As one of the cohort studied, I thought of various things to bring up to
this discussion:
1. I did much better than the first time I took the test in 1985, which
made me very pleased - thanks to JHL, Lactnet, etc, as well as going to as
many conferences as I could, though the last few years I had been unable to
attend due to the cost of flying to the US from Puerto Rico...
2. Whenever I explain what is an IBCLC (which is often in my new job) I get
looks of "respect" from professionals such as nurses who DON'T have to take
their boards again. They are probably thinking "I'm glad I don't have to,
because I don't know if I can pass it again...
Realizing we are a new profession, we need to do whatever we can to gain
that respect.
3. Yes, you can "cheat" with the CERPS - just go to the same sessions, over
and over, or give the same talks with a few changes and gain CERPS that way
- but the test is the test.
4. The test I took was VERY different from the one in '85 (and thanks so
much, IBLCE for the pictures in the booklet instead of the slides!). There
were questions based on up-to-date information - from studies out the last
5 years - that needed to be learned in order to know the correct answer.
I realize that it is a great expense to keep up with the newest information
- at times my husband says he doesn't know if he can afford my working -
because when I work, I spend it (and some more) on books and courses that I
wouldn't be able to afford if I didn't work. Kind of like "is it worth
having both parents work if the taxes, transportation, work clothes and
child care eat it all up"...
There are scholarships for the test - but often not for the courses.
Perhaps that is what we need to work on!
Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC
Vacaville, CA
mailto:[log in to unmask]
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