What do I wear when I shadow a PA?
What do I wear when I shadow a PA?
I'm going to be shadowing a PA in the ER and I can't figure out what to wear. Is a tie overkill? I'd like to make a good impression.
Last edited by candyman on Tue Sep 13, 2011 2:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
What do I wear when I shadow a PA?
I think it depends where you are, but yeah, I tend to think a tie is too much. You usually don\'t even see ER docs wearing them. Khakis and a white button-down shirt would probably do for most ERs. As for making a good impression, you\'ll do that by being respectful, attentive, and asking good questions. That\'s my two cents. Maybe others will have ideas...
What do I wear when I shadow a PA?
What Paul said is good. I recently shadowed a PA at meth clinic and although I was asked to dress business casual, I think I was overdressed giving the setting I was in. Clean, well ironed/pressed shirt/no tie, khakis and clean shoes sounds like a good choice.
What do I wear when I shadow a PA?
My opinion, start high and work your way down.
You can always take a tie off, unbutton a collar, or throw on a scrub shirt (they always have extra) if you are too over dressed, but you cannot dress up ripped jeans, and more importantly, you can never re-make a first impression. No, seriously.
When stepping into a professional world, I think it wise to be prepared to make every professional encounter a potential relationship, and what a great place to get a letter of recommendation!
And, let\'s face it, you are going to be a \"sore thumb\". It is not \"whether\" you will fit in, because you won\'t. So just try to figure out what you want to \"stand out\" for. Are you going to be the student who was \"over eager, nicely dressed, looked me in the eye, and wanted to shake every one\'s hand, even the janitors\" (YES!) or \"kid of scruffy, too cool for school, shy, not sure what he was doing here.\" (NO!)
Being over dressed says a couple things: that you respect the job you are shadowing, that you respect the favor the PA is doing for you as a professional interaction, not a \"just for kicks\" encounter, and that you are ready to be involved with what ever level of interactions takes place. Who knows. The president might show up. The news. There might be an important meeting. You are not only representing yourself, you are representing the quality of care to the patients you are caring for, you are representing your PA to their co-workers, and you are representing the profession of PA as a career choice to all who may observe your presence.
You get what I am saying.
And perhaps the best card to play would be to ask. Either by email ahead of time, or when you show up, \"Sorry about the tie. I just didn\'t know what to expect and now I feel a little over dressed.\" That shows that you are sensitive (and you are, because you are asking) and courteous.
Soap box - down.
You can always take a tie off, unbutton a collar, or throw on a scrub shirt (they always have extra) if you are too over dressed, but you cannot dress up ripped jeans, and more importantly, you can never re-make a first impression. No, seriously.
When stepping into a professional world, I think it wise to be prepared to make every professional encounter a potential relationship, and what a great place to get a letter of recommendation!
And, let\'s face it, you are going to be a \"sore thumb\". It is not \"whether\" you will fit in, because you won\'t. So just try to figure out what you want to \"stand out\" for. Are you going to be the student who was \"over eager, nicely dressed, looked me in the eye, and wanted to shake every one\'s hand, even the janitors\" (YES!) or \"kid of scruffy, too cool for school, shy, not sure what he was doing here.\" (NO!)
Being over dressed says a couple things: that you respect the job you are shadowing, that you respect the favor the PA is doing for you as a professional interaction, not a \"just for kicks\" encounter, and that you are ready to be involved with what ever level of interactions takes place. Who knows. The president might show up. The news. There might be an important meeting. You are not only representing yourself, you are representing the quality of care to the patients you are caring for, you are representing your PA to their co-workers, and you are representing the profession of PA as a career choice to all who may observe your presence.
You get what I am saying.
And perhaps the best card to play would be to ask. Either by email ahead of time, or when you show up, \"Sorry about the tie. I just didn\'t know what to expect and now I feel a little over dressed.\" That shows that you are sensitive (and you are, because you are asking) and courteous.
Soap box - down.
What do I wear when I shadow a PA?
Great advice! And thanks to Paul for the forum.
I started shadowing a PA at a clinic in another rural town from where I live and was toiling over what to wear. On one hand I always see my own primary care PA in jeans and untied work boots (with the boot tongue sticking out), and an untucked plaid shirt. Every time... it\'s like his uniform; but man is that guy sharp. It really is reflective of our town. On the other hand I read advice online and my own self telling me, \"This is a professional venture, dress like it.\"
I am so glad I did. I wore dockers, a long sleeve button-up, no tie, but had it in the truck. Shirt and pants pressed. When I saw what my PA was wearing I was surprised. Full dress... from the shoes to a tie bar. I felt fine with what I was wearing, even next to that, but can you imagine how I would have felt and looked had I worn ANYTHING less spify?
It\'s gone well and he\'s made it clear I can come as often as I like, as long as I like.
I started shadowing a PA at a clinic in another rural town from where I live and was toiling over what to wear. On one hand I always see my own primary care PA in jeans and untied work boots (with the boot tongue sticking out), and an untucked plaid shirt. Every time... it\'s like his uniform; but man is that guy sharp. It really is reflective of our town. On the other hand I read advice online and my own self telling me, \"This is a professional venture, dress like it.\"
I am so glad I did. I wore dockers, a long sleeve button-up, no tie, but had it in the truck. Shirt and pants pressed. When I saw what my PA was wearing I was surprised. Full dress... from the shoes to a tie bar. I felt fine with what I was wearing, even next to that, but can you imagine how I would have felt and looked had I worn ANYTHING less spify?
It\'s gone well and he\'s made it clear I can come as often as I like, as long as I like.
What do I wear when I shadow a PA?
Sounds like you\'ve got a good thing going, Aaron. Like most good things, you\'d do well to take care of it - which you did when you decided to play it safe. Smart!
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Sarahbellum
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What do I wear when I shadow a PA?
What are unique good questions to ask PA\'s? I\'ve gotten through all the basic, life story, what do you regret, what could be better, best thing about being a pa, why pediatrics, why ortho, etc. I don\'t want the PA I\'m shadowing to look down at me because I don\'t have an extremely fascinating questions. Also I\'m a HS student so my anatomy isn\'t advanced so I don\'t want to ask silly \"what is that?\" kind of questions.. Sorry for my ranting..
-Thanks, Sarah
-Thanks, Sarah
What do I wear when I shadow a PA?
First: the only dumb/silly question is the one you don\'t ask. Everyone started off not knowing as much as they wanted or needed to. I used to suffer hugely from feeling that I needed to look/sound knowledgeable. But in truth, you\'re there because you don\'t know squat. You know it, the PA knows it, and it\'s okay. Your willingness to be curious, admit when you don\'t understand, and work hard are much more important than how much you know. How much calculus should a college freshman know? Right. None, because they haven\'t taken calculus yet.
Second, you don\'t need to entertain them - just show your honest interest, try to help if you can, and be appreciative. If you try too hard to impress them, you\'re going to come across looking insecure and immature. Those who are sure of themselves don\'t worry about looking stupid or asking a dumb question. They don\'t even think about these things.
Other topics, if you really feel you need them:
What books do they recommend?
What does a crappy day as a PA look like?
Have they ever been in a rough spot when dealing with a doctor?
How long did it take them after PA school to feel like they new what they were doing?
What do they think needs to happen to improve health care? Do they believe in \"single payer\" health insurance (google this if you don\'t know what it is).
Other thoughts, readers?
Second, you don\'t need to entertain them - just show your honest interest, try to help if you can, and be appreciative. If you try too hard to impress them, you\'re going to come across looking insecure and immature. Those who are sure of themselves don\'t worry about looking stupid or asking a dumb question. They don\'t even think about these things.
Other topics, if you really feel you need them:
What books do they recommend?
What does a crappy day as a PA look like?
Have they ever been in a rough spot when dealing with a doctor?
How long did it take them after PA school to feel like they new what they were doing?
What do they think needs to happen to improve health care? Do they believe in \"single payer\" health insurance (google this if you don\'t know what it is).
Other thoughts, readers?
What do I wear when I shadow a PA?
Good questions and thoughts.
So true what you said about being overly invested in needing to look/sound knowledgeable. I think this is a natural tendency and certainly one that I have battled in these situations also. You really can learn more when shadowing as you let go of worrying what the PA is thinking of you at the time. It worked for me! Of course, it is always a work in progress, too.
So true what you said about being overly invested in needing to look/sound knowledgeable. I think this is a natural tendency and certainly one that I have battled in these situations also. You really can learn more when shadowing as you let go of worrying what the PA is thinking of you at the time. It worked for me! Of course, it is always a work in progress, too.