Laurie wrote: <Someone once suggested if your job is mainly ibclc to put that credential first. I will try to do so, altho after 22 yrs, this is hard to change.> Can someone tell me if there is any "strict" rule about this, or is it mostly custom? I was always under the impression that the credentials were usually listed in order of their chronological attainment, with of course, bachelor's degrees left off if master's was obtained, and likewise, master's not noted if PhD attained, etc. I guess no one else in the world would really have a clue as to which was attained first, and would it make more sense to put the credential first for the particular expertise you are applying to your work? I am curious to hear others' thoughts. I feel pretty much like Jan when she says: <But what I have done as a nurse has helped shape who I am as an IBCLC. . . . I can't imagine being a lactation consultant w/o being a nurse in MCH -- ONLY & BECAUSE I was a nurse first. . . . . It has nothing to do w/ nurses being better IBCLCs because they are nurses -- or anything else. Everyone who comes into the profession brings strengths, regardless of their background.> Also someone said something about lactation consulting doomed to be assimilated into the nursing profession. My first response to that was: FAT CHANCE! PANDORA'S BOX HAS BEEN OPENED! The nursing profession had years to improve it's insights, dedication to the value of breastfeeding, etc. etc. I felt like I was struggling in vain from within the profession in the 1960's to move practices out of the dark ages in my locale. I might add that my initial knowledge to begin that struggle to change practice came entirely from my personal experience courtesy of LLL! These insights revolutionized the way I practiced my MCH nursing. Before that experience, even with years working in all areas of the maternity department, and having tried the hospital rules of the time and failed in my attempts to breastfeed my first 3 children, I had no clue. As I see it, the nursing profession, represented by the American Nurses Association, and all the various MCH specialization organizations just plain MISSED THE BOAT, not realizing what a potential "health diamond in the rough" lay within nursing's domain (And medicine's domain likewise!). The IBCLE's sterling, internationally recognized credentials for the thoroughness of it's examination process might give them cause to feel that "someone stole their thunder", with some possible submerged jealousy! I admire the fact that certain educational efforts are now being made within AWHONN, and the Nurse's Certification Corporation, notably by ILCA's past president Sally Page-Goertz. However, I hope that this doesn't lead to just one more competing "course" that hospital's accept for considering someone a "lactation specialist". I wonder, NOT that the nursing profession will try to re-incorporate lactation consultancy within it's specialty, but that it will re-invent a competing specialty track that will somehow get the job done in maternity departments without all the ethical considerations involving the Code! Hence, the necessity to move toward complete academic degree programs, that could certainly incorporate some credit-for-life-long-learning within their framework. Basic academic preparation must evolve to further define lactation consulting as a distinct profession. The whole evolution thus far reminds me of the evolution of the Respiratory Therapy profession, which did not exist when I graduated nursing school. And any nurse who wishes to refer to herself as a specialist in the pulmonary nursing field better have impeccable specialty academic credentials, and even then, she will not be doing what the respiratory therapist does at the patient's bedside! K. Jean Cotterman, IBCLC, RNC (Gee, that does take thought to reverse the order after so many years!) Dayton, Ohio USA *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html