Jan, 

This bothers me, too. But did you notice your own signature line? Like most
RN's you have "added-on" the IBCLC credential after your other credentials.
Shouldn't anyone who considers them self an IBCLC first list that first as
the primary credential???  I've noticed this even with those who were IBCLC
first and "added-on" an RN (i.e., they still sign them selves "Jane Doe, RN,
IBCLC, RLC" instead of "Jane Doe, IBCLC, RLC, RN")

 

Flossie Rollhauser, IBCLC, RLC

 

PS. I welcome any comment on this, as it has been running around in my head
lately and Jan's post just provided an opportunity to ask the Lactnet
community for their opinions.

 

Date:    Sun, 7 Aug 2005 09:11:21 EDT

From:    [log in to unmask]

Subject: IBCLC an "add-on" credential???

 

My dh found a short article in the Chicago Tribune Magazine today entitled  

"Mother's Helpers" about the 10th annual meeting of ILCA which "drew 1,000
to  

the Chicago Hilton and Towers July 8-12".

 

While on the main, it was a good, albeit short, article, this is the piece  

that distressed me:

 

".....of this "organization of *nurses* (emphasis mine) who advise women  

about breast-feeding  (sic).  

 

It went on to say that "Most of the ILCA's members are either hospital and  

public health nurses or nurses in private practice."  

 

It makes me sad to think that ILCA is known as an organization of  nurses.  

It gives short shrift to the many excellent non-nurse IBCLCs --  many of
whom 

were primary in starting the organization and the profession.

 

Of course, when the IBLCE itself identifies the IBCLC credential as an "add


on" for -- well here, this is what they say:

 

"The IBCLC credential is primarily an add-on qualification which brings  

together health professionals and mother support counsellors, who share a
common  

knowledge base in human lactation. Among those who become IBCLCs are
midwives, 

 nurses, health visitors, child health nurses, physicians, pediatricians,  

obstetricians, educators, dietitians, occupational therapists,
physiotherapists  

and experienced mother support counselors."   

(_http://www.iblce.org/role.htm_ (http://www.iblce.org/role.htm) )   then it
is no wonder that people who 

write for publications such as the Chicago  Tribune  are a bit confused
about who 

we are and what we do....

 

I've never thought of my IBCLC as an "add on" to my RN.  In fact, when  

people ask what I do, I identify myself FIRST as a lactation consultant.   

Occasionally I might add that "oh yes, I'm also an RN and have worked in
some  aspect 

of maternal child health since Hector was a pup...."  (For you  youngun's, 

that means a LONG LONG time.).  

 

I was hoping our goal was to move to the IBCLC being a primary credential,  

not an add on.  

 

Evidently I was wrong.  

 

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC/RLC

Wheaton IL

 


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