In every profession you will have people that are a little better than
others
in doing their job.  I know that this is true.  I just felt that with all
the negative comments that were being made about RN's, a positive one was
deserved.  You have to remember that helping mothers with breastfeeding is a
skill, a new nurse with no experience, or someone that has never breastfed
is most likely not going to be proficient in doing this.  I know that it can
be frustrating
when you have people giving mothers the wrong information, but I do believe
 that it is the job of the hospital based lactation consultant to keep the
staff informed in current
information.  I can't believe that there is any nurse that would knowingly
give the wrong information out. I have seen people that may not believe the
information when it is presented as a lactation consultants opinion - again
I think the trick to getting staff to support breastfeeding,  is to give
them medically based information.  Don't give them one on the sheets that we
would give a mother stating the benefits of breastfeeding - bring in a text
book that has the information.
      It is true that all the staff on a maternity unit should be able to
provide correct information concerning breastfeeding, and know when to refer
a mother to a lactation consultant.
       Not all RN's are going  to be able to help a mother that is having
problems - there will always be a few nurses on a unit the are better at
that then others.  The same holds true in the lactation profession.
      Stephanie Mabin RN,C IBCLC

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