As an exam candidate for this July, I have found this discussion to
be very relevant.  I did join ILCA last fall as part of my
preparation for joining the profession.  I wish I could afford the
conference.  It sounds like heaven.  I also plan to join the local
Lactation Consultant's Association soon.

I agree that it is important that all LC be as informed as
possible.  Finding ways to do this without spending large amounts of
money or doing it while one has small children is difficult.  Thank
you for all the good ideas.  I would like to add an idea and a
request.

One learning method that worked well for me was an online Lactation
course.  Online courses are available at the university level as
well as home study modules.  LLLI has some good home study modules
with more being added.  Lactnews in a good source of information on
these types of educational opportunities.  I  even mentioned to Tom
Hale that he should give some thought to starting an online
Pharmacology & Lactation course after meeting with him at a
conference recently. I told him a number of Lactnetters would
probably jump at the chance to take such a course.   While such
courses are not cheap, they do allow those of us with young children
to have access to the latest information without leaving home.

The request:  Kathleen mentioned that there are a number of journals
that she reads each year.  Kathleen, if you think it is appropriate
to discuss here, could you elaborate on which journals in addition
to the JHL you might recommend a LC consider reading to keep
current?
--
Janet Vandenberg, RN, BScN,
Ontario, Canada