Melinda, not all non-nursing IBCLCs have this belief, so don't
generalize about us, just as you objected to being incorrectly
generalized about.  I do part of my work in a medical school based
maternity clinic.  I have seen how much the nurses train the residents
just by being there day by day and knowing what nurses know from both
school and experience. They are the ones right there with the residents
when something is happening. The attendings just consult with students
and residents later, for the most part. I also meet occasionally with
hospital based IBCLCs/RNs to coordinate what they are doing with WIC
policies and programs. I think that working closely with another
profession is the only way to understand each other and to appreciate
what we all do.

Pam writes:

 
"The only thing I can come up with is that in a hospital setting, a
nurse is not allowed to contradict an order. It doesn't matter what the
order is, she follows it. Yes, yes, it is not true, she is supposed to
refuse, but realistically that is not the work world and she will be
unemployed or whatever if she doesn't go along with the status quo."

 

This statement helps me understand non-nursing IBCLCs a little better,
if this is really what you think it is like in a hospital setting.  That
is NOT what it is like---nurses question doctors all the time, without
any fear of losing their jobs.  We do NOT blindly follow orders.  We
would lose our licenses if we did.  I would not say that we go in and
tell the patients to ignore what their doctors have said and flatly
contradict them, but we do have the freedom to give patients information
so that the PATIENTS can also question the doctor about their options.
If done in a tactful and respectful way, most physicians value our
input.

 

Melinda Lueck, RN, BSN, IBCLC  

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