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/)  

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