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Subject:
From:
Esther Grunis <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 25 May 2000 06:56:09 +0200
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In the light of the nurse/non-nurse discussion here, I have to add my 2
agarot.
This is not to be taken as "nurse bashing."
As a non-nurse IBCLC in a hospital, and in a country where the
profession will probably be handed over to the nurses as we continue to
teach them courses and allow the system to limit these courses to nurses
only, I have to say that I am very troubled.

I have coined the phrase "nurse-brain" to describe what bothers me.  And
this may be a failure of the nurse training system which should be
addressed.  Nurses need to translate everything into numbers and
protocols, and those of us from other disciplines do not.  For example,
last week, I was working with one of my favorite nurses who is getting
her MA, and who is a terrific nurse and so open-minded loves learning
about breastfeeding.  We were working with one of those huge breasted
moms,and in the course of helping her I put a rolled up towel under her
breast.
The nurse thought that was great.  Within two days, every mom no matter
what, was being told to breastfeed with a towel under her breast. I
specifically explained that it was an aid for large breasted moms!!

I had a student with me, a midwife from a hospital in Jerusalem,  who
has been given the project of turning her department into more
breastfeeding friendly.  Her supervisor does not see the need to send
her out to a course, since she breastfed 5 babies and how much do you
need to know anyway.  She said that now she understands what I mean by
"nurse brain."

The use of cabbage is another symptom.  Every mom with the slightest bit
of swelling is walking around with cabbage in her bra. Where is this
coming from?

I definitely see the fact that I am not a nurse as a huge advantage,
however there is one nurse from another hospital who feels it is a
scandal that Lis Hospital has an LC who is not a nurse.  To me it is a
scandal that there are nurses working in nurseries all over the country
who know nothing about breastfeeding.

I would like to hear from nurses out there why non-nurses should not be
working in the hospital setting, or any setting for that matter!!

When I approached the head nurse of our dept. about hiring another IBCLC
because I am unable to continue doing all the breastfeeding by myself
she told me two things.  First that she will only hire an IBCLC who is a
RN, and in the next breath that her nurses hate helping mothers with
breastfeeding.

Esther Grunis, NN (non nurse), IBCLC who thinks that our profession
comes from the heart, not from the brain.
No insult intended to any discipline.
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