Useful Items for Clinical Rotations
Hello friends! It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog post because of the crazy whirlwind of grad school! I just finished my didactic portion of PT school! π This term has been rough and hectic (the COVID situation doesn’t make it any better), but I’m so glad it’s now over! In September, I’ll be going to Florida to start my second clinical rotation. These next two rotations will be 12-week long internships, and then we just have graduation after that! Because my cohort and lots of other PT students around the country are starting to prepare for clinical rotations, I just wanted to create a list of items that might be useful to purchase for internships!
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*Click on the item name for a direct link to the item page β these are affiliate links so purchasing from them would really support me, but if youβre uncomfortable with it, no worries! You can just search for the item title at the store of your choice!
GENERAL
>> your one stop shop for staying organized, keeping track of your goals, and improving your mental health – all important things to think of when going out to clinicals away from home
- undated, calendar year, academic, and daily planners
- provides schedule layout with work and personal to-do lists at the bottom
- each week has an inspirational quote, blank space, places to write “this week’s focus,” and “good things that happened”
- includes monthly reflection spreads and blank (plain and dotted) pages in the back
- their website has free pdf downloads if you wanna try it out before buying the physical item (they also have free spreads – water tracker, habit tracker, workout tracker – you can print and insert into your planner)
- use “VALENTINE10” for 10% off if you wanna save some moneys
personal recs: I personally have the undated, medium planner cause it’s the perfect size to write comfortably and I like how it limits wasting pages! I love using Muji ballpoint pens, Zebra Mildliner highlighters, and Tombow water-based markers on this planner! (see my Instagram story highlight for a mini walkthrough of my new planner) For clinicals, I would actually recommend the Passion Planner Daily – it has a daily spread with a schedule outline, to-do lists, and an entire blank pages for your ideas. This one would be great for self-reflection after each day of clinical, ensuring that you make the most of this experience!
>> the notebook that never runs out of pages
- reuseable notebook with lots of different colors and sizes
- comes with an erasable pen and wiping cloth
- free app lets you automatically scan pages as pdfs into whatever storage website you want (dropbox, google drive, email, etc)
- set up your key in the app to easily send docs to those designated locations when you mark it on the page
- can use any erasable writing utensils on it
personal recs: I got the Rocketbook as a gift and was able to use it throughout my clinical rotations! It was so helpful to write down my daily treatment plans and save them all automatically without wasting paper. I have the letter size, and it is the perfect size to carry around the clinic. I also recommend to use the clickable Pilot Frixion pens because these ones don’t take a long time to dry and come in a finer tip than the one that the Rocketbook originally comes with.
>> watch whatever you want to, wherever you are
- just need to plug into a TV and you’re good to go
- stream Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN, Youtube and more
- built-in Alexa voice remote
- small and portable
- comes with it’s own remote and batteries
- if you have Amazon Prime, you can access lots of free TV shows and movies (as a student, you can sign up for Prime Student and get 6 months of Prime for free and then just pay 50% of the normal Prime rate)
personal recs: I got an Amazon Fire TV Stick at the very beginning of my first clinical rotation in Louisiana, and I was so glad I did! Since the location of my Airbnb wasn’t really safe, all I could do was stay home after work. In my tiny apartment, I watched Netflix and Hulu using this (the TV there only had basic cable) and used the Youtube feature to do some home workouts! I will definitely be bringing it for this next rotation!
>> one mask a day keeps the COVID away π¬
- 6 pack of straps in all different colors
- 3 different levels to ensure the correct fit for each person
- compatible with all kinds of masks
- relieves pressure to back of ears from mask loops
- non-slip silicone material makes it durable and easy to clean
personal recs: Since the US is still fighting COVID, many clinics are requiring masks to be worn by employees and patients. As a result, we will probably be wearing masks for almost 8 hours straight every work day π To avoid pain on the back of my ears, I ordered these straps to prevent the constant pressure of the mask loops on my ears! (for some cloth masks, check out these ones from Etsy that I love!)
>> travel friendly tumbler for those early mornings or late nights
- 12 oz. tumbler
- stainless steel, double-walled, insulated
- keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold (can double as a coffee tumbler and wine tumbler)
- comes in lots of colors
- different PT saying/phrase options on website
- can save 20% off your purchase with the code “VAL20”
personal recs: I’m actually ordering one of these for this 12 week clinical! I’m planning on having lots of coffee and wine, so this will come in handy π You want to pack minimally if you’re flying to the clinic location, so having this two-in-one will help to save some space!
>> gotta get ready for the meal prep lunches to bring to work every day
- 100+ meal prep recipes + 3x2wk meal plans
- healthy recipes created by a dietician
- includes storage and safety and safety tips
- can choose from recipes for weight loss, clean eating and building muscle
- tips for efficient and easy meal prepping
personal recs: I just ordered this cookbook on Amazon to bring to clinicals! As someone who literally cooks the same 5 meals π , I figured having a cookbook to help create some variety in my lunches/dinners, especially on rotations when I won’t want to spend hours cooking. I’ll keep you guys posted on these recipes on my Instagram stories!
>> better safe than sorry…
- finger grip on the device
- quick release for easy access
- key chain ring so you can easily attach to your keys or backpack
- small and compact
- many different color options
personal recs: During my first clinical, I was placed in a city with a crime rate of 130% the national average. Because of this, I brought TWO pepper sprays and a taser with me π I definitely didn’t need two, but my boyfriend got me an extra just in case! Thankfully, I never needed to use them (I was very careful since I was in Louisiana alone for 6 weeks), but I’m glad I had these just in case something were to happen!
>> short nails are a must for PT’s/SPT’s
- nail clippers on a keychain for convenience
- also includes a nail file and screwdriver
- thin, lightweight, and foldable
personal recs: When I worked in the clinic, having short nails all the time was definitely a necessity. One PT I worked with always carried one of these in her bag. Even in PT school, I would always forget to cut my nails so my partner got nail indents sometimes when we did manual techniques (sorry Jina π )! Having these portable nail clippers would be super helpful in saving your patients from painful long nail marks!
>> keep all of your belongings safe, whether you’re at the airport or the clinic
- anti-theft design with fixed lock and durable zippers
- water resistant with polyester material
- USB charging port to connect to your own portable power bank
- lots of pockets and compartments with a separate laptop compartment
- adjustable side straps
- hidden zipper pocket
personal recs: My friend got this for her clinical rotations, and she loves it! A backpack with multiple compartments would be really useful for traveling, but the anti-theft feature can be helpful to those traveling to high crime areas!
OUTPATIENT
Ortho Notes: Clinical Examination Pocket Guide
>> everything you need to know for an OP setting in one little book
- full of info you might need for an OP clinical including: red flags, systems screenings, anatomy, special tests, outcome measures, osteokinematics, nerves, pathologies, etc.
- waterproof pages
- small and portable
- includes sections on all UE, LE, and spine
- lots of tables and images
personal recs: I’m going to an OP clinic for this upcoming rotation, so my friend got this for me as a gift (thanks Annie β€οΈ)! It’s going to be super helpful if I need to look up something real quick, and it can easily fit in my bag!
Therex Notes: Clinical Examination Pocket Guide
>> a mini Therapeutic Exercise textbook in your pocket ππ»ββοΈ
- therex organized by body region
- written by Kisner and Colby, the authors of the famous Therapeutic Exercise textbook
- therex guidelines for specific ortho pathologies
- therex examples correlating to different goals (mobility, muscle performance, stability, balance, etc)
- lots of photos demonstrating each technique
personal recs: this little pocket guide will be super useful in the clinic! I’ve referenced the Therapeutic Exercise textbook so much in PT school, so this is a great mini version of one of the most well known books!
INPATIENT
WhiteCoat Clipboard – Physical Therapy Edition
>> this handy dandy clipboard can even fit in your pocket π
- full size clipboard that can fold in half
- can hold standard sized paper
- can hold 15-30 pieces of paper without creasing
- has lots of useful PT info for inpatient PT’s (myotomes/dermatomes, MMT grades, normal lab values, glasgow coma scale, etc)
- can fit in most lab coat pockets
- HIPAA compliant
personal recs: I haven’t had a full inpatient clinical yet, but when I went with my CI to work in an acute care hospital a couple times during my last rotation, one of the PT’s there had this clipboard. She raved about me, making me excited to get one for an inpatient rotation. It definitely can fit in the lab coat pocket and even in a scrub pocket – super portable and easy to use when you have lots to carry in a hospital!
>> limit bringing COVID home from work π¦
- lightweight unisex duffel bag
- wet/dirty clothes and shoes compartment
- side mesh pocket for water bottle(s)
- water resistant
- padded shoulder strap
- lots of different color options
personal recs: I bought this for my boyfriend as a gym bag for basketball, but I think this would be great for those of you going on clinicals in an inpatient setting! Because you might be in contact with COVID or other contagious patients, the wet/dirty clothes compartment would be good to use and put dirty clothes into before heading home. Changing shoes when leaving the inpatient facility might also be a good idea (shoes can get very dirty) so the side shoe compartment will be useful for those contaminated shoes!
I hope you guys found some of these useful! These items are geared towards the COVID precautions that clinics have to adhere to at the moment, so I know some of these might not be as useful later on. It’s an uneasy time right now in 2020, but the only thing we can do be stay prepared. I also have a Clinical Rotations Checklist if you guys want to make sure you’ve completed everything needed to have a successful internship! Stay safe and learn lots during clinicals!
