LuAnn wrote: <<Administration has verbalized concern over "assessment and developing care plans" as this will be outside of the scope of LPN practice in Pennsylvania. Duirng the time, they are obtaining theire certification and mentoring, they will be under direct supervision from the experienced IBCLC's on staff. Does our "professional certifcation" outweigh our state nursing license? I currently think that the state would view them as first an LPN and secondly as an LC. Any thoughts on how to sort this out. Does the LPN, need to stop using that designation in order to practice in a hospital setting as an IBCLC? >> LuAnn, this is an interesting question. THE FOLLOWING IS MY OPINION: I think it is a discussion that needs to be brought up with administration -- an understanding that while yes, the person in question IS an LPN, she is also an IBCLC, and as such, is expected to assess mothers and infants for breastfeeding related concerns and develop an appropriate plan of care. She has an advanced credential in a particular field. Perhaps you could ask them what they would expect a non-RN/LPN IBCLC to do. I think they need more explanation of what the scope of practice of the IBCLC is -- AHA!! -- if you write to me, I'll send you what I gave our hospital administration when they were looking for one. It basically reiterates the criteria put out in the Clinical Guidelines for the Establishment of Breastfeeding During the First 14 Days, and that the IBCLC working in the hospital setting is expected (along w/ everyone else) to facilitate that process. You need to be careful about our "certification outweighing our state nursing license" because when you are practicing in a hospital, quite unfortunately, you are practicing with your state license first, with the IBCLC considered an add-on. What needs to be developed is a job description for the IBCLC regardless of her other credentials, and then pointing out to administration that her education and training as an IBCLC gives her the qualifications to do the job that any IBCLC is capable of doing regardless of her prior licensing. And then you have to work with the administration's dictums if you want to continue working in that facility..... ILCA is working on developing a scope of practice that will be acceptable and international. Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC _Lactation Education Consultants_ (http://www.lactationeducationconsultants.com/) <BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com. *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html Mail all commands to [log in to unmask] To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask]) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask]) To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]