Hi, All:  Sorry I'm a week late in jumping in with my 2 cents worth about
workplace attire, but I've been on vacation to St. Louis, MO to visit my
Occupational Therapy student daughter during record-setting heat.
Figures.  I've been creating and running hospital-based programs since 1986
and have always worn street clothes - I only wear a lab coat when I'm
actually doing rounds.  The rest of the day I'm in street clothes.  I
suppose it depends on whether the LC position in your institution is
management or non.  I agree with LIZ that you are taken much more seriously
when attired like others at meetings, which usually means at the very least
business casual.  When I am meeting with or inservicing doctors I will wear
what I call a "power suit", same when I am out lecturing or representing
the hospital at outside meetings.  Otherwise, within house, I normally wear
business casual - professional looking without intimidating the families.
I've also heard occasionally thruout the years that "Pam used to be a
nurse".  Last time I looked, my license was active and I still do penises
in that yesterday while doing rounds I did a first diaper change post-circ
and instructed the mother on circ care because I happened to be in the room
and the mom's nurse was busy elsewhere.  I don't have issues with meeting
other needs of the patients but I don't do meds anymore in that there is
too much room for error or miscommunication.  Otherwise, one can usually
find me helping a mom to the bathroom, changing baby diapers, getting
water, or making a bed.  All of these activities can be done while talking
with the mom about breastfeeding.  Yet, they still recognize me as
being "different" than their staff nurse.  And this can go a long way
towards acceptance of lactation by the nursing staff.  I have never
been "pulled" to staff a unit in 18 years.

Pam Hirsch,RN,BSN,CLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL USA

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html