I would like to respond and add an "addendum" to Nina's recent post. She
is certainly very correct that there is very little lactation training
given in medical or nursing school. Hopefully, as schools become more
aware this will change. I see evidence of these changes from being a
participant on another internet board which is comprised of mostly nurses
(and nurse educators) from all over the country.
However, it is a gross exaggeration to assume that most ongoing education
of nurses is given by formula companies. That is simply not true. Those of
us with advanced certifications and even those without are required
(usually by their certifying board)to attned a certain number of
inservices and seminars for which we get the usual CEU's. This requirement
is set by each individual's hospital or place of employment and for
instance the NCC requires that I have a minimum of 45 CEU's every 5 years
to maintain my RNC certification. We all know what we need to maintain our
IBCLC credential. NONE of these credits can be obtained by attending
formula company's little presentations.
I find it a bit offensive that while some of you are writing about all the
courses and updates you attend, you then assume those of us with medical
backgrounds are doing the minimum and depending on the bogus information
given by our formula reps.
In the last 3 years, I have had the pleasure and good fortune to hear
Marsha Walker, Thomas Hale, T. Berry Brazelton, Jack Newman, and Jean
Watson Driscoll. This winter, I will add Ruth Lawrence and Linda Smith to
that list and next spring, Jean Cotterman.
There are people in every field who do the minimum and then there are
those of us who go above and beyond to keep current. I would love to do
more. So, yes, there are nurses and doctors who rarely update, but there
are also teachers who once tenured, never do one thing to keep current. I
was a teacher for years before going into nursing and I saw that first
hand.
My point is that there will always be those who don't practice as we like
and that is, indeed, sad.
You mentioned all these nurses that you assume have bothered to take the
IBCLC and have never nursed kids, don't believe in breastfeeding, like
ABM,etc. I have enough trouble drumming up interest in a three hour
breastfeeding class let alone talking someone into taking the IBCLC if
they don't have a strong commitment to breastfeeding. I find it difficult
to believe that the person you describe would ever have the time, energy
or be able to document the 2500 hours necessary to sit for the IBCLC exam.
Get real!
I do agree that the exam is no test of real skill. We all know that and
would agree, I think. But that is the way it is in any profession. Just
because someone can pass a bar exam does not mean he/she will be a
competant lawyer. You can apply this to any field.
This discussion has turned into an "us vs. them" discussion and for a
group who professes to be so professional,that's pretty disappointing.
I,too, agree that the SOP is poorly written and needs much revision. It
does gag people (some more than others). But let's cut the criticism.
As far as dropping one's credential and then going on to practice as
a "professional lactation consultant",that's probably just the kind of
activity that the IBLCE is trying to avoid.
I think that with all the flap that this has caused (and rightly so) the
IBLCE cannot help but go back and revisit this.Let's waait this out and
see what transpires.
Betsy Riedel RNC, IBCLC
Connecticut
Betsy Riedel RNC, IBCLC
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