In the current health care climate it is a fact that nurses are
overworked and understaffed all the time. They are stressed to the
limits of human capacity many of the days that they work. I belive this
makes them look for an outlet, a scapegoat if you will, on which to
blame their problems.

Unfortunately, in many cases this will be the LC. Why? She is an easy
target. She is often someone who has no power over how the nurses
practice and yet, she is responsible for making the unit "Baby Friendly"
to whatever extent the manager wishes to support that. And there's the
key. If the manager is not pro-baby-friendly, with a clear understanding
of what that means.....the LC is truly caught in the middle. Up a creek
without a paddle, so to speak.

If I were facing what you are Pat, I'd ask myself "How much support am I
going to get from this manager?" Without her backing, there is not a lot
you can do except try to keep the nurses happy.

I am speaking from experience. I've worked with managers that get it and
those who are clueless. With a clueless manager, your first job must be
to educate her. With a knowledgable and supportive manager, your first
job is to enlist her support.

Good Luck!
Susan Keith-Hergert RN, MS, CPN, IBCLC

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