Jamelle -- the good news is that I worked as a non-RN IBCLC for years at a
small hospital; indeed, I had the contract with them to provide IBCLC
services.  We taught BF classes, did in-services, saw Moms on maternity
every day, worked in a Level II NICU.  The bad news is that they closed the
labor and maternity units in Nov 2008.  No more moms to be seen ... no
more IBCLCs ... no more contract for me!

It is by far the prevailing notion at US hospitals that IBCLCs must also be
RNs, which is a shame.    There is absolutely no reason why an IBCLC cannot
be in a clinical situation with moms:  we have been certified by an
international body; we have a scope of practice; we have standards of
practice; we are insured.  And I don't need to tell this audience the
important role an IBCLC can play in achieving the public health [and
biologic] imperative of promoting, protecting and supporting BF.

Getting to the right audience to make your case, however, can be *very*
hard.  Many non-RN IBCLCs just avoid looking for work in hospitals because
it is too danged hard to slay that dragon first.

-- 
Liz Brooks JD IBCLC FILCA
Wyndmoor, PA, USA

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