Laurie wrote:

<Someone once suggested if your job is mainly ibclc to put
that credential first. I will try to do so, altho after 22 yrs, this is
hard
to change.>

Can someone tell me if there is any "strict" rule about this, or is it
mostly custom? I was always under the impression that the credentials
were usually listed in order of their chronological attainment, with of
course, bachelor's degrees left off if master's was obtained, and
likewise, master's not noted if PhD attained, etc.

I guess no one else in the world would really have a clue as to which was
attained first, and would it make more sense to put the credential first
for the particular expertise you are applying to your work? I am curious
to hear others' thoughts.

I feel pretty much like Jan when she says: <But
what I have done as a nurse has helped shape who I am as an IBCLC. . . .
I can't imagine being a lactation consultant w/o being
a nurse in MCH -- ONLY & BECAUSE I was a nurse first. . . . . It has
nothing to do w/ nurses
being better IBCLCs because they are nurses -- or anything else.
Everyone
who comes into the profession brings strengths, regardless of their
background.>

Also someone said something about lactation consulting doomed to be
assimilated into the nursing profession. My first response to that was:
FAT CHANCE! PANDORA'S BOX HAS BEEN OPENED!

The nursing profession had years to improve it's insights, dedication to
the value of breastfeeding, etc. etc. I felt like I was struggling in
vain from within the profession in the 1960's to move practices out of
the dark ages in my locale.

I might add that my initial knowledge to begin that struggle to change
practice came entirely from my personal experience courtesy of LLL! These
insights revolutionized the way I practiced my MCH nursing.

Before that experience, even with years working in all areas of the
maternity department, and having tried the hospital rules of the time and
failed in my attempts to breastfeed my first 3 children, I had no clue.

As I see it, the nursing profession, represented by the American Nurses
Association, and all the various MCH specialization organizations just
plain MISSED THE BOAT, not realizing what a potential "health diamond in
the rough" lay within nursing's domain (And medicine's domain likewise!).


The IBCLE's sterling, internationally recognized credentials for the
thoroughness of it's examination process might give them cause to feel
that "someone stole their thunder", with some possible submerged
jealousy!

I admire the fact that certain educational efforts are now being made
within AWHONN, and the Nurse's Certification Corporation, notably by
ILCA's past president Sally Page-Goertz. However, I hope that this
doesn't lead to just one more competing "course" that hospital's accept
for considering someone a "lactation specialist".

I wonder, NOT that the nursing profession will try to re-incorporate
lactation consultancy within it's specialty, but that it will re-invent a
competing specialty track that will somehow get the job done a little
better in maternity departments without all the ethical considerations
involving the Code!

May the day come when instead of worrying about whether it's IBCLC's have
an RN as well, hospitals will worry about calling an RN (or anybody else)
a "lactation specialist" without them having an IBLCE certification (and
ample, appropriate training)!

Hence, the necessity to move toward complete academic degree programs,
that could certainly incorporate some credit-for-life-long-learning
within their framework. If lactation consulting is ever to be further
defined as a distinct profession, basic academic preparation must evolve.

The whole evolution thus far reminds me of the evolution of the
Respiratory Therapy profession, which did not exist when I graduated
nursing school.

And any nurse who wishes to refer to herself as a specialist in the
pulmonary nursing field better have impeccable, advanced specialty
academic credentials, and even then, she will not be doing what the
respiratory therapist does at the patient's bedside!

K. Jean Cotterman, IBCLC, RNC
(Gee, that does take thought to reverse the order after so many years!)
Dayton, Ohio USA

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