Per the CLC,CLE, IBCLC,etc topic...agreeing with Jan and Chris I think the
only thing left out is How we present ourselves. We need to clarify the
usage of the title "lactation Consultant". If the program you attended and
certified in does not confer the title of "lactation Consultant" should you
professionally use this as a reference or "let" someone refer to you as
this? IMHO i feel the title "lactation consultant" to mean you have passed
a program that designated you as a "lactation consultant" , if you attended
a program that confered the designation of "lactation counseler or
lactation educator,etc" that is how you professionally should insure you
are refered as. With our suit prone society, IMHO to use a title or
designation that is not correct could be construed as misrepresentation....
Certifications are what we all take "pride" in..you use the title of what
you rightly earned and at the level of certification that you personally
and (only you) chose to access, for whatever reason.  It doesn't make
anyone "less"..it's just a personal choice we all make..what certification
or title we earn.I just feel that you should "call" yourself what you
professionally and honestly earned when you represent youself to a public
overwhelmed by "titles" to prevent misrepresentation. ( Please...no flames!)
this doesn't and shouldn't make a difference when we share insights and
support here on Lactnet...I know Nursing Aides who are more knowledgeable
than BSN's and CLC's who are more based in reality that some IBCLC's...

Rant: Beating my head against the desk because again today I dealt with a
first time mom who delivered elsewhere, discharged in 24 hrs and baby
admitted here on day of life 3 for a bili of 23 and dehydrated. The
lactation team at the other place were able to (in 24 hours) tell the mom
she had flat nipples, start Hobbitt shells, incorporate a shield when the
baby didn't latch,sucessfully promote the purchase of a almost $300 pump,
demonstrate syringe and cup feed ( for WHEN the very edematous mom was able
to pump any colostrum out) and discharge the couplet...whew, in just 24
hours!Breastfeeding the natural way..right? GROWL!!! I could go on but the
continued scenerio is just too unbelievable! The rant is- whatever your
title,certification or experience, what is this trend for tools and pump
purchase promotion( and /or profit?) without close follow up? IMHO if you
place them on a tool without sucessful signs of milk transfer you should be
legally responsible for the outcomes! OK- back to pounding my head on the
desk and shutting up!
Lisa Jones RN IBCLC ( CLC, CLE and another half dozen certs that I don't
take time to write because I'm too lazy, not because they aren't important
to me)

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