I'm wondering whether some hospitals out there have a pay range specifically for
IBCLC's, and how it is handled when the same person also works as a staff nurse.
I'm going to have to bring up a situation with administration at some point, and
wonder how other places are handling this.

I was the first LC at our hospital 5 years ago.  After the position was finally
approved my salary was set somewhere in the middle of the RN pay scale because I
was an RN, also.  I took issue with that, since I was not going to be
functioning as an RN, and the salary was less than I was currently being paid to
teach classes as an independent contractor.  However, they were not willing to
negotiate so I took what was offered.  In the last several years, another RN at
our hospital and 2 RN's at our sister hospital took courses, passed the IBLCE,
and are now functioning part-time as LC's and part-time as staff nurses.  They
are all continuing to be paid the same as if they did not have their LC
credentials.

The big problem I see coming up is our newest LC student who is hoping to take
the exam this summer.  She is an LPN, will continue to work staff, plus some
days as an LC.  I am sure there is no plan to pay her more for obtaining her
IBCLC, which I am not at all comfortable with.  RN's are paid somewhat decently,
but LPN's make considerably less.  It seems to me that at least on the days
she's functioning as an LC she ought to be paid similar to the other LC's.  I
think this would be a lot more clear-cut if we were all *only* functioning as
LC's, but I'm the only one that doesn't also work staff.

So, do any of you have any words of wisdom for me?  I'm not looking for dollar
amounts of what anyone is paid so I think it's okay to discuss the issue openly.
If you'd rather email me, I'd appreciate it either way.  Thanks.

Becky Krumwiede, RN, IBCLC, Appleton, WI
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