Jan,
This bothers me, too. But did you notice your own signature line? Like most
RN's you have "added-on" the IBCLC credential after your other credentials.
Shouldn't anyone who considers them self an IBCLC first list that first as
the primary credential??? I've noticed this even with those who were IBCLC
first and "added-on" an RN (i.e., they still sign them selves "Jane Doe, RN,
IBCLC, RLC" instead of "Jane Doe, IBCLC, RLC, RN")
Flossie Rollhauser, IBCLC, RLC
PS. I welcome any comment on this, as it has been running around in my head
lately and Jan's post just provided an opportunity to ask the Lactnet
community for their opinions.
Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2005 09:11:21 EDT
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: IBCLC an "add-on" credential???
My dh found a short article in the Chicago Tribune Magazine today entitled
"Mother's Helpers" about the 10th annual meeting of ILCA which "drew 1,000
to
the Chicago Hilton and Towers July 8-12".
While on the main, it was a good, albeit short, article, this is the piece
that distressed me:
".....of this "organization of *nurses* (emphasis mine) who advise women
about breast-feeding (sic).
It went on to say that "Most of the ILCA's members are either hospital and
public health nurses or nurses in private practice."
It makes me sad to think that ILCA is known as an organization of nurses.
It gives short shrift to the many excellent non-nurse IBCLCs -- many of
whom
were primary in starting the organization and the profession.
Of course, when the IBLCE itself identifies the IBCLC credential as an "add
on" for -- well here, this is what they say:
"The IBCLC credential is primarily an add-on qualification which brings
together health professionals and mother support counsellors, who share a
common
knowledge base in human lactation. Among those who become IBCLCs are
midwives,
nurses, health visitors, child health nurses, physicians, pediatricians,
obstetricians, educators, dietitians, occupational therapists,
physiotherapists
and experienced mother support counselors."
(_http://www.iblce.org/role.htm_ (http://www.iblce.org/role.htm) ) then it
is no wonder that people who
write for publications such as the Chicago Tribune are a bit confused
about who
we are and what we do....
I've never thought of my IBCLC as an "add on" to my RN. In fact, when
people ask what I do, I identify myself FIRST as a lactation consultant.
Occasionally I might add that "oh yes, I'm also an RN and have worked in
some aspect
of maternal child health since Hector was a pup...." (For you youngun's,
that means a LONG LONG time.).
I was hoping our goal was to move to the IBCLC being a primary credential,
not an add on.
Evidently I was wrong.
Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC/RLC
Wheaton IL
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