What I find so frustrating is a job posting for a IBCLC position, but you must 
have experience....To get the experience you must be somehow working with 
moms..But you cant work with moms unless you have experience.  I know of 
non-RN's who "know" someone to sign off hours, so they can start working.  
NOt fair not right.  Its not what you it"s who you know.  We are all frustrated 
whether we are RN's who haved worked our tails off gleaning knowledge from 
those more experienced than us, then have someone sign off a co-workers 
hours...It stinks.  I have had the table turn on me the same way you say it 
turns on Non RN Ibclc's.  As you said it is about being creative in the way you 
get your hours.  I learned tons from my friend who is a non-RN ibclc, and has 
her one breastfeeding/maternity store.  She would let me sit with her (in the 
background) while she did her councel.  I learned about newborns, to toddlers 
and everywhere in-between.  I wouldn't sign off a RN who claimed hours the 
wrong way.  It only makes our profession look bad if he/she doesn't know 
what they are talking about and giving incorrect info.  There seems to be a 
thread throughout all this that disturbs me.  Its in the assumption that it is 
only nurses who abuse hours.  Like you said working in post-partum and 
claiming hours when they were giving incorrect information over and over.  I'm 
sure you  have percentages of nurses to non-nurses who use this or you 
wouldn't be so adamant about it.  I on the other hand have seen the non-
nurse get signed off. They are giving out wrong information, with no medical 
background at all.  Yes, i know breastfeeding in itself is not a medical problem, 
however, if you work in the hospital a nurse or non-nurse should Know how to 
do infant CPR. (just a point)  They are in a setting where an unstable baby 
can turn quickly downhill.  Like in a NICU or even a well baby nursery. I once 
worked with an idividual who was "getting" her hours to sit the exam, but 
never charted, didn't know CPR, brought her kids to the hospital while she saw 
pts.  Only credential she had was childbirth educator.  This is what makes my 
blood boil.  She had no business putting hands on anyone in my opinion.  
People in places of power turn their heads the other way.  It is not fair for 
anyone to get hours this way. It is not SAFE for any mom or baby to have 
someone working in the hospital environment or not with this background or 
lack  thereof.  I don't think it is fair getting hours practicing on someone when 
there is no one else their to see what kind of job you are doing.  She had NO 
preceptor!  This person has since left, as no nurse felt safe letting her handle 
the baby's.
I just never understood why the IBCLE would say one needs hours but never 
set up the education to help us get those hours say by being mentored.  I'm 
losing my train of thought here, its been a while since I got certified, but I 
remember being perplexed by the system.  While they want you to become an 
IBCLC they do not have a good program/foundation  to do that in my opinion.  
One must seek it their own education.  I found it frustrating and 
contradicting.  You have to function like an LC, but your not an LC while 
getting hours. I suppose I have seen it more often than not the non-nurse, 
while I suspect you have seen just the opposite.  Either one is not acceptable.

my thoughts,
robin

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