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Subject:
From:
Vicki Pena <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 29 Dec 1998 08:22:32 EST
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Dear Lactnetters,
  Long time lurker here.  First time poster.  I just have to add my two cents
worth on being IBCLC.  I sat for my boards 11 years ago after having been a
LLL for 9 years.  After recieving my certification  I had and still have a
private practice and then 7 years ago I began to work for a large teaching
hospital here in Phx.  Everyone assumed I was a nurse and I had a hard time
convincing everyone I worked with I was not.  4.5 years ago I began nursing
school to increase my knowledge base and just graduated in December. (Oh no!
More boards in January!)  Now what did I learn in nursing school?  I learned
about disease process and how to work with other HCP's and a lot about team
management.  What did I learn about breastfeeding?  Believe it or not I taught
bf to my OB class.  Does being a nurse make me a better lactation consultant?
I would have to say yes only because I was a lactation consultant first.  Does
being a nurse first make a person a better lactation consultant?  I would have
to say no because just like it would take me a lot of time and experience to
become a good nurse it will take a new IBCLC the same time to become a good
lactation consultant.  And no I am not going to work as a nurse.  No can
believe it but I really went to nursing school to be a better lactation
consultant.  That is all I really want to do.  I have had a lot of nurses ask
me about becoming a lactation consultant and everyone wants a quick and easy
way to do so.  Just like it took me 4.5 years to go to nursing school, it
takes a lot of time and effort to be IBCLC.  Being a good OB nurse does not
neccesarily make one a good LC.
   Vicki Pena IBCLC ( and hopefully RN)

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