There is a difference between licensure and certification. Perhaps Mary
Renard could post about this issue and why IBLCE seeks certification.

Licensure in no way prevents bad practice from occurring. All of us know
RNs AND MDs who are licensed and practice BADLY, perhaps even in a
dangerous manner.

I agree that the IBLCE exam should establish a higher standard. In fact,
for some time, I have felt it should be geared to a Masters level of
competency. How many of you agree with me?

Many, too many, people just getting started simply don't know enough not to
be potentially dangerous, partiuclarly when they combine genuine enthusiasm
with less than complete awareness of the necessity of networking and
chekcing things out with colleagues before jumping into a difficult
situation with both hands and feet!

I have had several situations that came to my office after having been made
MUCH MUCH worse (to the point of hospitalization in one case) from LCs who
did not know enough to refer first and learn something in the process.

We in the CHicago area are truly blessed--lots of experienced LCs. I hate
to think of the 100s of years we could count up if we added us all
together! Yet, people in our area who could take advantage do not.  Am I
simply overly sensitive to this because I am dead-tired today from trying
to preserve what may not be rescue-able? Or have others seen similar
situations?

To quote Jan Barger, "Inquiring minds would LOVE to know!"




Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities
brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Homewood, IL)- [log in to unmask]
WEB PAGE: http://www.mcs.com/~auerbach/lactation.html
LACTNET archives http://library.ummed.edu/lsv/archives/lactnet.html