I understand everyone's frustration with the fact that most hospitals require a nursing degree for their lactation specialists. 
At Yale-New Haven Hospital, there are a number of reasons: 
1) the LC has been trained and is licensed as a nurse to do a full newborn or pediatric physical examination. 
2) my hospital is Magnet certified
3) my hospital has always had RNs as our lactation specialists

I see many babies and children in the hospital that have major health issues: cleft lip and palate, hypoglycemia, cardiac anomalies, genetic disorders. I once was helping a newborn breastfeed who had a seizure. I am so thankful that I have the RN training and the years of experience that helps me to understand these conditions or actually identify them.

At Yale-New Haven, the administration is now looking at hiring LCs with advanced nursing degrees (APRNs) instead of just basic RN licensing. They are hopeful to start an outpatient clinic where the APRNs can bill for their services. This is something that I as an RN cannot do.

Thanks for all of you for the great discussion.

Marie Pulito RN IBCLC

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