Hi Maureen and Lactnet I have included the CAPPA Scope of Practice for our Certified Lactation Educators below. This is only CAPPA's Scope of Practice, not to be taken as anyone else's CLE certification. Our CLEs would not do rounds in hospital unless they are also IBCLCs, RNs or other medical licensure that would grant them "permission" to do rounds. CAPPA CLEs with no other medical licensure would be operating out of scope if they chose to do rounds in hospital. They would be operating in scope if they taught classes and acted as an educational, referral and support resource to your patients. As far as I know, CAPPA has the only lactation educator (not specialist or consultant) programs that are a part of an international organization, i.e. we have a grievance procedure in place, Scope of Practice for our educators to follow, and recertification procedures. We also require continuing education units to stay certified. Our conferences are free to our members, so that they can gather these CEUs for free. One topic that is covered at our upcoming Denver conference from May 2-4 is my Co-Director Wendy Middleton speaking about birth choices that affect breastfeeding. For more information about CAPPA's Lactation Education Programs and CAPPA itself, please see our website at http://www.cappa.net/lactation.asp. Scope of practice CAPPA Certified Lactation Educator Lactation Educators fill an important function in educating and supporting families interested in learning about breastfeeding. This education may take place in the public, hospital, clinical or private setting. Lactation Educators provide informational, emotional and practical support of breastfeeding. They may provide this service exclusively as breastfeeding educators, or may use their training to augment their support in other professions, in the cases of doulas, childbirth educators, nurses, dieticians, and postnatal or parenting educators. In addition to providing breastfeeding information, Lactation Educators offer encouragement, companionship, an experienced point of view, and foster confidence and a commitment to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding education is not restricted to new families, but applies to the general public and medical staff as well. Due to the limited breastfeeding information given in standard medical and nursing training, and the rampant misinformation about breastfeeding that is so prevalent in our society, the breastfeeding educator serves as a resource for accurate, evidence-based information to the public and health care providers, as well as to childbearing families. CAPPA does not issue Certified Lactation Consultant status, nor does the Lactation Educator Program qualify a member to dispense medical advice, diagnose or prescribe medication. However, Lactation Educators provide a wealth of information about how and why to breastfeed; establishing a breastfeeding-friendly environment; basic breastfeeding anatomy and physiology; the normal process of lactation; deviations from normal, physical, emotional and sociological barriers to breastfeeding; overcoming challenges; and resources available (including medical referrals) for the breastfeeding family. They can also be a source of vital support, guidance and encouragement throughout the duration of breastfeeding. If I can answer any questions for you about CAPPA or our Lactation Educator Programs, please email me at [log in to unmask] Thank you, Kristine Owens CLD CD CLE http://www.kristineowens.com CAPPA Washington State Representative Co-Director, CAPPA Lactation Education Programs http://www.cappa.net --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.459 / Virus Database: 258 - Release Date: 2/25/03 *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] 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