Lab Coats

[Dave111]

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Dumb question, I'm sure. But, what type of lab coats are suitable for rotations? I see staff length, full length, and consultation coats. Also, I have an odd build. Athlete, 50-52" chest, 31-32 waist. 6'4" 245lbs. Any advice would be great.
Thanks in advance,
Dave

 

[Ice-1]

Med schools usually issue their students white coats, and sometimes even have a white coat ceremony for that. Students typically wear whatever the school gave them. Some schools give the short white ones, some give the longer ones worn by doctors. In the past the coat length was a way to tell the students from doctors, but that distinction is getting blurred somewhat now. I have the shorty coat and it does feel weird sometimes to be the only one wearing one when the PA's nurses and others are wearing the long ones. Some hospitals have the students and doctors wear them, some don't - same in the office settings. You will just have to go to each individual rotation and find out! Good luck!

 

[Dave111]

Med schools usually issue their students white coats, and sometimes even have a white coat ceremony for that. Students typically wear whatever the school gave them. Some schools give the short white ones, some give the longer ones worn by doctors. In the past the coat length was a way to tell the students from doctors, but that distinction is getting blurred somewhat now. I have the shorty coat and it does feel weird sometimes to be the only one wearing one when the PA's nurses and others are wearing the long ones. Some hospitals have the students and doctors wear them, some don't - same in the office settings. You will just have to go to each individual rotation and find out! Good luck!

That helps a lot, thanks. My school does long coats at the the ceremony, but I figured that those might not always be proper. They're not costly, so I guess having a few might be a good idea anyway. Thanks again for the quick response. All the best to you as well.
Dave

 

[lvspro]

That helps a lot, thanks. My school does long coats at the the ceremony, but I figured that those might not always be proper. They're not costly, so I guess having a few might be a good idea anyway. Thanks again for the quick response. All the best to you as well.
Dave

Hi
Get the short white, with pockets on the inside. I know it sucks that everyone, including secretaries, will be wearing the long coats, but don't be like all the doc-wanna-be's... yer a shake of a lambs tail away from being one, and have enough respect for the profession to know your place. I wouldn't dare wear a long, and if I dirtied my shorty, then I would just go coatless for the day.
As an aside, I've always thought that docs should be the only ones wearing white coats. Some people may say they want the coat for protection, but they could get a blue coat for the same price. I think the practice of being too lenient on who wears the coat is confusing patients. I've seen it in action a few times, and recently with a PA where after a thoracentesis the pt looked directly at the PA and said thanks DOC 😱 The thing that makes it even worse is the fact that the PA didn't correct him. B4 this turns in to a doc vs para thread, I must say that my colleagues, be they PA's, nurses, or even secretaties are invaluable resources, I just think there is an element of confusion on behalf of the pt.

I wanna get others opinions on this, so I'm gonna repost this as its own thread. Sorry if this is a double read.

 

[Dave111]

Thanks for the help guys. Please keep it coming. I want to show proper respect where ever I go. All opinions welcome, please. You guys are great to jump on this so quick, BTW.
Thanks to all,
Dave

 

[fantasty]

So, where do you buy them at? Our school gave us shorty coats, but they didn't have my size (plus I'm heavier now anyhow) so it's pointless for me to try to were that one. But, most of the coats I've seen online are long.

 

[orientedtoself]

They have them in our student bookstore next to the medical book section.

 

[trkd]

Not trying to hijack this thread, just have a quick question about the lab coats. Do you have to have something (name, school, etc) stitched on there or anything? Sounds stupid but I am at a hosptial that doesn't do white coats but I am going to a few that do for electives. I don't want to be looking the fool.

Thanks!

 

[ears]

Do you have to have something (name, school, etc) stitched on there or anything?

An unadorned (except for your hospital ID) short, white coat would be acceptable for a medical student almost anywhere, I would think. (And I know in hospitals I've worked in, a student with stitching on their coat would have drawn attention, if not comment.)

 

[trkd]

An unadorned (except for your hospital ID) short, white coat would be acceptable for a medical student almost anywhere, I would think. (And I know in hospitals I've worked in, a student with stitching on their coat would have drawn attention, if not comment.)

Thanks ears! Nothing worse than showing up to a new rotation looking like a tool

 

[hermione]

Our school gave us white coats, and they have stitching. Every student I've seen, from many different schools, have stitching, and most have a patch on the sleeve of the school they go to. I wouldn't worry about stitching. There are tons of websites where you can buy white coats, the student ones are usually called "consultation coats".

And btw, it does annoy me when the nursing students have long white coats. Not because I want one etc but because it makes me think they are a resident/attending, and its confusing.

 

[trkd]

Our school gave us white coats, and they have stitching. Every student I've seen, from many different schools, have stitching, and most have a patch on the sleeve of the school they go to. I wouldn't worry about stitching. There are tons of websites where you can buy white coats, the student ones are usually called "consultation coats".

And btw, it does annoy me when the nursing students have long white coats. Not because I want one etc but because it makes me think they are a resident/attending, and its confusing.

Consultation coat. I have heard this before. I will check some out online. I have seen people recommend sites but I can no longer search. Any quick sites that can be recommended anyone???

 

[hermione]

Consultation coat. I have heard this before. I will check some out online. I have seen people recommend sites but I can no longer search. Any quick sites that can be recommended anyone???

allheart.com is the cheapest I have found them.