Linda Smith's message about the IBLCE exam as verifying basic information made a lot of sense. I work hard to promote increased knowledge among staff nurses. After being repeatedly told to "Get someone else to do some of what you do. They don't have to do everything, but they can do some of what you do so you won't be called so much," I proposed to the head nurse group that any interested staff member be given administrative support (meaning work time) for 6 months of training. The nurse would read one article a week that I would provide. We would meet monthly to discuss the articles. These nurses would accompany me for referrals. (I get a lot of "can't get the baby awake, can't get the baby to stop crying, can't get the baby to latch on, can't get the baby to stay latched on, sore nipples, talk to this mom on the telephone", and so on. Lactnetters know what I'm talking about.) I also requested that anyone interested be willing to spend one hour a week making follow-up telephone calls. Reference material is available on a bookshelf at the hospital. There has been a definite increase in staff skill levels in the year since I became the hospital's lactation consultant. (8 hours a week allocated for this part of my job.) I have provided numerous short inservices. However, there are no nurses who took up the opportunity to become "experts". As a staff nurse, I understand how hard it is to get everything done. I can fairly quickly get babies latched on and mothers calmed because I have lots of practice. Some nurses find it easier to have me do it than spend the time learning to improve their skills. As evidenced by LLLI leaders, having an interest (passion) for helping women breastfeed is what it takes to obtain the knowledge. Time to go. Thanks for listening. Becky