Extra Student White Coat?

[Llenroc]

I need to buy a couple of extra medical student coats. I've been searching Google, and while many places sell medical white coats, none of them sell anything officially labelled as a medical student white coat. What exactly is the length of a medical student coat, because I have seen some being sold that are 31" or 35". Also, what is a good brand.

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[deleted87716]

I need to buy a couple of extra medical student coats. I've been searching Google, and while many places sell medical white coats, none of them sell anything officially labelled as a medical student white coat. What exactly is the length of a medical student coat, because I have seen some being sold that are 31" or 35". Also, what is a good brand.

Short coats are generally known as "consultation coats." Length varies slightly, depending on size, but average around 30". META, White Swan, and Landau are the brands that turn up most often. Any of them are fine. It's good to have at least one spare, as they tend to get nasty-looking pretty quickly. Wear one while the other's in the wash.

 

[silas2642]

We wear the short coats, my friend, the short coats. I've seen them called "consultation coats" on allheart.com, and usually they have pictures of the length of the jacket and how many pockets it has. I don't know what is a good brand.

 

[Northerner]

I need to buy a couple of extra medical student coats. I've been searching Google, and while many places sell medical white coats, none of them sell anything officially labelled as a medical student white coat. What exactly is the length of a medical student coat, because I have seen some being sold that are 31" or 35". Also, what is a good brand.

"A couple of extra" white coats?

You starting a medical school?

 

[silas2642]

"A couple of extra" white coats?

You starting a medical school?

Easy there my friend, many of us will need more than one white coat. Alas, there are many of us who are unable to eat without dumping remnants of our meal upon our clothing on a more than frequent basis. There are also those of us who refuse to do laundry on more than a weekly basis because it is a pain in the arse. I would say 2-3 consultation coats would be more than reasonable for slobs such as myself.

 

[Law2Doc]

Alas, there are many of us who are unable to eat without dumping remnants of our meal upon our clothing on a more than frequent basis.

If food remnants are the worst thing you expect to get on your white coat, you are probably in for a rude awakening. 🙂

 

[silas2642]

If food remnants are the worst thing you expect to get on your white coat, you are probably in for a rude awakening. 🙂

You got me on that one.

 

[Northerner]

Easy there my friend, many of us will need more than one white coat. Alas, there are many of us who are unable to eat without dumping remnants of our meal upon our clothing on a more than frequent basis. There are also those of us who refuse to do laundry on more than a weekly basis because it is a pain in the arse. I would say 2-3 consultation coats would be more than reasonable for slobs such as myself.

It would be interesting to see just how "many of us" gets more than one. More than two, too.

 

[DrThom]

I got mine from allheart.com

 

[Antigunner]

It would be interesting to see just how "many of us" gets more than one. More than two, too.

I don't need more than one right now, but I will definitely be getting at least one (probably two) more before starting rotations next year. Frankly, I don't understand why you think this is such a ridiculous notion.

 

[Northerner]

I don't need more than one right now, but I will definitely be getting at least one (probably two) more before starting rotations next year. Frankly, I don't understand why you think this is such a ridiculous notion.

Because I think you're ridiculous.

Even more ridiculous than....REALLY ridiculous things.

 

[deleted109597]

I don't need more than one right now, but I will definitely be getting at least one (probably two) more before starting rotations next year. Frankly, I don't understand why you think this is such a ridiculous notion.

It is tradition. You wear one short coat for 2 years. You never wash it. Then you burn it.
If you wash it, you infect your washing machine with MRSA.

 

[silas2642]

It is tradition. You wear one short coat for 2 years. You never wash it. Then you burn it.
If you wash it, you infect your washing machine with MRSA.

I understand that it's tradition, but aren't you kind of afraid of catching something from your "white" (mine will probably be brown by the end of third year) coat. I mean, after a while it has to start getting kind of crusty.

 

[racerx]

I understand that it's tradition, but aren't you kind of afraid of catching something from your "white" (mine will probably be brown by the end of third year) coat. I mean, after a while it has to start getting kind of crusty.

Better yet, spreading the love to patients that are immuno-compromised.

MRSA isn't resistant to bleach in your washing machine. I doubt you'll infect the washer if you bleach the coat in the wash.

 

[Hard24Get]

I need to buy a couple of extra medical student coats. I've been searching Google, and while many places sell medical white coats, none of them sell anything officially labelled as a medical student white coat. What exactly is the length of a medical student coat, because I have seen some being sold that are 31" or 35". Also, what is a good brand.

I got a BARCO coat from allheart.com. I got a 31" coat because I don't want it to hit me at the hips the way my original (28") did 😛 . The real doctors wear 38+ length, so 35" might be pushing it. I got mine embroidered, and it is nice 🙂 , no dorky name tag required.

 

[jbrice1639]

II got mine embroidered, and it is nice 🙂 , no dorky name tag required.

aren't the dorky name tags required in the hospital? every hospital i have been to has a color coding system on those name tags so that people know you're a student/resident/attending/chief without having to ask you.

 

[nosugrefneb]

Any other schools wear long coats?

 

[Hard24Get]

oh, maybe you mean badges. I was referring to the gold pins we often wear on our lapel to increase the chance of being remembered
like this- http://www.reddingmedical.com/merchant.cfm?step=4&id=513.

aren't the dorky name tags required in the hospital? every hospital i have been to has a color coding system on those name tags so that people know you're a student/resident/attending/chief without having to ask you.

 

[silas2642]

Better yet, spreading the love to patients that are immuno-compromised.

MRSA isn't resistant to bleach in your washing machine. I doubt you'll infect the washer if you bleach the coat in the wash.

Yes, but what I'm saying is that it is tradition NOT to wash the coat during third year and instead to allow your "patient encounters" to accumulate over the course of time.

 

[Llenroc]

http://www.marcusuniforms.com/produ...=278&Category_ID=431&feedhost=froogle&afid=40

Wowwowweewa!

I ordered 2 of those.

 

[THP]

I have 3 short white coats. My wife insists that they be washed regularly. Lucily for me she washes them with oxyclean and then irons them with starch so it is always looking brand new. It is kind of a pain to empty out my pockets and then refill them every week however.

 

[deleted87716]

Yes, but what I'm saying is that it is tradition NOT to wash the coat during third year and instead to allow your "patient encounters" to accumulate over the course of time.

In this case, I suggest you abandon "tradition" for common sense. 😉

 

[racerx]

Yes, but what I'm saying is that it is tradition NOT to wash the coat during third year and instead to allow your "patient encounters" to accumulate over the course of time.

Sorry Silas, only the first sentence was meant in response to you. The second sentence was in response to IbnSina's comment about MRSA. My bad.

I understand that it is tradition. . .don't mean it's a good tradition. I'd rather accumulate my patient encounters in a journal (HIPAA compliant, of course). 😀

 

[Llenroc]

Sorry Silas, only the first sentence was meant in response to you. The second sentence was in response to IbnSina's comment about MRSA. My bad.

I understand that it is tradition. . .don't mean it's a good tradition. I'd rather accumulate my patient encounters in a journal (HIPAA compliant, of course). 😀

By patient encounters he means vaginal fluids and plain old ****.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I need to buy a couple of extra medical student coats. I've been searching Google, and while many places sell medical white coats, none of them sell anything officially labelled as a medical student white coat. What exactly is the length of a medical student coat, because I have seen some being sold that are 31" or 35". Also, what is a good brand.

Um. Get them the same place you got your first one.

Our school gives us the first one free, and you can buy others for a small price. I have 3 total.

I had no choice but to get it through the campus bookstore, because not only is our name on the coat, but so is our school name and logo.

 

[t33sg1rl]

I wore my white coat for maybe a dozen afternoons my first year and time for washing has come, but I'm afraid, because it's embroidered with my name and school logo (in red with accent colors). Is it safe to use bleach/oxyclean on the embroidery? I don't want it to fade but I do need a cleaning routine, because I'm a really sloppy eater and the cafeteria makes good spaghetti sauce.

and, my "short" coat hits about three inches above the knee, and no one has ever said anything. I had the sleeves shortened but left the length (secretly I think it makes me look like an attending).

 

[OSUdoc08]

I wore my white coat for maybe a dozen afternoons my first year and time for washing has come, but I'm afraid, because it's embroidered with my name and school logo (in red with accent colors). Is it safe to use bleach/oxyclean on the embroidery? I don't want it to fade but I do need a cleaning routine, because I'm a really sloppy eater and the cafeteria makes good spaghetti sauce.

and, my "short" coat hits about three inches above the knee, and no one has ever said anything. I had the sleeves shortened but left the length (secretly I think it makes me look like an attending).

Two words:

DRY CLEANERS

 

[Shodddy18]

Two words:

DRY CLEANERS

I dont think any amount of chemicals could clean the stains off of mine 😀

 

[Law2Doc]

Two words:

DRY CLEANERS

Yes -- you can pass the germs on to a whole lot more people if you send out your clothes rather than horde the bugs in your own washing machine. Along the same lines, a coin laundry might be an option.

 

[Law2Doc]

I wore my white coat for maybe a dozen afternoons my first year and time for washing has come, but I'm afraid, because it's embroidered with my name and school logo (in red with accent colors). Is it safe to use bleach/oxyclean on the embroidery? I don't want it to fade but I do need a cleaning routine, because I'm a really sloppy eater and the cafeteria makes good spaghetti sauce.

Bleach will almost certainly screw up the coloring on the embroidery.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Yes -- you can pass the germs on to a whole lot more people if you send out your clothes rather than horde the bugs in your own washing machine. Along the same lines, a coin laundry might be an option.

I don't know about you, but when there is a risk of getting blood and body fluids on me, I take off my white coat. It IS white, you know.

I don't even wear my white coat in the ER.

 

[Law2Doc]

I don't know about you, but when there is a risk of getting blood and body fluids on me, I take off my white coat. It IS white, you know.

I don't even wear my white coat in the ER.

Different places have different rules, I guess.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Different places have different rules, I guess.

No, we have a rule to wear the white coat in the ER.

You know what rules are meant for.

 

[deleted109597]

I don't know about you, but when there is a risk of getting blood and body fluids on me, I take off my white coat. It IS white, you know.

I don't even wear my white coat in the ER.

You see, my cheap white coat is much better at catching those fluids than my expensive dress shirts, slacks, and ties. If I am wearing scrubs, then the coat stays off. Clothes, on the other hand, mean that the coat stays on and buttoned (just the top 2).

Peroxide can get anything out.

 

[tkim]

I got one from here:

http://aetnashirt.com/medicalcoats/medical_short_coats.html

It's pretty expensive, but the quality is awesome. I only have one. It will burn in 9 months.

 

[OSUdoc08]

You see, my cheap white coat is much better at catching those fluids than my expensive dress shirts, slacks, and ties. If I am wearing scrubs, then the coat stays off. Clothes, on the other hand, mean that the coat stays on and buttoned (just the top 2).

Peroxide can get anything out.

Hence why I wear scrubs.......

 

[deleted109597]

Actually, all of the scrubs I own (that I didn't emancipate from same day surgery) cost more than my white coat too. Plus, that extra layer of protection is good for when they start spraying blood, feculent ascites, sputum, or whatever.
Wear it because it protects you, not because it makes you look professional. Doctors didn't wear whitecoats because they wanted to stand out from the world of pharmacy techs, nurses, respiratory tech students, and cosmeticians. They did it to keep crap off their clothes.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Actually, all of the scrubs I own (that I didn't emancipate from same day surgery) cost more than my white coat too. Plus, that extra layer of protection is good for when they start spraying blood, feculent ascites, sputum, or whatever.
Wear it because it protects you, not because it makes you look professional. Doctors didn't wear whitecoats because they wanted to stand out from the world of pharmacy techs, nurses, respiratory tech students, and cosmeticians. They did it to keep crap off their clothes.

For those of us who have expensive white coats with our name sewn into them and who want them to remain white:

Pick up some old scrubs in the hospital, and leave them there when you get off shift.

 

[deleted109597]

For those of us who have expensive white coats with our name sewn into them and who want them to remain white:

Pick up some old scrubs in the hospital, and leave them there when you get off shift.

How expensive are you talking? My first one was free (or included in my tuition), and my second I got for $10, but even with a name on it they don't cost more than $35, unless you went for every option.
But therein lies my point, if you pay that much for it, it is because you see it as a status symbol, and not as a tool. Sort of like paying for an expensive stethescope and then borrowing a nurse's so that yours doesn't get dirty. You want a nice, expensive SHORT white coat that you will never wear after medical school, then by all means get one. Just get some spares as well, and they don't have to have your name on them (for cost reasons).
Most residencies I know give 2 or 3 long coats to their doctors.

 

[OSUdoc08]

How expensive are you talking? My first one was free (or included in my tuition), and my second I got for $10, but even with a name on it they don't cost more than $35, unless you went for every option.
But therein lies my point, if you pay that much for it, it is because you see it as a status symbol, and not as a tool. Sort of like paying for an expensive stethescope and then borrowing a nurse's so that yours doesn't get dirty. You want a nice, expensive SHORT white coat that you will never wear after medical school, then by all means get one. Just get some spares as well, and they don't have to have your name on them (for cost reasons).
Most residencies I know give 2 or 3 long coats to their doctors.

Our white coat has the embroidered school name on the right, our embroidered name on the left, and the school logo in a patch form on the breast pocket. I didn't pay for it because it is a status symbol, but instead because I am required to. I'd never wear it if I didn't have to, and when I am a practicing physician, I will NEVER wear a white coat.

In fact, in my rotations so far, emergency medicine, radiology, and psychiatry---I haven't had to wear my white coat. The only time I've worn it is when I'm going in and out of the OR for ECT treatments, since you are required to wear a white coat in the halls if wearing scrubs.

 

[caffeinefree08]

The AMA at our school sold white coats for 20 dollars each. Then the hospital did the whole badge and embroidery thing on them. I own three white coats because I have one to wear, one to be in the laundry, and one in the event of an emergency. They do get dirty, especially the sleeve of your dominant hand.

All three of my coats have made it through several washings w/o smearing the badge or name, in cold water. I stain stick the sleeves (which are generally folded up since I'm short), and hydrogen peroxide out any bloodstains - which are rare. Contrary to Grey's Anatomy and ER, patients don't randomly start bleeing all over you. Normally you have time to take off the coat to intervene because the coat just isn't all that form fitting.

About the hydrogen peroixde, only use it on white stuff. (There's a reason people use it as hair dye)

 

[gators21]

So instead of starting a new thread, I thought I'd rez this one. A club is selling extra coats at school but cost about 50 bucks with embroidery and patching. Is it really worth it to have an extra white coat? Or will you be fine with just one?

 

[survivordo]

If you are anywhere near a hospital there should be a uniform supply store that sells scrubs and the like. They will have whitecoats there and that is where I got my extras. It's foolish that schools only give us 2 and expect us to go around looking like ragamuffins.

Survivor DO

 

[NeuroLAX]

I would also check local uniform stores if it doesn't have to be embroidered. That's where I get my scrubs and there's always plain white coats. If your school club is offering it embroidered with the school logo then $50 is pretty decent. Mine are right around $43 with embroidery. In fact, I just ordered my second one recently. It was time...

Are students typically required to have an embroidered white coat with school patch for rotations?

 

[evilbooyaa]

50 bucks for embroidered + school's patch? Jump on that ASAP.

I just have 1. Gotta wash it every few weeks.

 

[Law2Doc]

If you are anywhere near a hospital there should be a uniform supply store that sells scrubs and the like. They will have whitecoats there and that is where I got my extras. It's foolish that schools only give us 2 and expect us to go around looking like ragamuffins.

Survivor DO

2 is enough. One can be in the wash while you wear the other. You will have zero use for them after med school so don't stock up.

 

[Stellar Clouds]

So instead of starting a new thread, I thought I'd rez this one. A club is selling extra coats at school but cost about 50 bucks with embroidery and patching. Is it really worth it to have an extra white coat? Or will you be fine with just one?

I really think 1 is enough. Just make sure you wash it frequently.

 

[eHombre]

So what's the verdict on washing white coats?

Dry cleaners, coin laundry or hand-wash?
Hydrogen peroxide? Bleach? Color-safe bleach? Oxyclean?

 

[Stellar Clouds]

So what's the verdict on washing white coats?

Dry cleaners, coin laundry or hand-wash?
Hydrogen peroxide? Bleach? Color-safe bleach? Oxyclean?

Coin laundry. I bleach the hell MRSA out of mine.

 

[Danbo1957]

Coin laundry. I bleach the hell MRSA out of mine.

Agreed. I rotate around four white coats, I need to be spotlessly clean at all times. Never wash a white coat in your home laundry. Take them to a coin laundry, use bleach. Every three months I take them to a reputable cleaner-- that really gets them looking like new again.