Barbara Wilson-Clay says,


> Taking a test puts a bit more pressure on us all to perform.  While it can
> feel stressful, studying and reviewing force us to consider new info that
> has been published since we first certified.  It motivates us to re-think
> whether our knowledge base is secure.  That is uncomfortable (and expensive)
> for us, but really good for the consumers of our services.  Certification
> with periodic forced re-cert by exam is the vanguard position to insure
> professional competence, and I am proud that our profession has pioneered
> this in US health care.
>
>
Hear hear!  Barbara has hit the nail on the head.  And while I know there is
a lot of concern about having to retake the exam (we don't have to do it as
RNs -- why should we as IBCLCs?), there are even more good reasons for taking
it.  For one thing, many IBCLCs work in a vacuum.  If you are in private
practice, you are working alone.  Most of us aren't in an office with several
others IBCLCs to bounce ideas off of.  Even working in a hospital, often you
might be the only one -- or perhaps you are alone in a WIC clinic.  One of
the worst things that can happen to an LC is for her to become stagnant --
for her to be giving outdated information because that is what she learned 10
years ago in her lactation management class.....if anything, we need to be on
the cutting edge of the newest research related to lactation issues....we
can't afford to be stale.  HAVING to recertify by exam assures that we at
least are studying the newer materials.

On a personal note, I found that taking the exam for the second time, 10
years later in 1997 was a lot of fun.  I really enjoyed it and was thrilled
at how much I knew I knew.  Anne Andrianos took it the same time I did, and
we did exactly what I tell everyone NOT to do -- we postmortemed over lunch.
But it really was enjoyable, and nothing to be concerned about the second
time around -- IF you are practicing as an IBCLC, keeping up on your reading,
going to conferences AND paying attention (rather than going shopping or
sightseeing).  One of the neatest benefits of attending conferences is seeing
lots of old friends, meeting new friends, recognizing folks from Lactnet,
exchanging ideas -- it's SO much fun!  And I'll tell you, one of the best
conferences I've been to (so far) this year was the one in Madison WI which
featured our Diane Weissinger and Barbara Wilson-Clay.  I took LOTS of
notes!!  And if you can't get to ILCA this year -- plan to attend another
conference someplace else.

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC -- Wheaton IL
Lactation Education Consultants
www.lactationeducationconsultants.com

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