<<Our local hospital says it has 3 LCs.  One is certified but is called in to
work only "as needed", one works nights and is skilled but not certified,
and one is certified but works nights in pediatrics. How would you add that
up?>>

I'd say that hospital has one on-call LC.  I don't know about the whole of
Lactnet, but to me "LC" means IBCLC.  To the general public, I think "LC"
means anybody who says they have *any* breastfeeding credentials.  I have an
ongoing irritation with a hospital in my area who regularly sponsors seminars
by an IBCLC who teaches a 2-1/2 day course at the end of which you can take a
test and be designated a "Certified Breastfeeding Educator," I believe it's
called.  The hospital has many of those CBE's and I find it particularly
irritating to get one of their patients over for a consult and hear "but the
lactation consultant/specialist (meaning the CBE) over at ****** told me . .
."  To give nurses extra education in breastfeeding is wonderful!  To give
nurses a "credential" after a 2-1/2 day seminar and pass them off to the
public as experts, is deplorable.

Becky Krumwiede, RN, IBCLC
Appleton, Wisconsin

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