Silly question re: lab coats

Specialties NP

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Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

Which type of lab coat (if any) did you wear for clinicals as a NP student - short or long? We can purchase either for our clinicals, but I wanted a general idea of what is more acceptable or popular.

Thanks in advance! :)

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

We wore long lab coats with the college of nursing patch on the right arm similar to what the undergrads wore. Underneath, we wore either business casual attire or scrubs depending on the clinical area we were rotating in.

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it is customary for students to wear short coats. if you have an MD/DO preceptor they might be offended by you wear a long coat as a student and the last thing you want to do is offend the person determining your grade. My advice is take it the safe way, go with tradition, and dont tick anyone off- short coat.

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Which type of lab coat (if any) did you wear for clinicals as a NP student - short or long? We can purchase either for our clinicals, but I wanted a general idea of what is more acceptable or popular.

Thanks in advance! :)

The NP in our clinic wears a long coat. We wore long coats as nursing students, but we had name badges and embroidered "school of nursing" on ours. So I think it all depends on where you work.

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Specializes in ER, Critical Care, Paramedicine.

Long coat here as well.

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Which type of lab coat (if any) did you wear for clinicals as a NP student - short or long? We can purchase either for our clinicals, but I wanted a general idea of what is more acceptable or popular.

Thanks in advance! :)

Get one with lots of big pockets:chuckle

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I have to laugh at that one coreO! As a student, we could wear whatever we wanted. My paying job as an RN was a case manager, so I wore that short lab coat for everything. The grad students didn't have to wear the school patch, just a nametag so it was an easy and cheap solution.

In my area, the physicians wear the long light blue (like seersucker) lab coats and that is what my practice has me wearing also. However, the only reason I wear the lab coat is because I need the pockets!

The pockets are the most important thing, not the length IMHO.

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I have to laugh at that one coreO! As a student, we could wear whatever we wanted. My paying job as an RN was a case manager, so I wore that short lab coat for everything. The grad students didn't have to wear the school patch, just a nametag so it was an easy and cheap solution.

In my area, the physicians wear the long light blue (like seersucker) lab coats and that is what my practice has me wearing also. However, the only reason I wear the lab coat is because I need the pockets!

The pockets are the most important thing, not the length IMHO.

Agreed. The interesting thing is the longer I practice the less I have in my pockets. I did the same thing as a paramedic. You carry all this stuff around as a new grad, but all you really need is gloves, a stethoscope and a pen light. I have my list pretty pared down. Everything goes in its proper place. I carry my cellphone/PDA in the top pocket along with a pen. My stamp and business cards in my right pocket (along with keys if I'm wearing scrubs, and my patient list and stethoscope in the left. Everything right where I need it. No extra stuff.

PS. I also prefer the coats with the cloth buttons for a coolness factor.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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The PA school that I am attending has us wearing long coats. The Med students wear them aswell. The reason behind it ( if i recall correctly) is that we are continuously learning. :)

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a PDA fixes the pocket problem. ;-) everything you need in the "palm" of your hand so they say. :-D

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The PA school that I am attending has us wearing long coats. The Med students wear them aswell. The reason behind it ( if i recall correctly) is that we are continuously learning. :)

What med school is this? No med schools that I know of allow their students to wear long coats.

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Specializes in Perinatal Nursing.
Which type of lab coat (if any) did you wear for clinicals as a NP student - short or long? We can purchase either for our clinicals, but I wanted a general idea of what is more acceptable or popular.

Thanks in advance! :)

we wore long ones with a badge that stated we were nurses...

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