Supplies - need gift ideas

[betweenusgurls]

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Hey there! My cousin is about to graduate undergrad and is starting at VCU's PT school in the fall. I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of some supply requirements that would make a good graduation gift. For vet school, we need lab coats, coveralls and clinician jackets - so I was thinking I could get her a lab coat with her name on it. Do you guys use stethoscopes enough to make it worth it for her to get one as a gift? Thanks!!

 

[Azimuthal]

We are given a stethoscope amongst other things in my program so it will depend on what VCU provides. Depending on the setting, it is used quite often. I really appreciated all the Amazon gift cards I received as a first year. I used them for scrubs (that I got rid of after gross anatomy), books, etc.

 

[DesertPT]

scrubs (that I got rid of after gross anatomy)

Lucky. My program requires you to wear scrubs to class every day for the first two (non-clinical) years. Bleh...but maybe I'll learn to like it...

 

[DesertPT]

I was thinking I could get her a lab coat with her name on it.

I don't see this really being worn in PT school. You would probably look pretty dang dorky if you showed up in a personalized white coat. PT is pretty much the world of khakis and polos. 🙂 Maybe there are schools that have white coats?? Idk...I've heard of schools that are doing white coat ceremonies at PT graduation which I think is ridiculous but that's another topic...

 

[DjT3kN]

Lucky. My program requires you to wear scrubs to class every day for the first two (non-clinical) years. Bleh...but maybe I'll learn to like it...

Really they make you wear scrubs? We only have to wear scrubs, I believe, during Anatomy labs. The rest of the time, it's casual wear to class... 😛

 

[tweaze]

Lucky. My program requires you to wear scrubs to class every day for the first two (non-clinical) years. Bleh...but maybe I'll learn to like it...

That sounds terrible, but at least you won't have to worry about which pair of khakis to wear with which polo.

 

[Azimuthal]

I don't see this really being worn in PT school. You would probably look pretty dang dorky if you showed up in a personalized white coat. PT is pretty much the world of khakis and polos. 🙂 Maybe there are schools that have white coats?? Idk...I've heard of schools that are doing white coat ceremonies at PT graduation which I think is ridiculous but that's another topic...

White coats (along with white coat ceremonies and pinnings) are typical as you transition into clinicals.

 

[DesertPT]

Really they make you wear scrubs?

Yup. It's definitely a quirk of the school for sure.

That sounds terrible, but at least you won't have to worry about which pair of khakis to wear with which polo.

Won't have to think about what to wear much at all actually, which I guess is a plus when you've gotta be to class at 8am. Makes everyone on campus think you're a nursing student though lol

 

[DesertPT]

White coats (along with white coat ceremonies and pinnings) are typical as you transition into clinicals.

Maybe this varies by area? I haven't seen any PTs or PT students out in the working world wearing a white coat, and I've been to quite a few clinics and hospitals over the years. I'm not saying people are stupid or anything, but I think PT graduates having white coat ceremonies is silly. White coats are the symbol of physicians within the healthcare world, and I don't feel the need to play doctor, nor do I anticipate wearing a white coat as a practicing PT.

As an aside, I've spent plenty of time in white coats in the lab, and the novelty and "make you feel smart" factors wear off fairly quickly. Scientists only wear white coats when they are having their picture taken, and lab techs only wear them when they are forced too because they are working with something gross.

 

[SnowyDPT]

Yup. It's definitely a quirk of the school for sure.





Won't have to think about what to wear much at all actually, which I guess is a plus when you've gotta be to class at 8am. Makes everyone on campus think you're a nursing student though lol

What program are you attending?

 

[ptisfun2]

Maybe this varies by area? I haven't seen any PTs or PT students out in the working world wearing a white coat, and I've been to quite a few clinics and hospitals over the years. I'm not saying people are stupid or anything, but I think PT graduates having white coat ceremonies is silly. White coats are the symbol of physicians within the healthcare world, and I don't feel the need to play doctor, nor do I anticipate wearing a white coat as a practicing PT.

As an aside, I've spent plenty of time in white coats in the lab, and the novelty and "make you feel smart" factors wear off fairly quickly. Scientists only wear white coats when they are having their picture taken, and lab techs only wear them when they are forced too because they are working with something gross.

I think it is regional. I worn one constantly in the south and east. Out west of the Mississippi.. no way. I have found people look at your strangely when you wear one. but scrubs and a lab coat every day in inpatient, and street clothes and lab coat in outpatient east of the Mississippi. And I personally have NEVER worn khakis and polo shirts...I am old, and that reminds me of a PE teacher.

 

[Azimuthal]

Maybe this varies by area? I haven't seen any PTs or PT students out in the working world wearing a white coat, and I've been to quite a few clinics and hospitals over the years. I'm not saying people are stupid or anything, but I think PT graduates having white coat ceremonies is silly. White coats are the symbol of physicians within the healthcare world, and I don't feel the need to play doctor, nor do I anticipate wearing a white coat as a practicing PT.

As an aside, I've spent plenty of time in white coats in the lab, and the novelty and "make you feel smart" factors wear off fairly quickly. Scientists only wear white coats when they are having their picture taken, and lab techs only wear them when they are forced too because they are working with something gross.

It depends on your CI. I only had to wear it through one clinical. The white coat is a symbol that is not restricted to physicians. That thought is silly. You should look up the history. You don't play doctor as a physician. You go to PT school to become a PT. You're role is of a doctor of physical therapy.

 

[DesertPT]

I think it is regional. I worn one constantly in the south and east. Out west of the Mississippi.. no way. I have found people look at your strangely when you wear one. but scrubs and a lab coat every day in inpatient, and street clothes and lab coat in outpatient east of the Mississippi. And I personally have NEVER worn khakis and polo shirts...I am old, and that reminds me of a PE teacher.

Huh. In my state I've hardly seen outpatient (and plenty of inpatient) PTs where anything but khakis and polos. Must really be a regional thing.

 

[DesertPT]

Sorry for the tangent OP.

As for the original question, if you wanted to go the gift card route, an iTunes/App store or Google Play gift card might be nice, there are some useful anatomy apps that can be a bit pricey and plenty of other useful apps as well. A lot of the good ones aren't free.

 

[DjT3kN]

To the OP... I'd suggest gift cards to Target or IKEA and the like if they are going to be moving to a new location for housing. This would definitely help decrease the cost for new furnishings and essentials. I've received several gift cards so far that will be quite useful once I'm settled in my new place for PT school. Just a suggestion... 😀

 

[ptlover]

A whiteboard and a skeleton are two good ones! highlighters and note cards too 🙂

 

[ptlover]

Lucky. My program requires you to wear scrubs to class every day for the first two (non-clinical) years. Bleh...but maybe I'll learn to like it...

Omg you are so lucky. I love scrubs! They are so comfy and it takes the edge off of thinking about what to wear everyday. I had to use them for a short period when I worked at an outpatient clinic (weird right, my thoughts would have been inpatient only lol) .

 

[KingsFan10]

I think it is regional. I worn one constantly in the south and east. Out west of the Mississippi.. no way. I have found people look at your strangely when you wear one. but scrubs and a lab coat every day in inpatient, and street clothes and lab coat in outpatient east of the Mississippi. And I personally have NEVER worn khakis and polo shirts...I am old, and that reminds me of a PE teacher.

I live in California and many PTs working in the inpatient hospital environment wear white coats. They are the same as the ones that the doctors wear, only differing in what is written on them ("Billy Jones, DPT"). Outside of the inpatient setting, however, it's the standard polo/khaki combination.

 

[DesertPT]

Omg you are so lucky. I love scrubs! They are so comfy and it takes the edge off of thinking about what to wear everyday. I had to use them for a short period when I worked at an outpatient clinic (weird right, my thoughts would have been inpatient only lol) .

Well at least the vote isn't unanimously against the scrubs ha! And as weird as it is for a PT program, as time goes on I am more and more into not having to find clothes in the morning. Shaves several minutes off the time it takes me to get out the door. 🙂 And when you're married and start getting a gut, scrubs do a pretty good job of hiding it ha 😉

 

[DjT3kN]

Well at least the vote isn't unanimously against the scrubs ha! And as weird as it is for a PT program, as time goes on I am more and more into not having to find clothes in the morning. Shaves several minutes off the time it takes me to get out the door. 🙂 And when you're married and start getting a gut, scrubs do a pretty good job of hiding it ha 😉

Who says I'm going to grow a gut after marriage?! Fit for life, brother. Haha!

 

[davidtheusername]

Growing a gut after marriage, nah. Growing a gut after you have a kid that won't let you sleep ever? That's where it happens. Been there. lol

A nice thing about switching to pt after being a teacher is I don't even have to change my work wardrobe to change careers. The same lame lame khakis and polos work for both. 🙂

 

[DesertPT]

Who says I'm going to grow a gut after marriage?! Fit for life, brother. Haha!

Come back to me after you've been married a few years! 😉 Really you're probably a lot better at exercising than I am lol

 

[rsdPT]

I wanted to bump this thread cos I'm starting PT school, and I was wondering if there are a few essentials I'd need such as sweats, shoes for clinicals, etc.

 

[DrEvil518]

My school made us wear a lot of formal clothes to class (slacks, nice tops, etc) and then we had to wear lab clothes the rest of the time. That was white t-shirts and shorts. I definitely agree that an amazon gift card is the way to go. That way, she can spend on books, clothing, and supplies as needed...

 

[king kona]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/231088795/veterinary-medical-caduceus-wall-emblem?ref=related-6