I swore I would not comment on this issue as I am not an RN or IBCLC yet, but I
can't help myself.

The point that I keep reaching when trying to decide if I should attend nursing
school is this:  If we (IBCLC and hopefuls)  all run to get RN beside our names
in order gain acceptance or credibility, what does IBCLC really mean to us?
Does it mean that we view our IBCLC as not quite up to the mark?  How are we
going to gain acceptance from other hcps if we discount or feel the need to
augment our own credential to establish ourselves as IBCLCs?  Sometimes I think
I would like to get an RN so that I can have an "easier" time getting a
lactation program started in my community, obtaining malpractice insurance or
gain access to areas that RNs are entitled to and I would not have if I were
just plain IBCLC.  But I feel that by intentionally combining the two for these
reasons promotes the idea that lactation should be viewed as a RNursing Staff's
responsibility or maybe just not good enough on its own.  Isn't that where LCs
have evolved from in the first place (RNursing)?  It didn't work well then in my
opinion and with the way RNursing is going today... do they need MORE work to do
on top of everything else?  Have we come this far to turn back now?  Where would
we draw the line?  Do we need an entire alphabet after our names before we are
comfortable with our own profession, gain acceptance or posture in the medical
community?  Or will we establish and uphold our profession for what it is?  (I
probably have made a people angry now, sorry.)

I am for viewing IBCLCs for the trained and certified professionals that they
have become.  My moms respect me and are grateful for the help that I am able to
give to them as a student prearing for IBCLC exam.  I am not a RN, BS, BA, RD,
etc. and find that the moms and babies really don't care anyway.  They just want
to be helped and understood.  As for the medical community...I guess this is
where I practice patience and try to understand that they truely are
"informationally impaired" as Margret Wilson had said here on Lacnet in the
past.  This helps me keep from losing my mind out here (not to say I haven't
lost it recently).  I view my current  position as one of presenting accurate
and up-to-date information with a lot of free services and literature to create
my own corner in the community.  Granted, there are people who don't want me
here.   To the ones that do, I am as good as gold.  To many, I am the only
support person they have (including their OB-GYN and Ped).  I think that after
"they" see that I am not going anywhere and am actually an asset to them, I will
have gain a real acceptance that will stand on its own, without an alphabet.

I will step down now!  Sorry!!!!  I hope I have not offended anyone by this as
it was not my intention to do so.

Melissa Brancho, IBCLC hopeful for 1998
Who will just shut up for awhile now!