I am certified in Inpatient Obstetrical Nursing through NCC (The National
Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal
Specialties).  That is what the RNC credential behind my name stands for.
NCC is now offering the option of taking subspecialty exams to RNCs.  The
two exams presently offered for my speciality are electronic fetal
monitoing and breastfeeding.

NCC equates this certification to being "board certified" in a nursing
specialty.  I am now wondering if an RNC elects to be "board certified" in
the subspecialty of breastfeeding, what does this do the profession of
Lactation Consulting and the IBCLC credential?

Nursing already has this problem of having several routes to become a
registered nurse.  I don't want to see the same thing happening to the
lactation consulting credential.  Has anyone from IBLCE that is on the list
already heard of this new option from NCC?  Does IBLCE have an opinion on
this already that I am not aware of?

Maurenne Griese, RNC, BSN, CCE, CBE
Manhattan, KS  USA