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Date: | Tue, 9 Aug 2011 18:36:39 -0400 |
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Hi all -
This is a fascinating discussion. I am an IBCLC, and I did qualify to
sit the exam primarily through the volunteer pathway. As I was
studying for it, and soon after I passed it, I heard several times
from several long-time IBCLCs that the exam was an entry-level exam.
I believe this meant that if I had the knowledge to pass the exam, I
had enough general knowledge about breastfeeding and supporting
mothers to A) find a place to specialize (hospital/community/specific
populations etc), B) learn whatever additional stuff I needed to
serve my chosen location/population competently, C) be responsible for
keeping up with new information coming out that affected my practice
and D) be ready to retake the general exam again in 5 - 10 years by
maintaining awareness of information in the world beyond my particular
niche.
In many ways this puts responsibility on me to access the information
I need for the needs of my particular practice location. Some of
those needs might be required by an employer - CPR, OSHA standards,
etc. Some might be required by a professional organization and
practice standards (ethics, for example). Some will be useful based
on the community I practice in (more preemies because my referrals
come from a high-risk OB's office?). But it has been up to me to
acquire knowledge beyond this basic level all those with the "magic
letters" share to be able to serve the community I practice in.
What I feel is happening now is that the requirements have moved far
beyond entry-level entry-level expectations, and have become more
focused on meeting requirements commonly found in hospitals. I don't
think this is about RNs vs. volunteer counselors or even pathways. I
think it's about creating requirements for everyone that assume
competence (and hire-ability?) in the most complicated medical arena.
Morgan Kennedy Henderson, IBCLC, NMC
Massachusetts
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