I agree completely with Kathleen regarding the time commitment when mentoring.
I love teaching and sharing what I know, and have been followed by CLE students,
a lay midwife-in-training, and a family practice resident.  The CLE students
were not that difficult because they're only required to observe for 3 or 4
hours, and the resident that followed me for several days a week for a month was
kind of fun--she had a firm theoretical background and only needed the hands-on.
(And I'm a bit proud that somewhere in Minnesota there's a doctor who knows how,
when and why to clip frenulums.)  The money is not an issue for me because if
the hospital agrees to the observation I am paid for whatever time I put in that
day.

However, it does take about twice as long to do anything when mentoring.  KGA is
right--if you're trying to learn anything you can't just observe, you need to
discuss and ask questions, which takes time.  I'm always exhausted when my
"followers" leave and I try to catch up on charting, etc.  I recently turned
down I request for a long-term observation due to the time factor (I'm supposed
to work 6 hrs/day and regularly work 8-10).  I don't know what the answer is,
either, but there ought to be some way to make this work for everybody!

Becky Krumwiede, RN, IBCLC, Appleton, WI
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