do i need formal cloths?coat & tie?

[desifromnj]

Hi just want to know, do i need any of the formal cloths like coat & tie? and what about the white coat ceremoney, do i have to bring white coat from here or they going to provide me one? thanx

[stateofequilibrium]

Probably not a coat, but a tie for the white coat ceremony.

[Neuro3]

You will need to bring a short white coat with you or buy one from the bookstore here. Probably cheaper to bring one with you. You will need a tie for that and for 3rd and 4th semester as well.

[futuremd786]

why do you need a tie for the 3rd and 4th semester?

[singer]

Futuremd786:

Believe it or not htere is actually a hospital in Dominica. It is fully air conditioned where the air blows in one side and out the other. Not exactly like the good old US hospitals. You will get to go there a couple of times to see what it is like to be a Doctor.

[diphylobrothum]

I dont know about the whole "air blowing thing", but when I was there last semester, there was not alot of anything. No windows open, no fans blowing, in fact, two of the people in our small group actually had to step outside b/c it was too hot too stand for 3 hours. As far as dress cloths, If your anything like me, My shirt was drenched with sweat before I even got to class and If it was raining out, my pants were covered with mud and "soaken"wet. Rule: Just make sure you are comfortable with what you bring with you.


The B12 worm

[futuremd786]

so do you HAVE to wear dress pants and a shirt or is it optional. From the sounds of it..I'm probably going to have to buy some cheap slacks and shirt to wear up there. I'm not going to wear any of my expensive shirts and slacks in such conditions.

Do you have to wear formal shoes w/ that? Or can you simply wear your running shoes?

thanks for the reply.

Oh and the air conditioned hospital thing, I don't really buy it..j/k.

[MitchDC]

Yes, of course you HAVE to dress up in a shirt and tie and dress shoes? Who would wear running shoes with pants and a tie? That is part of professionalism for which you will be graded.

-M

so do you HAVE to wear dress pants and a shirt or is it optional. From the sounds of it..I'm probably going to have to buy some cheap slacks and shirt to wear up there. I'm not going to wear any of my expensive shirts and slacks in such conditions.

Do you have to wear formal shoes w/ that? Or can you simply wear your running shoes?

thanks for the reply.

Oh and the air conditioned hospital thing, I don't really buy it..j/k.

[Gator98MD]

When they take your class picture after the white coat ceremony, you should ask yourself, how do I want to be immortalized? Looking like a schlub in running shoes and jeans or in a tie and dress shirt. You will also need dress clothes for 4th semester ICM, hospital day, and for 3rd semester behavioral orals. If it still works that way. you can always buy some fly threads at James store.;)

[futuremd786]

Yes, of course you HAVE to dress up in a shirt and tie and dress shoes? Who would wear running shoes with pants and a tie? That is part of professionalism for which you will be graded.

-M

Well, if you're spending more than 8 hours on your feet (if you're spending all day at the hospital) and are required to wear dress shoes..I think it's a little unreasonable. You wouldn't want to wear running shoes with a shirt and tie but if I'm going to have to be on my feet all day...I'd rather be comfortable than look good. JMO

[stateofequilibrium]

Well, if you're spending more than 8 hours on your feet (if you're spending all day at the hospital) and are required to wear dress shoes..I think it's a little unreasonable. You wouldn't want to wear running shoes with a shirt and tie but if I'm going to have to be on my feet all day...I'd rather be comfortable than look good. JMO

Wouldn't we all. But if you're getting white coated for basically the purpose of looking good for posterity before you get thrown into the mudhole of medical school life, don't you think it's more appropriate to look good than be comfortable for a few hours for a memory that lasts a life time?

[Dru]

Your comfort is not the issue...if you are entering the patient care arena, whether in the US or Dominica...a good rule of thumb is to wear BUSINESS CASUAL. This means no sandals, no open-toed shoes, no spiked heels, no tight pants, no skirts with your buttocks hanging out, no cleavage showing, no outragous makeup or hair-do. It's a good idea to imagine your worst-case senerio, too. Don't wear hoop earrings or big dangling ones, or you may experience the pain of ripped earlobe. If you decide to wear long nails or a ring or bracelet with lots of intricate work, think about all the bacteria lurking in all the crevices. Always include good hygiene and deodorant in your attire, but not strong perfumes...or you may be intubating your patient for uncontrolled bronchospasms due to your reeking cologne. You can be tasteful and professional, and still be comfortable.

[stateofequilibrium]

Hmmm, I disagree with the no 'skits with your buttocks hanging out.' I'd like to see more of that, though only on qualified people please.

[Maricar82]

What are girls expected to wear for the white coat ceremony? Do we have to wear dresses or is a pantsuit acceptable?

[vitamins]

Girls can wear skirts, dresses, or pants w/ a nice shirt is fine too. Ross has been VERY lenient on females...even in Miami, they get away with wearing open-toed shoes and hoochie outfits all the time...

[Maricar82]

haha thanks.

[alpathmd]

Girls can wear skirts, dresses, or pants w/ a nice shirt is fine too. Ross has been VERY lenient on females...even in Miami, they get away with wearing open-toed shoes and hoochie outfits all the time...

Nice flowerly summer dresses/sun dresses/skirts always look nice so long as they are not "too" revealing. You only get once chance to make a first impression, so don't screw it up.

Open toed shoes can be a problem. Would you want the unexpected happening on your feet?...i can only think of the possibilites.....yuck....just use caution since absolutely ANYTHING can happen.

[stateofequilibrium]

Hoochie definitely will get some of the professors attention though =)

[Dru]

The "not too revealing" is an important aspect of female dress. If you're dealing professionally with an ill patient and family, the last thing they want to see is a gal dressed in a revealing outfit, draping their body parts in plain view. It sort of vaporizes your air of professionalism and dismisses any ability to even appear credible as a health-care provider. You can be attractive without looking like a hooker.

Not wearing open-toe shoes is really important. Hospitals can't screen care-givers parading through with "fungus-among-us" growing between their toes. It's just NOT good form to wear sandals as a health-care professional. The other risk factor is to have a bed or wheelchair roll over your toes, which DOES happen. With closed-toe shoes, you still may get hurt, but at least you have half a chance to minimize the injury, compared to NO chance of protection in sandals. Again, there is also the aspect of professionalism. Some folks have a real fettish for toes, and it's just not proper to expose you piggies in a hospital, no matter how cute they are.

Business-casual means you're not gussied up to go to a party, nor are you dressed down. It used to mean, if you'd wear it to church, it was business casual, but I guess this is no longer true...people in churches show up in anything any more.

By the way, artificial nails are OUT. Don't even think of trying to wear them in the hospitals. The latest studies would turn your stomach re. the transmission of MRSA and fungus with those things. As far as nail-polish, most institutions are saying a maximum of 4 days old, or remove it earlier if it is chipped. Nail length is regulated to 3 mm in some insitutions.