Friday, November 12, 2010

Don't Take Me Alive

Finally, one of our bloggers has opined about a concern that many industry professionals in spine, let alone the orthopaedic market, have been concerned about for many years.   Why do sales reps dress in operating room scrubs when they go to work?   TSB must concur with this blogger.  Never in the history of my career have I left the house in scrubs, nor, have I made a sales call in scrubs.  I mean common, WTF?  That's why they put those clean scrubs in the doctor's dressing room, dude and dudettes.  Besides, the girls don't look sexy with their pumps in scrubs.  On numerous occasions TSB has written about the untimely death of the art of selling.  Much to the readers' dismay, we have been accused of being outdated, or out of touch.  What has happened to our sense of professionalism?  TSB's granddaddy always said; "people judge you as they see you."  Unfortunately, this isn't just an indictment of the sales rep, this is an outright indictment on the lax attitude that those that run these companies promulgate.  Laissez-faire equals lazy sales people.  Cover your case, and go home.  Money, Money, Money.  Then we wonder why companies are cutting back on commissions and investors have total disdain for salespeople, and would like to cut us completely out of the picture.  But who created this culture?  The Stryker's, the Danek's, the Synthe's, the DePuy's.  TSB sees many of these make belief/wannabe surgeons standing in line at Starbucks every morning or running around the hospital.  To top it off, some of these people  do not even change when they get to their next account.  How aspectic is that technique?  Do some of you know what that word even means in the English lexicon?

The reason selling has died is because with the advent of consulting fees and under-the-table deals we no longer sell product, we buy business.   Let the first company that doesn't do this throw the first stone.  But remember what Donald Fagen once sang:

Can you hear the evil crowd, the lies and the laughter, I hear my inside, the mechanized hum of another world, where no sun is shining,  no red lights flashing, here in this darkness, I know what I've done, I know at once who I am.....  I'm a bookkeeper's son, I don't what to shoot no one,  don't take me alive.

104 comments:

  1. Excellent post. This has been one of my pet peeves for a long time. I have always told my reps if they want to be just service people then the pay will reflect that reality. We pay our folks to sell.... and no golf shirts to work either.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The larger companies do make branded scrubs... I always think, dress for your next job; maybe some sales reps do, in fact, think they will become surgeons.
    Worse case I've seen... how about a blazer worn over scrubs. Nice try man, nice try...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hallelujah. Is it only about the almighty dollar? I remember working for Synthes and getting dressed everyday. I see the current generation, you know GenX and you would think they all went to med school.....Want to play doctor, become one. Want to look like a nurse? Go to nursing school...... You're either a business person or you're a wannabe. Amen TSB, great post with a nice dark ending.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for finally calling out these lazy, half-ass, wannabees. I can't stand them!
    I've heard one or more say they think it makes them more professional. Really?! lmao

    Dude, put on a pair of slippers and call it a day. You make me want to puke... lazy ass pajama wearing hacks!
    I've never worn the scrubs to sales calls and those who do are worthless in my eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  5. True dat. Just lazy. Most OR's require you to wear their scrubs in their O.R.'s to keep the numb nuts out.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Many reps do this because their lazy doctors are doing the same thing! I know two surgeons who wear the same scrubs from home to the clinic and into the OR- never once changing them! No wonder MRSA is everywhere!

    By the way, here is an intersting article about doctor dress codes:

    Nothing to Sneeze At: Doctors' Neckties Seen as Flu Risk
    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125859205137154753.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. I see them now -

    Poppin bottles in the ice, like a blizzard
    When we drink we do it right gettin slizzard
    Sippin sizzurp in my ride, like Three 6
    Now I’m feelin so fly like a G6
    Like a G6, Like a G6
    Now I’m feelin so fly like a IDIOT.

    ReplyDelete
  8. those who wear suits everyday look like pharma reps walking around doctors offices.. also if you are going to an account where no changing facilities are available and your suit winds up hanging over a dumpster in the back hallway and shirts and ties dissapear, while you are wearing paper scrubs, it makes more sense to wear scrubs in, and put the paper over. Suits are appropriate for meetings and dinners and a lot of other situations, but a confident rep does not need the "pharma" rep look with the perfect coiffed hair and city slicker suit to get a surgeons respect. don't be a stuffed suit because the docs see you comin' and they go a runnin'

    ReplyDelete
  9. I too was once a "never wear scrubs to work" guy. I had two offices I could never get into when wearing a suit. Guess what? When I wear scrubs, I walk through the doors and speak to whomever I wish. I still think it's unprofessional to wear scrubs on a sales call but hey, in this day and age I'll do whatever it takes for access.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think it is a question of knowing when to dress appropriately. just like a doctor should pick the right procedure for the right patient, we should wear a suit when the situation requires it. I admit that I dress down more often than I should but we are not the only to blame. I have hospitals that will not provide scrubs to the reps,we have to bring our own in. Laxity in dress code is a culture that is growing in our industry. It is not the only trend, surely we can find one that is positive to speak about on this blog eventually.

    ReplyDelete
  11. maybe some of these prima donna boys have gophers to run around and deliver trays all day and cover cases while they wear their new suits and deliver their bagels to their sales calls, some of us work 16 hour days pulling carts of trays, inside OR's, in Central Sterile, etc, SO some days it makes sense to wear scrubs to work. If you are in a suit Every day, you are making lots of sales calls, but getting no cases. your numbers must be in the basement.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Come on Man!!
    You have to be kidding me. You basically just told us you don't really work that hard. If you have time to change out of your 3 piece suit 8 times per day you're a better man than me. Every time you need to go to a different SPD dept., or run trays in somewhere, or go to 3 different cases, you're taking off your suit and throwing it on some blood stained locker room floor? Bullsht.
    Put on a suit for a meeting, no brainer. Change your scrubs before you go in the OR, no shit. Everything else you said is indicative of you forgetting what it's like on the streets. Get off your high horse.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a ridiculous post. I have been in Spine for 6 years and have worn scrubs to the hospital literally hundreds of times. So does my boss at times. If im in cases from 7am-7pm, why on earth should I leave a 500 dollar suit in a dirty locker room with no locker? All hospitals require you to wear their scrubs/paper scrubs anyway. Im getting to the hospital before my surgeons and generally leaving after them. Sales calls are a diff story. Professional attire is warranted there, but to piggy back some of the previous posts, wearing a suit in a drs office is like wearing a pharma rep billboard. Ive had drs/staff laugh at me for being in a "monkey suit" as they call it in the dead of summer. The bottom line is, I can sell spine in a suit, in scrubs, or in my underwear...because ive built the relationships to do that. Terrible post

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hey 2:40. If you are in cases everyday from 7am to 7pm then you need to upgrade to a better suit, or work out a better comp plan. Maybe you'll impress someone in the industry to promote you. Thats why your boss wears suits sometimes.

    Denial is dangerous. Ask you self this question - Have I done business with anyone in the last 90 days that I didn't do business with 90 days prior to that? Be honest with us and yourself. If not, I hate to break it to you - Your a service rep, not a sales rep.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Post 2:56 is Dale Carnegie, get a clue pal and lets get back to reality.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm rolling commando in my scrubs! F off and wear what you want to wear. Where do you get off judging me? I'm going to do a jig on your suit the next time I see it in the locker room. Jerk.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hey 2:40

    No one is talking about wearing a suit. But let's be serious, you're not making sales calls in scrubs, at least not on my watch.... How about a nice pair of slacks a button down shirt and weather permitting at least a sport jacket. If you don't believe that, how many times have I heard someone compliment me or my employees and make a comment about how the other reps dress. Wearing sneakers is bogus, Are you heading for a pick-up game of basketball? You ever hear of the book "Dress for Success." It' s not called "Dressdown for Success." Most of my surgeon friends dress in a shirt and tie or at least presentable garb under their lab coats in the office. Stop with the pharma analogy. Do you actually worry about what other people say? You must, by your response to this post.. Have a mind of your own and you'll get further in life than running with the pack. That just my opinion. Some can call this a terrible post, but you know what, what you see is what you get. The reason they call someone a professional is because they look and act the part. Eventually, everyone grows up. Come back in five years and let us know whether you're still wearing scrubs.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Larry Carlton's guitar work on "Don't take me alive" is unbelievable. Trivia fact: He nailed the guitar work for the whole song on the first take. Only time Becker, Fagan and Katz didn't work the dub machine on every part of every song. Wait, isn't this a music blog?

    ReplyDelete
  19. I wear a disposable thong in the O.R.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I hate to admit it but every person I read on this post that says you have to wear a suit every step outside of the OR is either too old for this job or or too stupid and lazy to do it. In other words, Regional Manager. Too often we are put down as worthless reps. Most reps bust their asses because this is a commission based job. That means we are motivated to do the best job we can. You can not tell me that every rep is too lazy to change out. The truth is change is usually brought along because of necessity. Like it or not, reps work hard and wear what is appropriate for the setting they are in most of the time. If you cant handle that, retire or go back to your home office and act like you are working in your pretty clothes.

    ReplyDelete
  21. "do you actually worry about what other people say?" -MM

    No, I don't care what you say about my choice of attire. I know it is the most practical thing for me to wear. I change my scrubs when I go in to the OR, and I put on a suit to meet with a surgeon.

    The question is, why do you care so much about what I am wearing? Typical liberal thought process. Why do you feel the need to control everything? Do you just think you know better than me?

    ReplyDelete
  22. This really is a dumb post. Who cares what you wear? 2:40 is right, office visits call for professional or business attire, no one is arguing that. If you're spending a full day in the OR, then go in scrubs. Doesn't mean you're lazy, service rep, or not "selling to diff customers from the previous 90 days." I do 90% of my selling in the hospital anyway. The offices are packed with pharma reps and other reps with no business carrying lunches. As for the quoting of painful sales books, let's save that for training fellas

    ReplyDelete
  23. You don't need to wear suit to look professional. Wear a nice pair of pants and a dress shirt. If you wear scrubs, that's what you are. A scrub.

    ReplyDelete
  24. If you wear a suit, that's what you are, a suit

    ReplyDelete
  25. Who the f cares what I'm wearing?

    Next topic please!

    Why don't you tell us what kind of breakfast we should be eating? It's important to have enough fuel to get us through the day. What does Dale Carnegie suggest? Inquiring minds want to know.

    ReplyDelete
  26. 2:40 and 4:18 are right on

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous 3:56

    Check out Jon Herrington's guitar work on the latest SD tour. He'll give Carlton a run for his money. Love Carlton, Baxter and Ritenour them boyz are real playa's.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love this discussion!!! Having been around for a while, I easily recall the days when nobody would dare wear scrubs outside of the OR. Took some getting used to see some reps start to do it, and now it clearly makes sense on some occasions. But every post saying that it looks unprofessional is probably right. It does. Bottom line in my book, if you've got a day filled with cases and hauling trays, as 2:40 states, then sure, be comfortable and if you bump into a doc at the coffee line, they'll understand. But if you're even remotely considering dropping in on a doc outside the OR, put on the "monkey" suit and dress like a professional.

    ReplyDelete
  29. 2 stolen suits, countless times coming back and seeing my cloths thrown down on the dirty ground. OR days scrubs, office days business attire. I also keep a change of clothes in the cars in case a OR turns into a office day or a dinner/drinks get set up during the case.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Scrubs help me roll by hospital security when I am restocking trays or cleaning up or dropping off trays. When I have 3 hospitals to set up and they are all 60 miles or more apart... F-it I am sporting scrubs. Golf shirts on days in the summer when ACDF 's are the only case on the schedule. If you've ever had something nice messed up after you pick up your junk at fedex hfpu, you will lean towards scrubs. Suits all day for office calls, hospital admin meetings, flights to corporate.

    ReplyDelete
  31. next topic plz. Obviously things have changed. This is like "breaking starch" in the military. Get over it you old bastards. How about these over weight managers? Lubishers a slob

    ReplyDelete
  32. the people that say that a suit is necessary all of the time have a big old stick up their ass. Scrubs are great when you know you will be in the OR all day, service rep or not. If you go on a sales call in scrubs than you probably not in the right business.

    ReplyDelete
  33. There has been a consistent dilution of professionalism in medical device for quite some time and the attire is just a symptom. I remember interviewing in '94 for my first spinal implant gig and there were 125 candidates in the IBM uniform, blue suit, white shirt, conservative tie, shined shoes, etc. Nepotism, hookers, glorified scrub techs, ex-professional athletes and the like have all contributed to this watering down of professionalism. A true, consultative medical device sales executive should always dress in business attire regardless if you need to change or not for surgery. But rest assured, the correction in the market will eliminate 50% or better of the jokers out there and the companies that they work for, which is a good thing.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Love this topic; have been following blog for month or two. I'm an O.R. Nurse of 15 years and was thinking about becoming a rep. Your blog good way to gather some info. Back to subject. I Hate all you damn bastards showing up to my hospital in scrubs! Infection? Dah? I'm not proposing you arrive in suit, be approiate. Summer-slacks, shirt. Spring-slacks, shirt, tie. Use your best judgement. Remember many of us RN's working with you make less than you and the techs, SPD staff; way less than you. Use our scrubs upon arrival or bring your own and change into them. Hell, you'll probably have more time TALKING to us OR peeps in locker room about bullshit things rather than waste my OR time. Come prepared, come professional, be a resource, don't kiss my (our) asses, don't put your competition down, don't act all high and mighty. OK I'll shut up now. Be cool, look cool, and those of you doing as I've suggested THANK YOU for being that one out of say 20 that really are professional!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Wear scrubs to work, but CHANGE into a fresh pair before you step foot in my OR. Same goes for residents, nurses, surgeons.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Interesting that some have the luxury of being a sales rep without servicing the sales they make. You sell so that you can prove your service. Anybody can sit in an office and talk about how much better their screw is than someone else's, but it is the trust you have developed with your surgeon customers that keep the sales coming month after month. My surgeons don't care what I wear as long as I get the job done for them. Too many reps don't have any idea what they are selling and it shows when they get to surgery. But they sure are dressed nice.

    ReplyDelete
  37. When I see a suit, my first instinct is to walk the other way. The reps I use wear scrubs, as I always see them working in or immediately around the OR. The overdressed kids that come up to the office for sales lunches are usually clueless. I think in our appearance-obsessed society, looking smart is too often used as the substitute for being smart. My humble advice: spend less time reading "Dress for Success" and more time reading about spine surgery. The doc cares about your knowledge and commitment, not your tailor.

    ReplyDelete
  38. "TSB sees many of these make belief/wannabe surgeons standing in line at Starbucks every morning or running around the hospital." Really TSB? Sounds like you're jumping to conclusions about what people think of themselves. And are you going to call out nurses and techs who run around in scrubs? They must be "make belief/wannabe surgeons" too right?
    I'm not a surgeon wannabe. I'm just tired of paying a ton in new clothes because many ORs can't spring for a cheap set of hooks to hang up rep clothes. I've even offered to pay for and install them myself. I bring in hangers to some ORs. So for a long time I've been keeping a suit in the car for meetings. Unless TSB or someone else is going to pay me for damaged clothes, I wear scrubs on all long surgical days.

    ReplyDelete
  39. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Spine Doc 1:

    No offense, but many of us "old-timers" were hired when companies had real educational training programs in effect. You know, you couldn't go into the field unless you passed a proficiency test. Unfortunately, everything is driven by money and time. You know generate revenue to satisfy the investors ASAP. As for an appearance obsessed society? You must be kidding, have you ventured outside your office and the hospital? You must be an old-timer because I have never seen these so-called "kids" that you mention in our industry, dressed. Just an observation. But I must ask you, "How stereotypical are you," that if I walked up to you dressed business casual that you would walk away from me? That's a bit shallow. Selling is like dating, you're courting the prospective candidate. You're probing, qualifying and hoping to close. I must therefore assume that when you went out on a date with your girlfriend, or your wife, or your significant other, you wore your scrubs? Unlike the previous blogger whose comments were, let's just say, not stated with je ne sais quoi, no one here is saying that you need to wear a suit, but if you worked for me and I signed your checks, scrubs in the O.R. ....at least business casual on sales calls. If you think we're in the minority, just read the comments. But then again, is this a reflection of a much greater problem in American society? No rules, no boundaries, its a free-for-all, all that matters is the almighty dollar? You be the judge

    ReplyDelete
  41. MM I agree totally with you. I admit I am an old timer. When I started, all reps wore suits, no exception. I don't remember exactly when this whole scrub business started but I see it as just pure lazy. I don't wear suits anymore but business casual, as the rest of society has moved to.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Are we seriously worrying about what our competitors are wearing? Because that's basically what were doing here.

    Wear scrubs, don't wear scrubs. Who cares. I've been doing this for over ten years, some of my competitors wear scrubs around for whatever reason, some don't. That's how it is, I tell my reps to be professional and respect the office/clinical setting. If it's a big OR day, ok, throw scrubs on.

    It's not rocket surgery.

    Like pops told me- mind your own farm, if done right, they'll buy your crop.

    ReplyDelete
  43. As someone who works in the corporate office, I have to say this is the best exchange to date on this blog. I love you guys.

    ReplyDelete
  44. If you wear scrubs then most likely you stole them from a hospital. I know how cheap agents and reps are, so I know your not buying the scrubs you wear. Granted, some mfgs give them out, but 9 times out of 10 you probably took them from a hospital that you service.

    Is it a good idea to steal from your customer? How does that help build "trust" with them? Also, what do you do if one hospital has green scrubs but your wearing blue scrubs? Do you think that goes unnoticed? c'mon man...

    I realize that a suit is a bit much particularly is some areas, but MM is right, a pair of slacks/kakis with a shirt go a long way. We "old guys" as one blogger called us are still here. I hope that you make through the shark tank as long as we have. I must also agree with MM's comment that we were far better trained than anything available today. Don't be a slob, carry on our craft in a professional manner. It really isn't that difficult.

    ReplyDelete
  45. agree with Anon. 9:18--defeats the whole purpose of scrubs if you wear them in and out of surgical suite--hospitals require all kinds of proof of vaccines and tests for RepTrax (excuse me, RepTax) and then let reps stroll in with scrubs that they have worn all day--makes no sense.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Technically any time someone walks out of the OR suite to the cafeteria, clinic, car etc. They are supposed change their scrubs to a fresh pair. Did we all forget about aseptic technique?

    ReplyDelete
  47. ms. 8:56 O holy R.N.-- you talk like reps are treated like humans in your institution... we are not allowed to use the locker rooms to change, and when we are , there are no hooks or lockers, How would you like to go to work dressed in a suit and find it on the floor with your shirt and T shirt and tie? Also, you strut around in your clogs which are O.R. appropriate, yet you want us to stand in 8 hour cases in black dress shoes?? I guess we should carry in "clogs" and leave our shoes in the holding room.. Take some time to educate yourself about how reps are treated and you will see why we dress "practical" for your hospital !! All you full time "suits" - my territory numbers smoke yours, so keep your daytime catering job

    ReplyDelete
  48. i think people are getting confused with the idea that reps wear the scrubs from home INTO the OR... when i wear scrubs into a facility i change INTO THEIR scrubs before going into the OR, you guys are acting like we wear the scrubs from home into the surgery...get a clue... i wear scrubs quite a bit actually because my cases are growing and so are my numbers. when i see a surgeon at a hospital it is usually in the OR, lounge, scrub sink, etc where i would be in their scrubs regardless.....

    do you want a surgeon to remember your tie or what you were saying to him?

    ReplyDelete
  49. Great topic MM ! I laugh at the reps. wearing the scrubs. If your that good, it shouldn't matter how much a suit costs. Been selling in spine for 15 years, copiers for 7 years prior. In my opinion, not many "pure sales reps" out there anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  50. To: Nov 13, 3:55PM
    This is 8:56 RN. Mr. RN not Ms. to you. Glad to see the facility I work at does treat reps to locker rooms. I don't wear panzy ass clogs either. Most times I wear rubber boots, in trauma alot 12hr shifts. "...Educate myself how reps should be treated..." I'd throw you out of my OR with that disrespect. Ones like you give your clan a bad name. My post was postitive towards you/your peers, dress approiately was my message. Obviously you're not highly respected in a facility without lockers/hooks...if you were you should be able to convice them the value it would bring you with warm and fuzzys. Man up

    ReplyDelete
  51. Right on RN ! This 3:55 (I was going to say guy, but not sure on that one) must be a youngin'. Complaining about standing for 8 hours in shoes ?, come on. Sounds like a pharma rep convert to me.

    ReplyDelete
  52. maybe you do 5:14, but I've seen a lot who don't--out of their car and straight into surgery--what intrigues me about this practice is that everyone seems to condone it--

    ReplyDelete
  53. I love it when I see scrubs in the airport...seriously? You're not that busy.

    ReplyDelete
  54. @11:44 pm Mr R.N. you obviously have a typical case of a male nurse who is making up for his discomfort by using power. The -( i will throw you out") quote. Very typical- here's the psychology- outside of the hospital environment with your family and friends and neighbors you always are very self aware of your Male nurse status( meet the fockers)..So you have to make up some self empowerment by being on a power trip in the O.R. which is why you have been considering becoming a rep.. but in the meantime you will ensure that you "control' reps . How childish.. Most reps are well versed in protocol and are very professional inside an O.R. We behave as well if not better than most staff... So change your career if you are unhappy, but don't take out your frustration on everyone for a few bad apples. How come the female R.N.s are for the most part more appreciative of us? must be a testosterone thing...

    ReplyDelete
  55. Reps in scrubs walking into a hospital are busy doing cases and selling across their portfolio to docs during the course of the day with discussions in a consultative way. Mr 24/7 suit is trying to get in the door with donuts and coffee and lunch, and are still trying to get friendly with the receptionist in the window.

    ReplyDelete
  56. 6:41 - you are a total asshole in addition to an arrogant shite! With your acute analytical ability and grasp of psychology one must ask why didn't you become a shrink. I bet its probably because you are too lazy to do what is necessary to become a doctor, so you try to dress like one everyday instead. Don't attempt to justify and make excuses for being a scrub thief and germ vector. You are a bully and obviously very impressed with yourself.

    Have you sold anything in the last 90 days to anybody that you didn't sell to 90 days before that. Probably not balloon knot.

    ReplyDelete
  57. 9:23 am Wow , what a potty mouth, is that you Mr R.N. ? Better stick to sponge baths and bedpans. No Device company will hire a potty mouth like you

    ReplyDelete
  58. It takes me the same amount of time to change out of a shirt, tie and pants as it does to change out a pair of scrubs. In my opinion, the reps wearing scrubs throughout the day are trying to belong. Here's a tip, dress well and give great service. Most of the meals I see in the offices are from spine reps and drug reps. I am happy being an instrument guy, no plates and screws for me.

    ReplyDelete
  59. 2:46 & 3:00 - It isn't Mr. RN. Why didn't you answer the question? So, I have to assume that you haven't sold anything new in the last 90 days, so i was right on - you are an over-paid, self-important, service rep.

    By the way, I don't do lunches and I don't do consulting agreements, but this "old-timer" does make new sales so little self important jerks like you can drive around in your pajamas and feel important. Thats how sales professionals roll amigo. When the tit runs dry, and it will, you and your lazy peers will be the first to go.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Mr. RN here:
    To 6:41
    No I'm not on some power trip. As said. I commend reps dressing appropriately. I don't have to be a rep; was thinking about it. But don't need it.
    And 6:41 you are an a-hole.
    I don't have a family. They (wife/infant son) lifes were taken short by drunk driver 2 yrs ago.
    I notice new, young reps need to be verses more in OR. Most seasoned reps do not.

    ReplyDelete
  61. @3:14 Old timer, you sound like an old timer, well, us new youngsters are a new breed where we do things different. Bigger, stronger, better
    Time for you to retire

    ReplyDelete
  62. As far as being a service rep, what rep doesn't spend a lot of his/her time in the OR? The ones that aren't making quota. If I sent an ASR into my surgeon's room every day, they would find someone else that would spend their time in the room. As a matter of fact, I have gotten quite a bit of new business because of that.

    ReplyDelete
  63. this is for Mr. RN,
    my sympathy for the loss of your family. i'm a OR RN too and have found balance by working few weekend shifts in OR as RN and during week work as case coverage rep, been good for me.
    I've given up asking reps to change into our scrubs but it is refreshing when a new one ask to do so. we have good reps and not so good. the not so goods don't last more than few months. Reps show us a little respect we are licensed you are not. thank you to great reps we work with here in TX and good luck to the not so good ones in whatever your new field is.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Hey 5:25. I'm reminded of a famous line in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - "There are two kinds of people in the world Tuko. Those with guns and those who dig...You dig." Yeah that covers it. You get your big, strong, and better ass in the hole and dig. I'm going to use my brain and superior professional selling skills to work smarter. Maybe you can service my new business. Don't forget your pajamas and sneakers.

    ReplyDelete
  65. you gotta love the "old timers", you wear your suits and i'll wear my scrubs on OR days and keep taking your business piece-by-piece. Am i a wannabe surgeon? thought never crossed my mind but now that i think about i would rather not; i am pretty happy how things are going, but i couldn't blame a rep if he/she wanted to be...it's a prestigious and lucrative career.

    and for those of you who want to use "service rep" as an insult, your idiots.. we are ALL service reps, at least us good reps. I SELL to get my products in the surgeons hands' and my SERVICE is what keeps me coming back. If you do not provide outstanding service you will not be around for long...get it?

    and i couldn't agree more with the post stating that SOME RN nurses are bitter with some reps due to their own insecurities. they feel that they NEED to be in control and have power over "something" because of their insecurities and consistently being scrutinized by surgeons.

    Back to the scrubs topic. I wear scrubs to a facility on heavy caseload days, it is by far the most practical thing to do for me. it is not hurting my relationships, #'s, image, etc. It;s about what i bring to the table as a rep and not what i wear

    and "have i sold anything in the past 90 days to anyone new?" Yes. and i was probably wearing scrubs when i was talking to the surgeon when it happened

    have fun picking out your tie tomorrow morning.... i'll be in cases staring @ 7

    ReplyDelete
  66. 8:34, how many hospitals do you call on ?

    ReplyDelete
  67. You missed the entire point of the post. It's just not about making sales calls in your scrubs, you represent an organization so your job is not to only cover cases, it is to look like a business person. If you are wearing your scrubs from one account to another and going into the operating room, you are tracking dirt and bacteria. Nosocomial infections are a by-product of germs. By the way sonny, over 90,000 people die every year from hospital acquired infections, hopefully you won't be standing in the room when someone's mother or father is being operated on. By the way, based on your syntax doesn't look like your bringing much to game outside of being a warm body. Peace

    ReplyDelete
  68. MM, let me get this straight. If i wear scrubs from one facility to the next and change into their scrubs prior to entering the OR core i would be tracking infectious bacteria in and out? BUT if i do the same with a suit everything is safe? please explain..... i would think the tracking of infectious bacteria via clothing would halt in the men's locker room where you would change into THEIR scrubs regardless if your in a suit, scrubs, gorilla costume, etc.

    and you wouldn't have the slightest clue what i bring to the game. based on your syntax it sounds like you were getting your ass handed to you by some young'ns in scrubs..... it's easy to ridicule and tell individuals how to do their business when your on the outside looking in, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  69. Glad to see no one has a strong opinion on this topic.

    The fact is that the lazy entitlement generation and the "look" at me I'm in the OR (think I'm a doctor)douches believe this is OK. It is both filthy and unprofessional and you are a fool to think otherwise. Whether you know it or not you are loosing business because of your choices. I can hear you now "F anyone who doesn't like it"! Yes, F them but realize you will never have that business and it is your own fault.

    ReplyDelete
  70. 6:49 - please stop. With each and every post that you make you show your ignorance and naivite. you really sound like an idiot. So you leave home in scrubs, then change into scrubs at each facility you go to. Right...?

    If you are changing at each facility, why not wear a button down shirt and some slacks in case you meet the CEO, competing surgeon or some other influencer at the hospital? I'm sure their impressed with your stolen pajamas and sneakers.

    Lastly, why don't you man-up tough guy and apologize to Mr. RN for being an insensitive little shit. Pride cometh before the fall. Get ready my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  71. 8:08, actually i bought my pajamas, yes, i know it sounds crazy but they have stores that sell scrubs, i know because certain facilities want the rep to bring in certain "colored" scrubs, ie; Hospital A=black scrubs for vendors, hospital B= black bottoms, yellow tops for vendors, etc, etc. and for the past 9 years i havent met a CEO in the locker room or on the way to the locker room. Competing surgeons? typically see them in the CORE when i am already in scrubs.. Mr. RN, i'll apologize when you get off your "power trip", I LOVe my RN's, OR managers, scrub techs, and treat EVERYONE as I would like to treated but there are some who jerks regardless of how you treat them, and they can take a hike. and get ready for what my friend? another great (112% trending to quota) year? i'm ready....

    and do i want to be a doctor? no, like i said i am happy with my life and i have a family (most surgeons i know are divorced or on their 2nd or 3rd wives/husbands)

    ReplyDelete
  72. Wow, you are an embarrassment! Best you stay anonymous.

    ReplyDelete
  73. I love this topic....

    Only thing more absurd than a scrub clad rep at Starbucks is a scrub clad rep at the airport, getting on a plane.

    Give me a break and act like a businessman, not like a guy who slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night

    ReplyDelete
  74. I doubt those that contend they are changing into scrubs once they get to a new OR are being honest. JMO

    ReplyDelete
  75. Great topic. 10:34am probably tells his young children in the morning, "Daddy has to go do surgery now". Without a doubt, he is part of the entitlement generation. Let me guess, you have a vette you drive on the weekends too. RN, you are spot on with your analysis.

    ReplyDelete
  76. no vette, Range Rover and it's a nice one.

    Unfortunately i do not have the opportunity to say to my kids "daddy has to go to surgery now" i am typically out the house by 6 for a day of cases, you probably wouldn't know what i am talking bout... your probably still sleeping, dreaming about what color tie your should wear with your charcoal gray suit.....in the meantime i'm making the $$$.

    RN is obviously bitter that he is not in devices, doesn't take a surgeon (lol) to figure that out. otherwise, why would he be on a spine device/industry blog site???

    and for not changing out of your scrubs once you get to the hospital, that would be an obvious violation and it would be blatant.... most scrubs from hospitals are branded and if yours is not or a different color (shade) you will be called out by the staff, not to mention it would be gross, i would never bring home scrubs that were in the OR.....

    ReplyDelete
  77. There are many types of people that follow this blog, reps, surgeons, RN's, investment companies.... Of course you have a Range Rover, very predictable for someone like yourself, bet is has chromed out wheels and the works. We can see and smell you coming down the road. Are you parking in the surgeons lot too ? Two income family, kids live in day care, you schedule time with the kids in your appointment book, fake boobs on the wife, lives on FaceBook. And we can go on. I wish you the best of luck SPINE GOD, hope you are running your own distributorship soon. Rock on !

    ReplyDelete
  78. By the way, thanks for making me look that much more professional to my customers. YOU are the one they laugh at when you leave the room.

    ReplyDelete
  79. 2:47 pm, your utter lack of self-awareness is absolutely amazing. Take a step back and listen to yourself... Please, please, just stop posting on this topic...

    ReplyDelete
  80. Thank you 3:39 ! Let's all move on to the new posts. He shall return and we know how to spot her.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Range Rover= check
    chrome wheels- no, but you gave me an idea
    park in surgeons parking? No
    two income family? No, wife stays at home= no day care
    fake boobs? yup, they are nice too
    schedule time with kids? no, i see them when i get home from work and have a great relationship with them.
    facebook account? yeah, she does
    Spine god? i'm flattered but no...but i am working on it...stay tuned

    ReplyDelete
  82. One of my Doctors switched from wearing scrubs in the office to a suit and he says patients respond better to him in the suit versus the scrubs.

    ReplyDelete
  83. I live in Boston. In 22 years, I have never seen a surgeon see patients in scrubs in clinic, other than a quick emergency visit. Why? Is it because they want to appear more professional?

    ReplyDelete
  84. In an epic twist of irony, I had my italian leather belt (that I bought on my honeymoon in Italy) and my tie stolen out of the OR locker room TODAY. So until hospital's stop hiring lowlife scum, and start giving us lockers, I'll continue to show up in my pajamas...its cheaper

    ReplyDelete
  85. i have seen one of the most successful distributor principals for a huge territory ( for one of the Big 3) on a regular basis wear golf shirts during meeting with surgeons. He has well upwards of 50 million a year business, easily if not 75. Maybe he needs advice from you little ants who keep Dress for Success on your night table stand and tell your wife you're a hero. Tony Robbins, rah rah rah

    ReplyDelete
  86. I bet he would never wear pajamas to work you dumbass. That's the point slacks/khakis and a decent shirt, not pajamas and sneakers.

    Your a moron. He's your competition and you don't even know what his sales are... $50M or $75M. He is dressed biz casual, not pajama party casual. That's why you work for the man. Thanks again for showing how stupid you are.

    ReplyDelete
  87. @4:47 hey slumber brain, someone posted they do not allow their reps to wear golf shirts, only suits, this was in reponse to their post,
    do you get out much, or just be mr angry online 24/7

    ReplyDelete
  88. Wear want you want. At the end of the day we are all just trying to rip out that jamme and kill that bootnanie.

    ReplyDelete
  89. Mr. RN here,
    Ladies/gents. Not on some power trip. We have many great reps I'm working with. Some newbees seem to need little guidance you know. I've followed blog to get better understanding what spine company I may want to work with, don't want to be MD, not on power trip, doing my research. As said before, think reps should use their better judgement in dressing for their daily schedule/activity.

    ReplyDelete
  90. I wear scrubs. I used to wear suits and change 5 times a day. By the end of the day, the suit looks like sh*t, wrinkled and dirty from the dressing room floor where it ends up. Hospitals in my area DO NOT require you to change into their scrubs, they used to but all of themn have changed their policies for vendors and nurses (they wear theirs in from home as well). For credentialing, I have read reams of policy but nowhere does it require the changing of scrubs upon entering or exiting the OR. I wear scrubs with my distributor logo from home and into every account and never change. Never have I been questioned. One account requires that we wear a vest to identify us as vendors. We must buy the vest and bring it with us anytime we are in the facility. They do not provide laundering for the vests, so even if we changed scrubs, the vest still has dog hair and chili stains.

    It sounds like a breach of sterile technique to me, but that is how the hospitals around here operate, they do not provide scrubs even if I wanted to change (only for the surgeons).

    As far as sales attire, I still wear scrubs. I consider myself more of a technical, consultative rep than a good ol boy with a constant supply of donuts and sandwiches. Rarely do I need to schedule a lunch to get time with a doc to present a new product. Most prefer to give me time between cases. When I do go to the office, I still wear scrubs. I think it separates you from the reps who don't have the credibility to walk in and talk shop. If they see you in a suit, they think "he's trying to sell me something" and they slink away.

    Just my opinion, I've done it both ways and seem to get a more comfortable response in scrubs.

    ReplyDelete
  91. 7:30pm shhh !! don't tell them our secrets, let them pick their ties ever so carefully every morning with thoughts of conversions dancing through their heads. Let them think the suits the way to go. We know the docs like the "technical, consultative, type of rep" not the city slicker with the overly large wrist watch and pinkie ring,
    meanwhile we continue to dominate

    ReplyDelete
  92. 4:57
    My god you are an ass. You can tell by the way you argue you are nothing but a case coverer who inherited a territory next to corporate HQ or was placed their by your surgeon brother-in-law. Easy to be a big wig online but spout all you want you miss the great picture. I hope you are saving all your gold for a rainy day because it is coming soon. Your Range Rover speaks volumes as to who you are and the attitude you exude. Don't think, as you put it, "my RN's, OR managers, scrub techs," don't pay close attention to your coming's and going's. News flash: they are not YOURS! And when the shit hits the fan that's when you'll see what they really think of you. I know who you are and I can tell you your competition loves having you to compete against. Your as superficial as your wife's ta ta's.
    BTW...your right, they do feel nice ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  93. Range Rover guy here,

    i'm not 4:57 BTW, but since you are envious of my life i did not want to leave you hanging. territory wasn't doing great when i was handed it but in fairness it wasn't horrible either. Oh, and it's no where near HQ. Thanks for thinking of me as a 'big wig", i'm flattered.... and i know the RN's, scrub techs, etc are not "mine" dipshit... your REALLY knit-picking here, aren't you? I think your neck tie is too tight. My apologies, i should have clarified as to them as the "RN's, scrub tech's, etc that i see daily, instead of mine" i just figured the majority of intellectual people here would understand, guess i was wrong...

    And the shit hasn't hit the fan yet buddy and it doesn't look like it's going to anytime soon, sorry for your luck if your time is running up...
    and you know who i am? really? who am i nostradamus? and the competiton love competing against me? Hahahaha, you should ask the Depuy Spine guy that! hahahaha.

    and your right, my wife's ta ta's are great, maybe you should get your boyfriend a pair...

    gotta go, time to wash the Range

    ReplyDelete
  94. Please, please, please stop wearing golf shirts- I beg you. Go to Nordstroms and buy 3 $75 wrinkle free shirts...You look like an absolute fool in golf shirts.

    ReplyDelete
  95. 10:48 so what, my company is big enough to muscle it's way in.. Good for the smart MBA's at corporate HQ, you are not insulting my pride, part of life is being in the right place at the right time. so you think I care if you can claim to have a more impressive resume and better wardrobe? not a damn. I have a great territory that is well established and it seems to be stable enough for the future. Go complain to your wife or your VP that you dress for success and are a gifted salesman BUT the accounts are all locked up by glorified service reps. You sound like you're bitter because you are on the wrong team. It's da way it is!! plain and simple. maybe you ankle biters with big egos should realize you are too small to make the rules and play the game. I am on a winning team, and I get a superbowl ring whether I am the best player, or the worst, It's all about the team.

    ReplyDelete
  96. Thanks for coming back and making my point RR. The more you talk the more we learn about your shallow existence.
    BTW...I noticed you tried to answer point by point from my comments. It exposes your narcissistic view and although you think I am "nit picking", the words we speak betray our inner feelings.
    You also omitted the surgeon brother-in-law comment which tells me its closer to home than you would like to admit.
    Thanks for sticking around. I am positive we will hear from you again!

    Cheers RR!

    ReplyDelete
  97. 5:17
    Way too many assumptions. I can guess you played football b,c I am Nostradamus, right? How many concussions? 2 or 3? Glad you were in the right place at the right time. Don't assume you're the only one though.

    And btw...get out of your scrubs!

    ReplyDelete
  98. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  99. Yo Frat boy,
    You lost me on number 1! (Drinking and blogging can be hazardous to your health.) So can a low IQ
    Stop ruining society and get out of your scrubs!

    ARE YOU WITH ME?

    ReplyDelete
  100. Hey MM, can you start a new thread about these credentialing services. Just had to sign up for the 5th company. I will be raising prices and not offering discounts to any hospitals that participate in these.

    ReplyDelete
  101. i'm beginning to think i'm a douchebag for reading this crap. you are all losers and i guess i'm turning in to one too. gotta get off here. SCRUBS RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULE! Suckas!

    ReplyDelete
  102. Hello Guys, I sharing you this unrelated info regarding the best seller colored scrubs that one online store has been offering for years. if you are interested you can read more at http://paidcritique.blogspot.com/2011/04/best-seller-colored-scrubs.html

    ReplyDelete
  103. Been in device sales for 30 years, including sales training roles,leadership roles, and research roles managing clinical trial sites for a pre-commercial device company. 16 of those years doing startups. I was hired out of college in the mid 80's by J&J as a pharmacutical rep, back when the reps had grey hair, wore suits and carried hard brief cases - did the typical 3 yrs and on to devices. Then we had the 90's where everyone wore really bad armani suits with overly large herman munster shoulders. In cold climates they doubled down with the wool top coat donning a second layer of shoulder pads....late 90's brought slacks and golf shirts, and early 00's scrubs became more popular, and now scrubs are pretty ubiquitous. These trends, or styles were not the evolution of declining sales acumen, or ambition or discipline - That is one of many straw men that have been tee'd up in this post. My advise to all the OC hand-ringers out there is focus your energy on your job. If you think the sale rep population has slid, and wearing scrubs is one of the symptoms, then you should be quietly content, knowing your style and phylosophies will be just another differentiator in the customers minds. There is a special place in hell for winers, it's called cafepharma. Just wear what YOU feel is right. Our sales profession is not on the verge of imploding from these imaginary characters described in this post..untrained, lazy, undiciplined, wanna-bees. And I doubt those of you really care anyway, you're just wining, or worse, projecting. Let the past go, the past only brings regret. And the future only brings anxiety. So just enjoy the state of the industry today while you are still able to work

    ReplyDelete