I was the Chief Proctor for 17 yrs for the Los Angeles Site.  The details
regarding meeting the needs of a non-separating baby are given.  A candidate
may leave the exam to breastfeed as many times as she wishes. She is not given
additional all-over time to complete the exam.  Whenever a candidate needs to
leave the room; she must alert the proctor and be accompanied; be it either to
the restroom...that break being shorter; the candidate is then led back to her
seat.  If a breastfeeding mother needs to leave (which prior arrangements must be
setup to alert the Chief Proctor-without disturbing the other candidates)..the
proctor assists the candidate with her exam materials; holds them until she returns;
and upon return is taken to an alternate table generally out of the view of the
other candidates..like in the back of the room..so, again, not to disturb the other
candidates. The two sections
of the exam are divided equally and depending how quickly the candidate finishes
the first half; she could create quite a lenghty break for lunch..I've seen some
finish so fast that they have a 2 hr break before the 2nd part starts.
As many of you know the exam is conducted with great seriousness to assure each
candidate is given the optimal atmosphere to concentrate and complete her exam
without distractions.  
Shoot, I remember one year I received a complaint about
another candidate who was chewing gum and snapping and popping throughout the
first part.  Another candidate thought the room was too chilly and said she
couldn't concentrate.  Because the exam room was in a large hospital, I had no
control of that...but candidates are told in their first instructions to bring
a sweater with them in the event it should be needed.
An exam of this international level needs to have guidelines to be primarily
helpful to all candidates.

As far as needing an additional proctor; well that would depend on the number
required per number of candidates..but, yes, I believe the assistant proctor (the
Chief Proctor may NEVER leave the room during the entire day as she is primarily
responsible for the exam materials) would need to be with the nursing candidate.
This would be a special circumstance that would need to be addressed to the 
exam committee BEFORE the exam.
Hope this helps.
Renee'



>
>Date:    Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:53:31 -0400
>From:    Janet Vandenberg <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: IBLCE exam when candidate needs to BF during exam
>
>I have a friend who is an exam candidate for this July. She will be deliv=
>ering=20
>her baby a few weeks prior to the exam.  She has consulted with IBCLE to=20=
>
>discuss her options for breastfeeding during the exam if her baby shows=20=
>
>feeding cues during the time she is writing.
>
>She was initially told that she could wait to feed her baby at lunch. Now=
> she=20
>has been told that she will need to pay $150 for a separate proctor for t=
>he=20
>day to accomodate covering her if she needs to leave to feed her baby. Al=
>so=20
>she has been told that she will not be given extra time and that the proc=
>tor=20
>will not do child care. Of course child care was not requested and would =
>never=20
>have been suggested by the candidate as expected from a proctor.
>
>I am concerned about how this situation has been framed.
>
>I wanted to discuss the topic with this community to see what experiences=
>=20
>others have had with breastfeeding candidates.  I realize the proctoring =
>is=20
>now farmed out to support a higher level of integrity for the exam proces=
>s=20
>over previous years and accept that necessary change.  However, it is=20
>concerning that a mother should have to advocate this hard to breastfeed =
>her=20
>child while writing THIS exam of all things.=20=20
>
>I am inviting opinion on this situation as well as experiences as I belie=
>ve this=20
>affects all of us and how we treat all mothers.  We have an obligation to=
>=20
>create a supportive environment for all mothers. How can we be asked to=20=
>
>advocate for mothers while still having issues "at home"?=20=20
>
>Janet Vandenberg RN, BScN, IBCLC
>Ontario, Canada
>

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