Can I use a different font on my white coat?

[Didierdrogba]

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A few months ago, our class held a fund raiser in the form of white coat embroidery. As a result, approx 40% of my classmates got their coats embroidered. I decided against it at the time, but now I want to get it done too.

Here's the problem, the font they used was hideous, pretty sure it was BOLDED ARIEL BLACK, ALL CAPS. Is it weird that I use a different font from the rest of my classmates on my coat?

 

[mimelim]

Out of curiosity, what exactly does it say? Just your name? I always find it weird when medical students have their names on a white coat. Maybe its just because no students had it done where I was at, but it just seems strange without a department or degree on it.

 

[Didierdrogba]

Out of curiosity, what exactly does it say? Just your name? I always find it weird when medical students have their names on a white coat. Maybe its just because no students had it done where I was at, but it just seems strange without a department or degree on it.

I found it weird too in the beginning, but since my school requires us to either wear a heavy magnetic name tag that gets in the way all the time or get the coat embroidered, I'd rather have the latter.

It just says


STUDENT DOCTOR
John Doe

 

[mimelim]

It just says


STUDENT DOCTOR
John Doe

Interesting. I wouldn't do it, but that is a separate issue and off topic XD.

To answer your question, I think an answer can be made for keeping with the same font, doing something different or leaving it off entirely. I don't think any of them is wrong. But, then again, I work at a hospital where very few people have the same embroidery since it is a private hospital. I'd say that it would be a good idea to use the same font if everyone (including attendings and what not) are using the same font.

Edit: saw your edit, I too would prefer to have my coat embroidered than having one of those plaques.

 

[Dral]

My opinion is it's not art school. Fit in.

This is coming from someone with a degree in art.

Somewhere along the way you stop caring as much (within reason). Med school is not that time, IMO

You still unfortunately have much more conservative observant butt to kiss. Just the way it is. .

 

[BlaseFaire]

It's not a problem if you get it embroidered in a different font. It's your coat. You didn't do it with everyone else.

I just left mine plain because I'm a lowly med student.

 

[NeuroLAX]

I say do whatever you want if it's your call. You're not going to be wearing it forever. Everyone at my school has their white coat embroidered with the same format and font:

Name
Student Physician

 

[Guillemot]

Definitely gotta go with comic sans.

 

[John Lannister]

definitely gotta go with comic sans.

+ 1

Student Medical Physician

 

[Didierdrogba]

+ 1

Student Medical Physician

Im a DO student, should I use papyrus (the avatar font) on my white coat to reflect my "holistic-ness"?

 

[jerseytrash]

A few months ago, our class held a fund raiser in the form of white coat embroidery. As a result, approx 40% of my classmates got their coats embroidered. I decided against it at the time, but now I want to get it done too.

Here's the problem, the font they used was hideous, pretty sure it was BOLDED ARIEL BLACK, ALL CAPS. Is it weird that I use a different font from the rest of my classmates on my coat?

I wouldn't bother. You're never going to use that white coat again after med school. I bought one of the embroidered ones and I'm regretting it b/c I wanted to give mine away to my underclassmen friends and now can't really do it with that coat.

 

[link2swim06]

It's a good idea to have your name on your coat. Nobody can steal it or accident pick it up that way.

Also often my id badge is backwards...so maybe people can at least still read my name.

 

[Didierdrogba]

It's a good idea to have your name on your coat. Nobody can steal it or accident pick it up that way.

Also often my id badge is backwards...so maybe people can at least still read my name.

This was my rationale for getting it embroidered, more for coat-ID'ing purposes

 

[evilbooyaa]

You guys have titles like student doctor or, even worse, student physician embroided on your white coats?

I have my name embroidered on the top left (wasn't optional, all students from my class have that). Beyond that, I have my school's patch sewn into the left arm sleeve. There is no identifying information about my status within the hospital on my white coat. My ID badge states that I am a medical student, which is what I introduce myself as.

I still don't get this student doctor or student physician thing. If I was an uninformed patient I would think a student doctor = resident, compared to a medical student is someone who is still in medical school. I've had attendings introduce me as a student doctor, and I obviously don't correct them, but I always introduce myself as a medical student.

That being said, I've had nurses assume I was a resident when rounding on patients in the morning (generally these were the new-ish nurses that don't know about the coat length hierarchy), and I have to tell them that I'm a med student, so no I can't put in an order without approval for tylenol for that patient who already has motrin, percocet, and IV morphine.

Oh right, the OP - Let me get back to that. OP, I think you should be able to pick whatever font you like, as long as it looks professional. Generally speaking, not many people are going to be looking at it very often. I am somewhat surprised to hear that some schools don't embroider med student white coats, just so that they don't get mixed up between students rotating at the same hospital.

 

[link2swim06]

You guys have titles like student doctor or, even worse, student physician embroided on your white coats?

I have my name embroidered on the top left (wasn't optional, all students from my class have that). Beyond that, I have my school's patch sewn into the left arm sleeve. There is no identifying information about my status within the hospital on my white coat. My ID badge states that I am a medical student, which is what I introduce myself as.

I still don't get this student doctor or student physician thing. If I was an uninformed patient I would think a student doctor = resident, compared to a medical student is someone who is still in medical school. I've had attendings introduce me as a student doctor, and I obviously don't correct them, but I always introduce myself as a medical student.

That being said, I've had nurses assume I was a resident when rounding on patients in the morning (generally these were the new-ish nurses that don't know about the coat length hierarchy), and I have to tell them that I'm a med student, so no I can't put in an order without approval for tylenol for that patient who already has motrin, percocet, and IV morphine.

Oh right, the OP - Let me get back to that. OP, I think you should be able to pick whatever font you like, as long as it looks professional. Generally speaking, not many people are going to be looking at it very often. I am somewhat surprised to hear that some schools don't embroider med student white coats, just so that they don't get mixed up between students rotating at the same hospital.

I am not sure about your guys patient population but I always introduce myself as medical student yet they think I am their doctor 90% of time. I think the white coat + being male + doing the H&P on them makes them assume I am doctor.

Hell I'd say 50% of my patients on internal medicine don't even know who is the attending. As far as they are concerned me + the intern are their doctors and nobody else.

 

[evilbooyaa]

Well yeah generally the patients think I'm their doctor as well, but whatever. I can only tell them the truth from my side, and let their brain interpret it however they'd like. I don't correct patients if they call me doctor, especially if I've introduced myself as a medical student. I sometimes contemplate whether I should, but I think it'd be an exercise in futility.

 

[theshellyb]

Since my school requires us to either wear a heavy magnetic name tag that gets in the way all the time or get the coat embroidered, I'd rather have the latter.

Well that's annoying. Is that a separate badge from your hospital ID badge?

Since embroidery seems like the best option, get whatever font you want as long as you're not wandering into territory like this.

 

[rueby25]

Our hospitals have a policy prohibiting introduction or identification as "student doctor," as they believe it is confusing. We have to say "Nth year Medical Student."

As for your embroidery, it seems you're in a tough spot. I get the ID thing. We don't do embroidery on med student coats and the badges often flip. However, I can guarantee having your name embroidered on you coat at all, unless a standard across the board, has the chance of rubbing someone the wrong way. Even worse, if you get a font different from your classmates, you will likely catch crap from them and/or residents and/or attendings if they notice.

If you're going to do it, bite the bullet and get the ugly font. Otherwise, just deal with the badge like the other 98% of med students.

 

[Didierdrogba]

Our hospitals have a policy prohibiting introduction or identification as "student doctor," as they believe it is confusing. We have to say "Nth year Medical Student."

As for your embroidery, it seems you're in a tough spot. I get the ID thing. We don't do embroidery on med student coats and the badges often flip. However, I can guarantee having your name embroidered on you coat at all, unless a standard across the board, has the chance of rubbing someone the wrong way. Even worse, if you get a font different from your classmates, you will likely catch crap from them and/or residents and/or attendings if they notice.

If you're going to do it, bite the bullet and get the ugly font. Otherwise, just deal with the badge like the other 98% of med students.

I don't think it makes a difference for patients in terms of making things less confusing. Pts don't know anything about medical education. They think residents are students, they also think that we choose our specialty when we enter medical school and all. Not to mention they can't tell the difference between a nurse and a doctor...


Thanks, everyone for posting. I think im leaning more towards just leaving my coat blank now.