Posted with permission of Barbara. Kathleen
Kathleen Bruce RN IBCLC
Independent consultant: Breastfeeding Clinic of Vermont, Lactation
Resources of Vermont, Medela, Inc.
Listowner Lactnet listserv
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-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004 10:11 AM
To: Kathleen Bruce
Subject: Re: LC Internships
I've looked at several models to provide this sort of preceptorship, and
it's tricky. It is time consuming to take on a student. If you take
that
responsibility seriously, it means extra work for the IBCLC. While
people
often want to shadow me, few have ever offered to pay me for the
privilege,
and in those instances, barter was usually the method offered. I have
been
very generous over the years in terms of letting people come on home
visits
or come to my clinic (when it was open) to observe. On a few
occasions, I
did more systematic teaching in addition to the observations: assigning
reading, asking for some written responses. When I have entered into
such a
role with a mentee, I've stayed available (even for years) to brain
storm
cases, etc. While I enjoyed most of these relationships and felt they
gave
assists to deserving candidates, it is certainly true that all went on
to
open private practices in my city, so they did become, in essence,
competition. So I can see the point of the LCs who are struggling to
survive economically, who wonder if it is in their best interests to
train
their competition. Esp. for free.
Some years back Kathy Auerbach and I proposed an idea we called:
Mentors
to Go. It basically got around the idea of training your competition by
suggesting that a small group of candidates would pool their money and
fly
in a seasoned LC to work with them for a few days in an intense manner.
The
locals would arrange some consults and the Mentor (the experienced LC)
would
work with the mothers while the students observed. Then, afterwards, we
planned to analyze the cases, supervise the follow-up, assign some
reading
and homework (which could be done on-line after the workshop.) We
thought
that we could also teach how to do intakes, write follow-ups, look at
forms,
do hands-on equipment skills, and talk about how to set up a practice,
etc.
We didn't look at it as quite as involved a relationship as the LEC
course
(which is excellent.) But it would provide a number of authentic
contact
hours. While there would be costs to pay for the flights and expenses,
plus
a teaching fee, spilt up between several people the expense would
probably
be about the same expense as them flying off to a day-long conf. or to
stay
in some other town and work with an LC there. In the conf. setting, you
don't have nearly the same level of interaction with the speaker.
We actually printed up fliers and advertised the idea, but no one ever
nibbled. So while people say they want mentoring from experienced
people,
there is still the reluctance to pay for education in our field, and
somewhat of an expectation that people will be generous at their own
expense.
I think it is a great conversation to be having on LN and hope that
people
continue to work to try to conceptualize ways to provide practicums.
Feel
free to post this to the list if you feel it would be helpful to others.
B.
Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
LactNews Press
www.lactnews.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathleen Bruce" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 7:00 AM
Subject: FW: LC Internships
> Hi B. Here is an interesting post from Lactnet. I thought of you....
> And wonder what you think of this? I know that it is tricky business
> taking on a mentee... If a college program is requiring the
> mentorship, isn't it up to them to provide the training contact?
>
> K
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lactation Information and Discussion
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Robyn Roche-Paull
> Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 10:02 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: LC Internships
>
>
> <<I think as a new profession, we are creating our own knowledge base
> and scope of practice. We certainly want those to be as wide as
> possible, within the bounds of safety and responsibility. I can't
> wait until every board candidate has to have a real internship under
> an IBCLC, so we can pass on the hands on skills as well as the
> knowledge. Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC NYC>>
>
> As a student LC, taking the Union Institute & University Bachelors
> degree in Maternal Child Health: Lactation Consulting degree (in
> conjunction with Healthy Children's Center for Breastfeeding) I whole
> heartedly agree with you.
>
> I want to learn under the tutelage of an IBCLC, who can pass on her
> knowledge to me. I am not out to take her job away, only to learn,
> learn and learn....so that I may help mothers and babies to breastfeed
> successfully. I *need* the Internship as part of my degree
> requirement, but no IBCLC's out here in San Diego want to work with
> me, I am put off at every attempt to engage in an Internship. There
> are hospital rules not allowing student Interns, or staffing has been
> cut back. Private practice LC's flatly refuse.
>
> Why? If the consensus of opinion, as I see it on Lactnet, is that
> there must be a standard of learning and certification in place for
> IBCLC's, and Union/Healthy Children is one of the first to offer a
> standard pathway with schooling and Internship. And after reading
> "The Lactation Consultant in Private Practice" where it is mentioned a
> number of times that any aspiring LC's should be mentored and serve an
> Internship...and it states explicitly to PPLC's already in practice to
> take on students LC's, are NO IBCLC's willing to take on a student and
> mentor her?
>
> It is so very frustrating, I want to learn and become proficient and
> yet there are roadblocks at every turn...and from the very
> professionals I had hoped would be thrilled to help me out. Is this
> merely a San Diego problem or is this more widespread?
>
> Any insight out there on this issue?
>
>
>
> Robyn Roche-Paull
> LLLL & CLC San Diego
> **********************************************************************
> **
>
> Mama to Morgan (8) Siobhan (5) and Tiernan (18 months)
> Proud Military Wife to Stephen (10 years)
> **********************************************************************
> **
> *
> Breastfeeding: An American Family Value
> -----Original Message-----
>
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