Brandi,
Check the archives. This has been discussed many times in the last eight or
nine years that Lactnet has been in existence. It can be done, it takes time,
dedication to being competent, working in the community, forming collegial
relationships with the hospital based LCs and "powers that be" so they know you
are a good LC. It takes time to acquire experience, clinical hands-on, with mom
and baby together in the first week - observations. As someone who began as a
community based (LLL Leader) I knew lots about babies more than 3 days old,
but being able to observe and shadow colleagues in the hospital, gave me the
knowledge and experience base to be hired as a hospital based LC who was not a
nurse. I even began and ran a program in a teaching hospital in metro Chicago. I
can name several very competent non RN LCs who work in the metro/suburban
Chicago area that began about the same time I did or soon after. I did eventually
decide to go to Nursing school to have credentials to move up the health care
setting administrative ladder (my original college experience was working
toward a marketing degree) but it had little impact on my LC practice.
I worked at four different hospitals as an LC before I got my RN. I spent
years "paying my dues" and being part of the "network" but it was worth it.
Please email me off-list if you would like more information and some ideas on how
to become involved. Where in Illinois are you located?
Mary Kay Smith, RN, IBCLC
formerly of southwest suburban Chicago, now in suburban Detroit

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