Margery - it was a well written letter. I am, however, a bit confused. An
LC on hospital staff may be compared with a PT or OT or other therapist who
comes into work with a client. Yes, you should know your way around the
environment. Evaluation usually has been done by someone. and that is why
the LC has been called in.

It sounds like this particular job description is 'two for the price of
one' since the RN's assistants are doing most of the actual contact with
the new mothers. It also sounds like this is an extra job for the primary
care nurse. LC's have to take a lot of TIME to be with mothers and assist
them.

I think by excluding non RN LC's from hospitals a lot of damage is done. It
is something we have to work on. I also think that LC's who will be in
hospital situations do need to know what is going on around them- extra
training.

As someone who was able to work in a community hospital ( in all depts.
with babies and children) for seventeen years I felt that my presence was
valuable possibly because I was not an RN and was able to be an advocate
for the breastfeeding dyad.

There have been situations where and RN/IBCLC was a requirement for being
hired and and LC has been able to prove that she, inspite of not being an
RN, was more qualified than any of the other candidates. Am thinking of Kay
Hoover, who was hired. Kay has been off of the NET for several months and
told me it was OK to bring her up as an example.

It would be great if LBCLC's were hired and the RN was another plus.

EVI