Go Melissa!  Someone correct me if I'm wrong however, I thought that the
profession began with Leaders, not nurses.

I've thought about this a lot too, because I am not an RN, nor do I intend to
become one.  Just not my particular cup of tea.  However, since my dad is a
(retired) pediatrician, I have great familiarity with the medical profession
and a certain sympathy for it, not to mention a love of human anatomy.  I
practically grew up in hospital hallways, and worked for years in his
private-practice office.  I think you make an excellent point:  aren't the
initials IBCLC a good enough statement about our competency in the field?
 Yes, it is a minimum standard, but a standard nonetheless.  Do any of us
really believe that RN's make "better" IBCLC's, or that LLL Leaders make
"better" IBCLC's?  No matter how those outside our profession may think, I
prefer a less judgmental approach.  The way I see it, we each (Leaders and
RN's) bring our own specialized set of skills and experience to this
profession and can each learn from each other.  Oh, to be both!  Those who
are both RN's and Leaders before becoming LC's have my special envy, because
it seems they have the full range of experience coming in.  I hope to take
and pass the IBLCE exam this July, and am looking forward to those initials
after my name, and to continuing to learn from as many in this profession as
I can.
Blessings,
Regina Roig-Lane, B.S.(teaching is also a noble profession!) & IBCLC-wanna-be