Wear scrubs for job shadowing?

[Akay04]

Hi,

I was just wondering if wearing scrubs would be appropriate in a hospital where scrubs are not color-coded by department. I would rather not wear high heels and dress up, but didn't know if it would be inappropriate to assume I could wear them. Then again, it seems better to blend in.

thanks

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[RySerr21]

what kinda doc are you shadowing and what kind of setting are you shadowing (hospital, clinic, etc). If you are shadowing a surgeon and you know you are going to be seeing a surgery that day, then sure wear scrubs. Or maybe even if you are goign to be in a hospital, then yea i guess. But If you are shadowing a FM doc in an out patient clinic, I dont see any reason why you would wear scrubs.

You can also just ask the doc what he/she would like you to wear. They will always tell you straight up. Most every doc I have shadowed has requested me in a slacks and a tie. If it was a surgery day I'd just wear regular clothes and then change into scrubs at the office.

 

[Jolie South]

i would dress up for the first day. it's better to overdress than look unprofessional.

if the doctor you're shadowing says it's ok to wear scrubs, you can do that for the next time.

 

[beachblonde]

Don't wear scrubs unless the doc you're shadowing specifically told you to. Just because the doc is seeing patients in the hospital doesn't mean he/she will be wearing scrubs.

Dress professionally and you'll be fine. And be forewarned: if you do wear heels, make sure that they're low heels because not only will the doc make fun of you, your feet will be killing you by the end of the day.

 

[turkeyjerky]

Dress up for shadowing, you'd look like a tool if you wear scrubs. Even if it's surgery, if you are spending any time whatsoever outside the OR, dress up.

If you are just going in to watch an operation, wear (decent looking) street clothes to the hospital. They give you scrubs to change into; you didn't think that doctors wear the same scrubs into surgery that they wear on the subway did you?

In fact, as I think about it, there's absolutely no reason at all for a pre-med to even own a pair of scrubs.

 

[Depakote]

Dress up for shadowing, you'd look like a tool if you wear scrubs. Even if it's surgery, if you are spending any time whatsoever outside the OR, dress up.

If you are just going in to watch an operation, wear (decent looking) street clothes to the hospital. They give you scrubs to change into; you didn't think that doctors wear the same scrubs into surgery that they wear on the subway did you?

In fact, as I think about it, there's absolutely no reason at all for a pre-med to even own a pair of scrubs.

👍

 

[HurricaneKatt]

Dress up for shadowing, you'd look like a tool if you wear scrubs. Even if it's surgery, if you are spending any time whatsoever outside the OR, dress up.

If you are just going in to watch an operation, wear (decent looking) street clothes to the hospital. They give you scrubs to change into; you didn't think that doctors wear the same scrubs into surgery that they wear on the subway did you?

In fact, as I think about it, there's absolutely no reason at all for a pre-med to even own a pair of scrubs.

I beg to differ. My friend works in Transportation at the Hospital and has scrubs. 😛 So meh. lol I know, I know, just playing devils advocate...😀

 

[sphelps]

In fact, as I think about it, there's absolutely no reason at all for a pre-med to even own a pair of scrubs.

..except for those of us who already work in the field and juggle college with that, of course




my opinion as far as the question goes is to just ask what is appropriate.

 

[Bacchus]

If you don't want to wear heels wear flats. There are professional flats, or so it seems with all the girls I see wearing them. As a guy loving girls in Stilletos, I'd say wear them, but it isn't practical for what you'll be doing.

 

[Jolie South]

If you don't want to wear heels wear flats. There are professional flats, or so it seems with all the girls I see wearing them. As a guy loving girls in Stilletos, I'd say wear them, but it isn't practical for what you'll be doing.

yep, i'm all over professional flats. while i do like the look of a heel, IMO it's not practical to wear them all the time (i'm a super clutz ).

 

[RoyBasch]

If you are shadowing a doctor who does mostly rounding or works out of an office based practice, business casual is probably necessary. If you are a guy, khaki pants or slacks, buttondown shirt, tie optional. When I did surgery shadowing and EM, they had me put on scrubs.

Hi,

I was just wondering if wearing scrubs would be appropriate in a hospital where scrubs are not color-coded by department.

I think it would be inappropriate to wear your own scrubs even if its surgery because I think scrubs you wear on the street are less sterile than the ones they will provide in the surgical locker room.
-Roy

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Dress up for shadowing, you'd look like a tool if you wear scrubs. Even if it's surgery, if you are spending any time whatsoever outside the OR, dress up.

If you are just going in to watch an operation, wear (decent looking) street clothes to the hospital. They give you scrubs to change into; you didn't think that doctors wear the same scrubs into surgery that they wear on the subway did you?

In fact, as I think about it, there's absolutely no reason at all for a pre-med to even own a pair of scrubs.

The clinical research program I am involved with requires us to wear scrubs, but other than that, no, I certainly would not own a pair.

 

[txprodigal]

are you really not supposed to wear scrubs that you put on at home and wore all the way to the hospital into the OR??

.........

 

[aintlifegrand]

are you really not supposed to wear scrubs that you put on at home and wore all the way to the hospital into the OR??

.........

Yep. The OR that I work at is pretty strict about this. Being as sterile as possible is the name of the game. If people go out to eat for lunch they will change into new scrubs when they come back.

 

[txprodigal]

Yep. The OR that I work at is pretty strict about this. Being as sterile as possible is the name of the game. If people go out to eat for lunch they will change into new scrubs when they come back.

hmm...is this true everywhere...?

 

[Raryn]

hmm...is this true everywhere...?

One of our local hospitals recently got investigated and got in big trouble with the government because their surgeons weren't putting on their scrubs directly in the locker room...

 

[Law2Doc]

One of our local hospitals recently got investigated and got in big trouble with the government because their surgeons weren't putting on their scrubs directly in the locker room...

This is becoming the big controversy/debate nationally. Some places get really upset if you wear scrubs in from home. But yet at many places even where they require docs to change into scrubs in the hospital, the doctors still wear those scrubs while rounding on sick/infectious patients, wear them to the bathroom, the cafeteria, and then go to the OR, so the "not out of the hospital" rule is probably silly. I agree that straight from the lockers to the OR is the only sensible approach, but many hospitals aren't designed for this and rules vary. It also is noted that some forms of surgery have a negligible infection rate (eg. neuro), while others (ortho) have an absurdly high infectious rate, so some are arguing that the rules should be risk dependent. It's a hot topic, much like handwashing was a few years back. so yeah, I wouldn't assume that wearing scrubs in from home is going to be allowed everyplace.

 

[Law2Doc]

If you are a guy, khaki pants or slacks, buttondown shirt, tie optional.

I wouldn't consider tie optional unless they tell you so. So wear one for the first day -- if it is too much, you will be advised of that fact. Most hospitals want folks to "dress professional" if they are seeing patients, which at many places includes the tie. Better to do overkill than look too casual.

 

[NicoDuval]

Just ask. I volunteer in and ER and they told me what color scrubs to wear and we do just wear them from home. When I was shadowing in a private practice I had to dress professionally and they requested that I wear a lab coat. The doctors didn't wear lab coats, but they requested that pre-med and med students wear them. Just call and ask, it is all their preference.

 

[MrAgreeable]

Some places will provide scrubs for you. The same kind they give to the nurses aides. At least that is what I've experienced.