Cindy...I hear you!  I too work as an LC in a hospital averaging 1500
deliveries per year and also as an RN  (registry 1x/month).  I work 20+ hours
a week as an LC doing rounds etc...funded by a grant for almost 3 years now.
 The first year I worked on the M/B unit 3 out of 4 weekends/month and LC
rounds 3 days per week.  (our breastfeeding initiation rate at that time was
79%).  Besides often being in charge and having my own patients...it was
always expected that I would help all the other breastfeeding moms on the
floor!  I was near burnout stage.....and would sometimes feel relief when I
noted a mother on the floor chose to bottlefeed....AHHHHG!  I finally was
frank with my fellow nurses and told them it was important for them to
believe they could help these moms too.  "I can't be here 24 hrs/day and 7
days/week...I have a life also".  It has been a struggle with some nurses to
get them to feel confident in working with breastfeeding moms, but we have
skilllabs periodically and I offer some type of breastfeeding info at them.
 I encourage the nurses to take time to do rounds with me so they can see
what I say and do and....I admit that My magic wand doesn't always perform.
 There will always be those nurses who resist doing more than they want to.
 When I am in working with a mom I now find the nurses coming in to listen to
what I say and coming back later with..."I'm glad I said the same thing you
did".  I periodically write a newsletter or post in the bathroom some type of
breastfeeding info to help reinforce the nurses knowledge.  I have had to
step back and say to myself "I can only do so much".   I now find some nurses
getting frustrated when they try and help and the mother requests to see the
LC.....We have had some tough times in our home lately and it is now
comforting to hear the nurses say they can handle it on the floor....and let
me go home when needed.  Of course, this is that time of year when turnover
rates increase and once again I have to orient a new crew....but, the devoted
ones are ever so helpful in offering their new found wisdom and techniques
for breastfeeding mothers.
Sharon Lemon (Chicago Suburbs)