER, Clinic, IM, and Surgery this summer. I wrote about EVERY detail. It was fun actually. I don't mind sharing the document with you if you want to critique it.

 

[ShoTyme]

ST,

You've been given the correct advice: khakis and shirt/tie. No need to ask doc. As for helping, sure, that's a touchy one though. Grabbing a patient's feet after a surgery, even if sliding over, should be handled by a tech/transporter. Be there, but don't be in the way. Be ready. If a nurse or doc asks you to help, help. Don't move in on a patient post-op though as if it's your right to assist, it's not. I've done it, others have, but there's a protocol here. Wait to be asked the first time unless your arms are direly needed.

Have fun with it. Don't stress. Be early, have fun.

HERES AN IMPORTANT TIP! The OR environment creates some stress whether or not you are observing, operating, providing anesthesia. EAT BEFORE YOU GO IN THERE. Every morning. Last thing you want is to get light headed and pass out. You'll have a cap on, a mask, and if you're not used to this, you could get jittery and lightheaded. You wouldn't be the first one. I've seen it. Make sure you eat in the AM. Best advice I can give you!

D712

Thanks for the heads up. I will be arriving early so I would probably have skipped breakfast. I will make sure I allow enough time to eat. Also, I will make sure to be ready if they ask, but I highly doubt I will be asked to touch anyone. In fact, my surgical tech friend said I will sign something saying I will not touch ANYTHING. She was quite emphatic. But I very much look forward to it. Thanks for all the help!

Sho-

 

[doctor712]

ST,

Sounds like you have a good attitude about it all, enjoy!

D712

 

[isoquin]

reinforcing others: shirt and tie, although you'll probably need to change into scrubs or put on an OR onesie when you get there. altho the person you are shadowing probably has absolutely nothing to do with your application, you should start practicing dressing professionally.

have fun!

 

[plauto]

Op

To be sure, do NOT bring puzzles or sudokus to the OR. Or any shadowing experience. Despite the above posters' attempt at humor/distraction/opinion.

Boring is personal opinion. And that's why some are cutout to be surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians and psychiatrists etc. And others aren't.
But to advise you to bring games (even in possible jest) where it's not clearly a joke, is poor form. You never know who might follow such advice. Enjoy the experience.

D712

oops, I forgot this was the premed forum....definitely no crosswords.

 

[mafunk]

I think you should dress consistent with the attire in the office. I shadow one place where they want me to where scrubs. Another where it is business casual. And another where everyone wears jeans.

 

[Quizlet04]

Dress shirt, slacks, tie, shoes that don't look like ass. This is the universal dress code that I've seen for guys in the hospital who aren't in scrubs or in uniform. The only people who wear suits are the guys who run the hospital, i.e., not the doctors.