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PA & PA School Essentials
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items As a current PA, these are essential tools for getting through PA school…and for getting through the day 🩺
Sections
4
Technology
Get Comfy
Additional PA/PA School Resources
Custom PA Gifts
Technology
A big must for both PA school and after - a trusty laptop! A 16GB memory and 512 GB SSD should be enough (although do pay attention to any specifications given by your PA program). You can always choose more memory and SSD depending on your budget.
MacBook Pro 14-inch Laptop - Apple M4
This is another solid choice for a laptop (and about half the price of a MacBook Pro!) if you’re a Windows girlie like me. This computer has a great battery life (very important!) and comes with more storage than many can reasonably afford on a MacBo...
Dell 14 Plus Laptop
I have found an iPad to be helpful both during school and after. The iPad Air has everything you need, so don’t feel like you need the iPad Pro. I did appreciate having this in the larger screen size though since I used it a lot for drawing and note ...
iPad Air M3 chip
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is another solid option for a tablet and comes with the compatible pen!
Galaxy Tab S11
The Apple Pencil Pro is my choice for a couple different (practical) reasons: 1) it magnetically attaches to the iPad (I’m always losing things!) and 2) it charges while attached to the iPad (I don’t need to keep track of any more cords or hunt down ...
Apple Pencil Pro
Noise cancelling headphones for the #win. If you’re a fan of in-ear earbuds these are my pick!
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
These over-ear noise cancelling headphones are great for both studying and working out 🎧 Truly a lifesaver when I just needed to focus in school!
Shop Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
| Bose
Get Comfy
Compression socks help my legs, feet, and arches during long days on my feet both during clinical year and in practice. I like that Apolla’s come in many lengths and shapes. I look for ones that are 20-30 mmHg compression!
Apolla Compression Socks
I am a sucker for some sweat pants. Wide leg, flair, leggings, you name it. I like these because of their silhouette, but also because they are mostly made of cotton and not synthetic fabrics. These are perfect for those long days of studying!
Forever Fleece Wide Leg - Athleta
Joggers! How could I forget about joggers…does anyone else hate when the bottom of your pants gets wet? 🙋♀️ Joggers are my best friend for rainy or snowy days for this reason!
Whistler Thermal Joggers in Black
The Ultra High Rise Elation 7/8 Legging is a go-to of mine. It is buttery soft and super comfy. I usually snag these when they’re on sale!
Elation Ultra High Rise 7/8 Legging | Athleta
Old Navy for the win on these flare leggings 💋 I love that these come in petite, regular, and tall length AND several different colors. They are also primarily made of nylon and not just synthetic materials.
High-Waisted StudioSmooth Flare Leggings | Old Navy
I had been eyeing this bra, known for its posture correcting abilities, for over a year before I decided to purchase it - and I’m glad that I made the purchase! Our posture is a small piece of our overall health that can have a big impact. I wear thi...
Power+ Bra-luxury posture engineered for back health
Once I found the cushioning of Hoka’s I never went back despite how bulky I think the majority of their shoes are. The Arahi line seems to tread that balance, though, and my go-to is the classic black and white. All this coming from someone who spend...
Women's Arahi 8 | Hoka
Additional PA/PA School Resources
Sometimes I just wanted a break from screens and I found having a sketchbook very handy to draw out certain anatomy or pathophysiology. I like this one because it’s a bit larger in size and the pages are thicker so there’s no bleeding through of pens...
Pen+Gear Sketch Pad
I am a visual person so I LOVE multi-colored pens. Having either a 4-in-1 or 6-in-1 pen is a lifesaver for keeping track of pertinent information throughout my day.
BIC 4-Color Retractable Ballpoint Pens
You can never really have enough (colored) pens!
BIC 4-Color Fashion Ballpoint Pens
A large whiteboard that I could put on my wall was one of the best investments I made in PA school (I still use it!). It helped with studying when I didn’t want to camp out at school all day (or night!).
Dry Erase Whiteboard with Pen Tray
You can’t beat the Walmart brand dry erase markers - they write well with good color and of course you can’t beat the price!
Pen+Gear Dry Erase Markers
There’s no getting around it, the Expo whiteboard cleaning spray is a must and this one does the trick every time. Does anyone hate anything more than a dirty whiteboard?!
EXPO Dry Erase Whiteboard Cleaning Spray
I’ve tried other whiteboard erasers, but this one is my favorite. Does its job and holds up well.
Expo Whiteboard Eraser, 1 Count
I have this large, clear Command caddy hanging by my whiteboard so my dry erase markers and eraser are within reach.
Command | Caddy, Clear, Large, Wall Caddy
This Stanley shaker bottle is perfect for a mid-day protein shake AND there is a detachable container that can hold your protein until you’re ready to mix it in. Also doubles as a water bottle and is dishwasher safe.
The Vitalize™ Shaker Bottle | 20 OZ | Stanley
Hydration is key! Trust me, you’ll get to the end of the day and wonder if you even ate/drank water all day 🫠 I like this Owala water bottle because it’s a 2-in-1 sip or swig spout, is cup holder friendly, comes in either 30 or 40 oz sizes, and has ...
FreeSip® Sway | Owala®
I love pen lights. What I like about these is that they are powered by AAA batteries, bright, AND they have a pupil gauge which also doubles as estimating measurements of skin lesions or wounds. Unfortunately, I regularly lose them which is why I buy...
LED Pen Lights for Nurses with Pupil Gauge
A suture pad is not the same as suturing skin, but getting reps in is key. This is the suture pad I have and it has everything you need to get started. Pro Tip: at the end of each case ask if there are any unused sutures you can have!
Suture Practice Kit
Custom PA Gifts
I did a post-graduate fellowship after PA school and keeping a journal of all of the things that went well came in handy on those days when I felt lost or defeated.
Personalized Physician Assistant Journal | Etsy
I’ve had my eye on this unique art ever since I got into PA school. It’s a special way to commemorate the time you spent and would look great as part of several wall art pieces.
Personalized Medical School Custom Map | Etsy
A perfect sassy gift for your bestie :)
Badass Future PA Custom Candle | Etsy