Brenda has informed us of the formula company name badge holders being distributed to staff on her unit. I have written and lectured a lot about these types of marketing tactics and how hospital staff is being used as salespeople to market formula to their patients. The first thing I would do is check with your corporate compliance department to see if this violates any hospital policy about advertising products to patients. NABA's publication "Still Selling Out Mothers and Babies" has a lengthy discussion with references on the influence of these trinkets on hospital staff. You need to look at vendor policies and contact your ethics committee. An old Abbott Nutritional (then Ross) training manual stated, "Ross Hospital Feeding System is designed to provide an early and convenient means of getting started on Similac...and ultimately sent home with instructions that they continue to use Similac." "Never underestimate the importance of nurses. If they are sold and serviced properly, they can be strong allies. A nurse who supports Ross is like an extra salesperson." Show staff this statement of how formula companies view nurses. Peddling pricey products to vulnerable patients by nurses who should know better cheapens the nursing profession. I wonder if your CEO knows about this practice and if it is in line with the mission of the hospital. Please send me one of these badges and any other materials from formula companies as NABA monitors Code violations in the US. These examples are important as we work to eliminate these practices. Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC 254 Conant Rd Weston, MA 02493 *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome