Hi Tricia,
This isn't new, except that the offer is now for online education, rather
than face-to-face. Offers of breastfeeding educatin by the manufacturers is
a long-standing ploy (including reps selecting a soft target to approach
with the offer). Besides providing questionable content, these situationa
give them access to staff and also names and contact details for further
contact. As the education offer was "free", that creates gratitude and
trust, leading to cosy feelings about the "nice" providers (who are paid to
present as "nice" and understanding). Gratitude skews people's judgment.
Always keep in mind - these people need a relationship with health staff
more than you need them. Just say no is the best rule.
Virginia
in Brisbane, QLD, Australia
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tricia Shamblin" <>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2013 4:39 PM
Subject: formula companies offering breastfeed education to RNs
Hi all,
Here's something I have to ask everyone's opinion on, have you ever heard of
this before - my manager met with the similac rep, and she offered to give
us "free" online learning modules so that we could become Baby Friendly. I
was floored! I think I had a hard time disguising the look of horror on my
face when my boss brought it up to me. The rep assured her that lots of
hospitals use it to teach their RN's about breastfeeding and become Baby
Friendly. Really? I doubt that.
I think she met with my boss instead of me because earlier in the week she
emailed me and asked me if I would like any of her materials about
breastfeeding. LOL. I looked at one of them and of course it was awful, so I
sent her a long email detailing all of the problems in her handouts. Funny,
but I never heard back from her again... I started the email with, "Look,
I'm sure your a nice person, but...."
So I guess she decided to meet with my boss instead of me, and offered her
"free" online education for the nurses. I'm trying to get management to
understand the concept that you get what you pay for, and we don't want to
let businesses market to our patients, but it's hard for management to grasp
this concept, especially in this economy.
I think we shouldn't let any companies market to our OB patients, not just
formula companies. Anyone have good ideas for talking to management about
this. We just banned the bags last year, and I've gotten rid everything with
formula logos on it. As we are going through staff training I'm going to
explain to them why we can't take free things from formula reps anymore. But
what about freebies from diaper companies, or baby shampoo, what does
everyone think about that? I've taken everything out of the patient
education folders that has a company logo on it. But I'm debating about
diaper and baby shampoo samples in the gift bags, I'd love to hear what
other hospitals do.
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