10 years ago when I first was certified, the pediatric practice I consulted
for applied for hospt. privileges for me so I could see moms in the hospt.
I was not then nor am now a nurse.  It wasn't hard.  I needed to fill out a
lot of paperwork, and the doctors I worked with needed to agree to supervise
me.  They didn't in reality do very much supervision, but they trusted me to
know my limits and not over-step them, and to communicate fully by written
report.  I made brief notes in their charts mostly just to document the
contact.  I was able to see moms in all of the then-existing hospt. (3) in
Austin.  I quit going as more RNs got certified and there was always
turf-related hostility about outsiders coming in to talk with patients.  I
tried to be sensitive to this, as of course it relates to job security and
people have a right to be sensitive to this as it effects the well-being of
their families.  I ultimately elected to drop practicing in hospt. as
opposed to strickly out-patient in order to not step on those toes.

I'd like to concur with Pardee Hinson that IBCLCs do not practice as RNs.
It should be a stand-alone credential as it does not esp. draw from any
specific training nurses receive.  In fact, it may be that some training
nurses have received will need to be un-learned in order to wear the LC hat.
I would really like to suggest the model we use NOT be the RN model.  Not
because I don't admire or appreciate nursing.  However, a more autonomous
model such as RD or OT/PT is more like what I think we need to emulate.

Just MHO.
Barbara

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Private Practice, Austin, Texas
Owner, Lactnews On-Line Conference Page
http://moontower.com/bwc/lactnews.html