Tieback Surgical Caps in Gross Anatomy Lab?

[g protein]

Hello.

I am starting my Gross Anatomy. For a variety of reasons (smell, formaldehyde's affect on hair growth and structure, messy hair days/etc), I would like to wear a surgical tieback cap to cover my hair during dissections. However, if I would look like a COMPLETE tool, or draw negative attention to myself, I would ditch the idea.

Any thoughts? I would only wear the cap in lab if it didn't piss off the instructor, the graduate assistants, or fellow classmates.

any serious thoughts would be appreciated!

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[Droopy Snoopy]

Hello.

I am starting my Gross Anatomy. For a variety of reasons (smell, formaldehyde's affect on hair growth and structure, messy hair days/etc), I would like to wear a surgical tieback cap to cover my hair during dissections. However, if I would look like a COMPLETE tool, or draw negative attention to myself, I would ditch the idea.

Any thoughts? I would only wear the cap in lab if it didn't piss off the instructor, the graduate assistants, or fellow classmates.

any serious thoughts would be appreciated!

Gunnerish.

 

[smq123]

Hello.

I am starting my Gross Anatomy. For a variety of reasons (smell, formaldehyde's affect on hair growth and structure, messy hair days/etc), I would like to wear a surgical tieback cap to cover my hair during dissections. However, if I would look like a COMPLETE tool, or draw negative attention to myself, I would ditch the idea.

Any thoughts? I would only wear the cap in lab if it didn't piss off the instructor, the graduate assistants, or fellow classmates.

any serious thoughts would be appreciated!

Yeah, you might look like "that guy." (Or "that girl," I guess.)

But why does it have to be a surgical cap? 😕 Just use a bandana like most people.

 

[EBI831]

about 3 people in our class had them. no one considered them gunners and they weren't. so go for it. unless you go to a school like the posters above where even what you wear in lab classifies you as a gunner. man, i love my school.

 

[Haemulon]

I never saw anyone wearing caps in my class. Not sure what I would think, if anything. Guess it would depend on who was wearing it lol

 

[DickyV]

You might look a bit like a tool, but why care about that? (Trust me - you're going to be a first year med student - you'll be surrounded by tools. 😀)

If you have a legitimate reason to do it (i.e., you're not trying to prove from day 1 that you're going to be a surgeon), go ahead.

 

[Tiger26]

I would avoid doing this at all costs unless they're bucketloads of preservatives and body parts flying at your head, in which case you'd have bigger problems

This would be very toolish. With that said, be my guest and add in the tailored scrubs w/cut-off sleeves and let everybody around you know how good at capoeira you are

 

[cpants]

With the exception of closed toed shoes, no one cares what you are wearing in lab. At all. If you want to wear a cap, go for it.

 

[njbmd]

Hello.

I am starting my Gross Anatomy. For a variety of reasons (smell, formaldehyde's affect on hair growth and structure, messy hair days/etc), I would like to wear a surgical tieback cap to cover my hair during dissections. However, if I would look like a COMPLETE tool, or draw negative attention to myself, I would ditch the idea.

Any thoughts? I would only wear the cap in lab if it didn't piss off the instructor, the graduate assistants, or fellow classmates.

any serious thoughts would be appreciated!

Wear a bandana or a baseball cap. They will do fine for this purpose. You don't need a surgeon's cap for Gross Lab unless your school has a woefully inadequate ventilation system.

 

[Blesbok]

Wear a bandana or a baseball cap. They will do fine for this purpose. You don't need a surgeon's cap for Gross Lab unless your school has a woefully inadequate ventilation system.

.

Wearing a surgical cap during anatomy lab is going to make you look like that guy/girl. Don't be that guy/girl.

Get a bandana, get a hat, get sombraro.

 

[Depakote]

.

Wearing a surgical cap during anatomy lab is going to make you look like that guy/girl. Don't be that guy/girl.

Get a bandana, get a hat, get sombraro.

I'm going to second the sombrero suggestion.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

I'm going to second the sombrero suggestion.

Perhaps a sombrero of the "urban" variety.

Yeah, I think wearing a surgical cap would make you look like a doofus.

 

[g protein]

Thank you for all of the honest advice!

Quite frankly, I'd just feel better about getting close to the cadaver (like when the eyes need to get close to zoom in on separating deep fascia between important structures). In my group so far, we've had a number of squirts, sprays, darn-near explosions of formaldehyde and adipose tissue, and a pectoralis major that flapped like a wing on several occasions when it was (rapidly) swung out on several occasion (following the dissection of the medial attachments).

I already drew the line and am the only one to wear safety glasses 100% of the time. I think after the eyes, I would hate nothing more then to get a juicy hunk of tissue in my hair. I could never live that down (ok jk not really), but it would be aggravating as hell.


P.s. should I stop my nasonex (intranasal corticosteriod), because it wears down the epithelium and may increase formaldehyde diffusion into my brain? perhaps switching to an antihistamine spray would reduce the risk of accumulation of formaldehyde in my system. Some of my concerns stem around the fact we have had for two weeks (and have for two weeks), anatomy lab everyday.

 

[Mr hawkings]

Thank you for all of the honest advice!

Quite frankly, I'd just feel better about getting close to the cadaver (like when the eyes need to get close to zoom in on separating deep fascia between important structures). In my group so far, we've had a number of squirts, sprays, darn-near explosions of formaldehyde and adipose tissue, and a pectoralis major that flapped like a wing on several occasions when it was (rapidly) swung out on several occasion (following the dissection of the medial attachments).

I already drew the line and am the only one to wear safety glasses 100% of the time. I think after the eyes, I would hate nothing more then to get a juicy hunk of tissue in my hair. I could never live that down (ok jk not really), but it would be aggravating as hell.

PS. I was a pathology technician for a couple of years and i had was direct contact with formaldehyde everyday for 2 years straight. Apart from my liver enzymes reversibly going out of whack for a few months, everything was fine. A couple of months of MS1 pathology is not going to cause any problems.

P.s. should I stop my nasonex (intranasal corticosteriod), because it wears down the epithelium and may increase formaldehyde diffusion into my brain? perhaps switching to an antihistamine spray would reduce the risk of accumulation of formaldehyde in my system. Some of my concerns stem around the fact we have had for two weeks (and have for two weeks), anatomy lab everyday.

JESUS.
Will you relax already? Like someone said above, the cadaver tanks usually have built in ventilation systems to minimize student exposure to fumes. So unless there is some malfunction, you should be fine. Just go in and enjoy class.

 

[Law2Doc]

.

Wearing a surgical cap during anatomy lab is going to make you look like that guy/girl. Don't be that guy/girl.

Get a bandana, get a hat, get sombraro.

Exactly. It's not cool to wear a surgeon's cap until you are a surgeon. It's too much being a wannabee. Heck, the surgeons at most schools dislike med students wearing actual surgical caps (other than those paper or bouffant caps) even during their surgical rotations. It's like the long white coat -- you simply don't get to wear that at this stage. So yeah, go with a bandana or some other form of headgear, or risk someone branding you a wannabee. Blesbok got it right -- You don't want to be that guy/gal.

 

[DarknightX]

Thank you for all of the honest advice!

Quite frankly, I'd just feel better about getting close to the cadaver (like when the eyes need to get close to zoom in on separating deep fascia between important structures). In my group so far, we've had a number of squirts, sprays, darn-near explosions of formaldehyde and adipose tissue, and a pectoralis major that flapped like a wing on several occasions when it was (rapidly) swung out on several occasion (following the dissection of the medial attachments).

I already drew the line and am the only one to wear safety glasses 100% of the time. I think after the eyes, I would hate nothing more then to get a juicy hunk of tissue in my hair. I could never live that down (ok jk not really), but it would be aggravating as hell.


P.s. should I stop my nasonex (intranasal corticosteriod), because it wears down the epithelium and may increase formaldehyde diffusion into my brain? perhaps switching to an antihistamine spray would reduce the risk of accumulation of formaldehyde in my system. Some of my concerns stem around the fact we have had for two weeks (and have for two weeks), anatomy lab everyday.

I think the formaldehyde has already affected your brain.

 

[Haemulon]

Thank you for all of the honest advice!

Quite frankly, I'd just feel better about getting close to the cadaver (like when the eyes need to get close to zoom in on separating deep fascia between important structures). In my group so far, we've had a number of squirts, sprays, darn-near explosions of formaldehyde and adipose tissue, and a pectoralis major that flapped like a wing on several occasions when it was (rapidly) swung out on several occasion (following the dissection of the medial attachments).

I already drew the line and am the only one to wear safety glasses 100% of the time. I think after the eyes, I would hate nothing more then to get a juicy hunk of tissue in my hair. I could never live that down (ok jk not really), but it would be aggravating as hell.


P.s. should I stop my nasonex (intranasal corticosteriod), because it wears down the epithelium and may increase formaldehyde diffusion into my brain? perhaps switching to an antihistamine spray would reduce the risk of accumulation of formaldehyde in my system. Some of my concerns stem around the fact we have had for two weeks (and have for two weeks), anatomy lab everyday.

Ok, there is nothing wrong with wearing safety glasses to prevent splash, especially when you are sawing bone or something of that nature. But if chunks of your cadaver and it's juices are constantly flying around the table, adipose is exploding, the safety shower is kept on standby especially for you each session, and you come out of lab looking like you were an extra in one of the SAW movies ...... It may be time to re-evaluate your group's approach.

Also, while at times you will need to get uncomfortably close to your cadaver to see structures clearly, your eyelashes should not be grazing important structures in the process.

BTW, use your fingers or the blunt end of a forceps or probe handle as much as possible to separate fascia, NOT your nose. Muscles are generally big, and if you are in the correct plane much of the fascia comes apart fairly easily without sticking your head into the body cavity. 😉

 

[Law2Doc]

Thank you for all of the honest advice!

Quite frankly, I'd just feel better about getting close to the cadaver (like when the eyes need to get close to zoom in on separating deep fascia between important structures). In my group so far, we've had a number of squirts, sprays, darn-near explosions of formaldehyde and adipose tissue, and a pectoralis major that flapped like a wing on several occasions when it was (rapidly) swung out on several occasion (following the dissection of the medial attachments).

I already drew the line and am the only one to wear safety glasses 100% of the time. I think after the eyes, I would hate nothing more then to get a juicy hunk of tissue in my hair. I could never live that down (ok jk not really), but it would be aggravating as hell.


P.s. should I stop my nasonex (intranasal corticosteriod), because it wears down the epithelium and may increase formaldehyde diffusion into my brain? perhaps switching to an antihistamine spray would reduce the risk of accumulation of formaldehyde in my system. Some of my concerns stem around the fact we have had for two weeks (and have for two weeks), anatomy lab everyday.

Hate to break this to you, but the cadaver is probably going to be one of the cleanest healthiest "patients" you get to touch over the next four years, formalin notwithstanding. In pretty much every med school class throughout history, someone has gotten a piece of cadaver in the eyes, hair, on the skin, and even in the mouth. Very few get sick. Wait until you get to the wards and 99% of the patients you have to go examine will test positive for MRSA sometime after you have already examined them gloveless, or when you have to mask up with a very questionably airtight mask to go examine the dude on airborne precautions for possible TB, or, or participate in a trauma procedure where you get covered with blood or vomit, or have to do a DRE on a guy with some freaky anal growth. Medical school is very hands on, and you run some risks of getting messy with things that you'd ordinarily not want to touch. You can take reasonable precautions but what you are describing here seems a bit too afraid to do what med students all have been doing for decades.
Just wear a bandana and cool it with the safety goggles, masks etc unless you have a bona fide health need.

 

[g protein]

Are bandanas unprofessional? I do have a black nike mesh skullcap, but I'm not sure I want to be looking like an NFL linebacker in lab, a thug, a bodybuildling nut.

Ok guys (and gals) that's lovely there is a ventilation system. That doesnt mean that vapors of the CH20 are not getting in my nose. I've already had several occasions of VISCIOUS burning when new areas of flesh are dissected. Ok so if my nose is burning, there is gaseous state CH20 dissolving across the epithelial tissue and irritating it (local vasodilation, etc).

Are you all aware what nasonex does to the nasal epithelium? It must wear it down in order to help those with chronic sinusitis. I've been on it for over a year. Who's to say that it is not increasing formaldehyde intake in me? Transdermal absorption (and many other things) can be affected by topical steroids and retinoids. So why not the nose?

Now of course, I realize that many people take the approach that what they don't think about/know about/know about is of absolutely no concern. So that's fine.


Guys I realize that probably some portion of the class may write me off as a tool (if they would do this from me wearing a scrub cap then I don't want any social contact with them anyway). My real concern is ticking off any of the four Ph.D anatomy professors for the lab. That question was not addressed in replies directly, but I suppose that maybe med students wouldnt know.


Dangggg I wish/hope that my classmates are not as pretentious as they could theoretically be.

 

[Law2Doc]

Ok guys (and gals) that's lovely there is a ventilation system. That doesnt mean that vapors of the CH20 are not getting in my nose. I've already had several occasions of VISCIOUS burning when new areas of flesh are dissected. Ok so if my nose is burning, there is gaseous state CH20 dissolving across the epithelial tissue and irritating it (local vasodilation, etc).

Are you all aware what nasonex does to the nasal epithelium? It must wear it down in order to help those with chronic sinusitis. I've been on it for over a year. Who's to say that it is not increasing formaldehyde intake in me? Transdermal absorption (and many other things) can be affected by topical steroids and retinoids. So why not the nose?

Now of course, I realize that many people take the approach that what they don't think about/know about/know about is of absolutely no concern. So that's fine.

See my above post. Medicine is messy. You will get messy. Just chill. You won't die from your anatomy class. You are statistically far more likely to die from the things you will have to do in the wards after. If you are running in fear of a formalin soaked dead guy, I have no idea how you are going to cope when they tell you to go examine someone with real disease, or participate in a surgery where HIV laden suture needs are mere millimeters from your gloved hands.

 

[Haemulon]

Many things about Gross Anatomy suck. No news flash there. Formalin burns. It irratates eyes, nose, lungs, etc ... and just makes things generally unpleasant. Also, it is a suspected carcinogen. Figures eh? Everyone here can say that what you are experiencing is normal (with the burning and bad smells and such), cause we have all gone through it too. However, if you really have significant health concerns, talk to the lab director, or better yet ... your primary care physician.

 

[g protein]

Hate to break this to you, but the cadaver is probably going to be one of the cleanest healthiest "patients" you get to touch over the next four years, formalin notwithstanding. In pretty much every med school class throughout history, someone has gotten a piece of cadaver in the eyes, hair, on the skin, and even in the mouth. Very few get sick. Wait until you get to the wards and 99% of the patients you have to go examine will test positive for MRSA sometime after you have already examined them gloveless, or when you have to mask up with a very questionably airtight mask to go examine the dude on airborne precautions for possible TB, or, or participate in a trauma procedure where you get covered with blood or vomit, or have to do a DRE on a guy with some freaky anal growth. Medical school is very hands on, and you run some risks of getting messy with things that you'd ordinarily not want to touch. You can take reasonable precautions but what you are describing here seems a bit too afraid to do what med students all have been doing for decades.
Just wear a bandana and cool it with the safety goggles, masks etc unless you have a bona fide health need.

Thank you I'm well aware of this. I've already had blood shoot on my arm when I was watching a total hip replacement a few years back. I just washed it and moved on. Thus I turn down the lab coat, and wear scrubs with exposed arms...

I'd be even more on edge if patients with serious infectious disease inadvertently caused bodily fluids to shoot at me. Hey man, just cause stuff happens doesn't make any of it OK. As long as no cuts are on my hand, I dont have a problem touching people.

Now, my bona fide health need? I wear contacts, but my health need is my vision (I want to become a physician, and need to see). I will continue to protect my eyes.

 

[Haemulon]

Thank you I'm well aware of this. I've already had blood shoot on my arm when I was watching a total hip replacement a few years back. I just washed it and moved on. Thus I turn down the lab coat, and wear scrubs with exposed arms...

I'd be even more on edge if patients with serious infectious disease inadvertently caused bodily fluids to shoot at me. Hey man, just cause stuff happens doesn't make any of it OK. As long as no cuts are on my hand, I dont have a problem touching people.

Now, my bona fide health need? I wear contacts, but my health need is my vision (I want to become a physician, and need to see). I will continue to protect my eyes.

It may not be the best idea to wear contact lenses in the lab, especially if the fumes and potential for splash are as bad as you describe. It can be dangerous depending on the circumstances. That's just general lab common sense. Try glasses instead if you are really serious about protecting your eyes.

 

[Law2Doc]

Now, my bona fide health need? I wear contacts, but my health need is my vision (I want to become a physician, and need to see). I will continue to protect my eyes.

You're being hypersensitive here and it won't serve you well. As the prior poster indicated, contacts are a bad idea in the lab. Wearing prescription lenses does not count as a health concern. Nor does "needing to see" put you in any different boat than everyone else in med school. If you were the kind of person who broke into a rash upon exposure to formalin fumes, then I would say definitely get some protective gear. If you were pregnant, same thing. If you are just a dude who doesn't like the same exposure everyone else in the class is fine with I say time to mellow out and adjust, because this is but one mess in a messy career.

 

[g protein]

Well, one of these days soon enough I am going to bust out a tie-back scrub cap. It will be a risk... I will see if nobody cares, or if all hell breaks loose and I am designated a dissecting-TOOL by my classmates and squished into the plastic dissecting kits with the other tools, where I may indeed belong.

On another note... I mean, why the heck not wear it? It's well within the boundaries of appropriate medical attire. It's not like I want to show up to anatomy lab with a tuxedo, popped collar, or a space suit. I just want to add another piece of clothing.

And wouldn't it be better if the color matched my scrubs?

 

[Blesbok]

Thank you for all of the honest advice!

Quite frankly, I'd just feel better about getting close to the cadaver (like when the eyes need to get close to zoom in on separating deep fascia between important structures). In my group so far, we've had a number of squirts, sprays, darn-near explosions of formaldehyde and adipose tissue, and a pectoralis major that flapped like a wing on several occasions when it was (rapidly) swung out on several occasion (following the dissection of the medial attachments).

I already drew the line and am the only one to wear safety glasses 100% of the time. I think after the eyes, I would hate nothing more then to get a juicy hunk of tissue in my hair. I could never live that down (ok jk not really), but it would be aggravating as hell.


P.s. should I stop my nasonex (intranasal corticosteriod), because it wears down the epithelium and may increase formaldehyde diffusion into my brain? perhaps switching to an antihistamine spray would reduce the risk of accumulation of formaldehyde in my system. Some of my concerns stem around the fact we have had for two weeks (and have for two weeks), anatomy lab everyday.

You are either kidding or you need to see a psych. Seriously, you can't be afraid of everything if you are going to go into medicine. You will never make it through your first rotation.

 

[Law2Doc]

You are either kidding or you need to see a psych. Seriously, you can't be afraid of everything if you are going to go into medicine. You will never make it through your first rotation.

That's my point exactly. By going into medicine, you are putting yourself on the front line of being exposed to a lot of stuff. A few folks die of TB every few years. A few people contract various forms of hepatitis every year or so. Most people catch various respiratory infections and GI viruses along the way. You don't want to already be stressing out about this kind of stuff in anatomy, where stuff is significantly safer.

 

[Haemulon]

Well, one of these days soon enough I am going to bust out a tie-back scrub cap. It will be a risk... I will see if nobody cares, or if all hell breaks loose and I am designated a dissecting-TOOL by my classmates and squished into the plastic dissecting kits with the other tools, where I may indeed belong.

On another note... I mean, why the heck not wear it? It's well within the boundaries of appropriate medical attire. It's not like I want to show up to anatomy lab with a tuxedo, popped collar, or a space suit. I just want to add another piece of clothing.

And wouldn't it be better if the color matched my scrubs?

Ok, so your not worried about your eyes anymore? What about the contact lens thing?

 

[DickyV]

Ok guys (and gals) that's lovely there is a ventilation system. That doesnt mean that vapors of the CH20 are not getting in my nose. I've already had several occasions of VISCIOUS burning when new areas of flesh are dissected. Ok so if my nose is burning, there is gaseous state CH20 dissolving across the epithelial tissue and irritating it (local vasodilation, etc).

Trust me - this happens to EVERYONE. Formeldahyde/formalin is nasty stuff. That said, thousands of doctors have been exposed to it during med school (the allowable concentrations used to be MUCH higher) and there doesn't seem to be a trend of 50-60 year old doctors turning into creatures from the Blue Lagoon.

That said, I don't want to seem like I'm blowing you off completely. This is definitely an issue of some concern for you. I'd suggest talking to either your anatomy course director or the person in charge of the lab. I'm sure they'll have quantitative data on the PELs and the actual levels of toxins found in the labs. If you're still concerned, maybe they'll let you wear a sensor to show just how much formalin you are/are not being exposed to.

Finally, as a former chem teacher, I have to disagree with some of the previous posts - safety goggles are never a bad idea.

 

[Haemulon]

Trust me - this happens to EVERYONE. Formeldahyde/formalin is nasty stuff. That said, thousands of doctors have been exposed to it during med school (the allowable concentrations used to be MUCH higher) and there doesn't seem to be a trend of 50-60 year old doctors turning into creatures from the Blue Lagoon.

That said, I don't want to seem like I'm blowing you off completely. This is definitely an issue of some concern for you. I'd suggest talking to either your anatomy course director or the person in charge of the lab. I'm sure they'll have quantitative data on the PELs and the actual levels of toxins found in the labs. If you're still concerned, maybe they'll let you wear a sensor to show just how much formalin you are/are not being exposed to.

Finally, as a former chem teacher, I have to disagree with some of the previous posts - safety goggles are never a bad idea.

This is true. Particularly with certain dissections. No one will catch any grief for wearing them, but generally most people don't during regular dissections. Just is what it is. Its all fun and games until someone burns their cornea all to crap 😉

 

[bcat85]

And if a bandana won't do it:

 

[g protein]

That's my point exactly. By going into medicine, you are putting yourself on the front line of being exposed to a lot of stuff. A few folks die of TB every few years. A few people contract various forms of hepatitis every year or so. Most people catch various respiratory infections and GI viruses along the way. You don't want to already be stressing out about this kind of stuff in anatomy, where stuff is significantly safer.

Hey man I appreciate the advice, but take a deep breath and look at MY posts above. What did I say I was interested in knowing? If stopping a steroid nasal spray for this first year of medical school (and switching to a non-destructive nasal spray) would reduce potential exposure to/absorption of CH2O. This is a completely legitimate question.

Being a doctor does expose you. I'VE BEEN TO NINE ANATOMY LABS ALREADY AND I'VE DONE THE MOST OUT OF THE FIVE OF US AT MY TABLE. I EVEN USED THE BONE SAW TO SAW THROUGH THE LAMINAE, TO EXPOSE THE SPINAL CORD. SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, DON'T IMPLY I'M AFRAID.

All I am doing is wondering about something that is a very nasty chemical. Just because all docs have been exposed to it does not make it ok. PERIOD. Maybe it will be something I will have to endure, but if I can take little steps to reduce exposure, that is my business, and is in no way a bad thing.

Physicians should be thinking in terms of reducing risk. Again man, I go to anatomy lab every time, I'm the first to be there in my group, and the last to leave. I'm completely into it. And I'll be completely in to clinical stuff at hospitals. BUT I WILL ALWAYS PLAY IT SAFE.

I hope when some of you are physicians, you can detect subtleties in your patients accounts, and don't jump to harsh conclusions.


And honestly, anyone who tells me wearing safety glasses all the time is completely off base. There is absolutely no rationality in that. I'd rather be safe then in a situation that would stress me out.

 

[tkim]

This will help. Good luck.

 

[laurafinn]

any serious thoughts would be appreciated!

Take a deep breath. It will all be OK.


And when Pathology rolls around, remember: it is extremely unlikely that you have every disease you read about. Or even one or two of them.

 

[AlternateSome1]

Hey man I appreciate the advice, but take a deep breath and look at MY posts above. What did I say I was interested in knowing? If stopping a steroid nasal spray for this first year of medical school (and switching to a non-destructive nasal spray) would reduce potential exposure to/absorption of CH2O. This is a completely legitimate question.

Being a doctor does expose you. I'VE BEEN TO NINE ANATOMY LABS ALREADY AND I'VE DONE THE MOST OUT OF THE FIVE OF US AT MY TABLE. I EVEN USED THE BONE SAW TO SAW THROUGH THE LAMINAE, TO EXPOSE THE SPINAL CORD. SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, DON'T IMPLY I'M AFRAID.

All I am doing is wondering about something that is a very nasty chemical. Just because all docs have been exposed to it does not make it ok. PERIOD. Maybe it will be something I will have to endure, but if I can take little steps to reduce exposure, that is my business, and is in no way a bad thing.

Physicians should be thinking in terms of reducing risk. Again man, I go to anatomy lab every time, I'm the first to be there in my group, and the last to leave. I'm completely into it. And I'll be completely in to clinical stuff at hospitals. BUT I WILL ALWAYS PLAY IT SAFE.

I hope when some of you are physicians, you can detect subtleties in your patients accounts, and don't jump to harsh conclusions.


And honestly, anyone who tells me wearing safety glasses all the time is completely off base. There is absolutely no rationality in that. I'd rather be safe then in a situation that would stress me out.

Wear the surgical cap. You already are THAT guy.

 

[teddybear]

Hello.

I am starting my Gross Anatomy. For a variety of reasons (smell, formaldehyde's affect on hair growth and structure, messy hair days/etc), I would like to wear a surgical tieback cap to cover my hair during dissections. However, if I would look like a COMPLETE tool, or draw negative attention to myself, I would ditch the idea.

Any thoughts? I would only wear the cap in lab if it didn't piss off the instructor, the graduate assistants, or fellow classmates.

any serious thoughts would be appreciated!

Relax. Please.

 

[Mortal_Lessons]

Hahaha-so good! What an enjoyable thread to read...g protein is loving it.

Wear the surgical cap. You already are THAT guy.

 

[Law2Doc]

Wear the surgical cap. You already are THAT guy.

Amen.

 

[78222]

I would definitely wear the surgical cap. If you are going to be THAT GUY, then it's best that your classmates find out early.

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

 

[g protein]

I would definitely wear the surgical cap. If you are going to be THAT GUY, then it's best that your classmates find out early.

K yeah, so good to know early that med students are judgmental, shallow, pretentious, and pretty ridiculous... hmmm, thought they might be, hence my original question.

So this is like collar popping, pink shirts on guys, etc. Maybe facebook groups should be started to scrutinize THOSE guys and gals that wear surgical caps to gross lab.

Today I already expanded my gross-anatmoy-fashion-bubble by wearing tan designer scrubs. It was good. I may go with the full navy scrub suit w/ the navy cap on Monday


P.S. So what if I'm "THAT" guy? Everyone is someone...

 

[indo]

wear the cap: short term= you don't get invited to hang out with anyone, ever. long term= you are teh gr8ist m1 evah! Also, you should probably let everyone know that you were a surgical tech for 4 months so you pretty much know more than everyone else.


I'd wear the under armor skull cap...you gotta protect the house in anatomy lab.


Everyone should have to wear surgical caps in the anatomy lab because even cadavers can sue you for nosocomial MRSA infections.

 

[g protein]

wear the cap: short term= you don't get invited to hang out with anyone, ever.

Wow, I hope ALL my friends are just like you!



If ya'll are saying wear a baseball cap instead of surgeon's caps, then why the heck wear scrubs in the first place. I mean, god forbid... M1's shouldn't wear scrubs since surgeons do. How is the cap different? Aren't the scrubs themselves already enough of the whole surgeon's thing?


By wearing my eye protection, have I already alienated people? Funny that people hate on people who just try to be safe...

 

[ACSurgeon]

Wow, I hope ALL my friends are just like you!



If ya'll are saying wear a baseball cap instead of surgeon's caps, then why the heck wear scrubs in the first place. I mean, god forbid... M1's shouldn't wear scrubs since surgeons do. How is the cap different? Aren't the scrubs themselves already enough of the whole surgeon's thing?


By wearing my eye protection, have I already alienated people? Funny that people hate on people who just try to be safe...

What is the surgical cap supposed to protect? How is that being "safe"? What can a surgical cap that a baseball cap can't? Anything that goes away with a quick shower is NOT really hazardus...

About the scrubs, many, many, many others wear them from patient escorts to nurses. Plus, in my class at least, there were VERY few people that EVER worse scrubs to lab.

Just curious, if you were going to wear one anyways, why did you bother [waste our time and] start this thread?

 

[smq123]

If ya'll are saying wear a baseball cap instead of surgeon's caps, then why the heck wear scrubs in the first place. I mean, god forbid... M1's shouldn't wear scrubs since surgeons do. How is the cap different? Aren't the scrubs themselves already enough of the whole surgeon's thing?

I didn't wear scrubs though.

If your school doesn't specify, there's no real need to wear scrubs. Just wear old, sturdy clothes that you were going to throw away anyway - that would be enough.

To be honest, as an MS-3, my biggest pet peeve were the MS-1s who were taking scrubs out of the hospital and returning them covered in formaldehyde and body bits. Those scrubs are useless because they can't be truly cleaned, and that depletes the scrub supplies for the MS-3s and MS-4s that truly need those scrubs.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

This thread is going places, baby.

 

[g protein]

Just curious, if you were going to wear one anyways, why did you bother [waste our time and] start this thread?

Guess what, chief..... YOU made the decisions to take the time to read this thread and answer it. It's not my problem if you choose to read what I post on this forum and reply to it.

For the record, I'm not 100% i'm going to do it, thanks to all you unsupportive and critical jackasses.

And also for the record, at my school 100% of people wear scrubs, 100% of the time in gross lab. The school provides scrubs, and many invest in others pairs. Already, we have seen teal, shades of green, maroon, black, whitek embroidered university scrubs, and others.

 

[g protein]

What is the surgical cap supposed to protect?

Ummm, why are long pants required? Why can't the midriff be exposes? Why are tanktops not allowed? A surgical cap is as much as a rational protection as the bottom half of scrub pants. Are the shins at risk? Apparently they are, as long bottoms are required. How is the scalp and hair any less vulnerable than the lower legs?

 

[soonereng]

So what if I'm "THAT" guy? Everyone is someone...

Nothing wrong with being that guy...it's just that guy is usually despised by classmates. So for someone who took the time to actually ask the question for fear of possibly being toolish, I would take it that you don't want to be that guy.

I say wear the scrub cap. Be that guy. Everyone likes something to laugh about in gross lab.

 

[Kris1]

You're kidding right? I fear for the future of medicine.