Re: new IBCLE requirements

[Guest guest]

I'm pretty confident that the instructors for the lactation specific material

will need to be IBCLC's.

It would be understandable that they would also be required to have education

and experience in adult learning and all the related skills that accompany

career/college/university level education.

A RN IBCLC may meet the criteria, but I am suspecting they will not make that a

requirement. I will say though as we dialogue about what education is necessary

to perform the tasks of an IBCLC, the academic world will probably be

considering the same thing in terms of what qualifies a candidate for

instructing potential IBCLC's.

I'm curious about what makes the Union program unrealistic for most. Just

wondering what your thoughts are about that.

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> and , I have been wondering the same thing about who will teach

the LC college program.  Since there is almost no opportunity for any of us to

get advanced degrees in lactation, who will they consider qualified? I have

looked extensively into the program at Union Institute, and I don't think it is

a realistic choice for most people.  As far as I know this is the only program

in the US that offers any type of graduate degrees in lactation.

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> My guess is that the instuctors will be the instructors of nursing programs,

few of which have much training or experience with breastfeeding babies after

the hospital stay.  That is still my main concern.  We are building a fleet of

RN IBCLCs for hospitals, but we are making it less and less likely that those

without a medical background, who are more likely to work in PP, will become

LCs.  Who will be there for the mothers later on?  I have a call to return

right now from a mother with a 9 month old.  Who would realistically be

trained/experienced to help her?

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> Becky

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[Guest guest]

Ok this is just my personal opinion, and you need to remember that I was looking into the PhD, not the Masters, as I already have a Masters. First of all, the expense was ENORMOUS. There is no way I could justify it. My PP certainly couldn't pay for it, especially since it would not help me get more clients. Secondly, it requires weeks away in Vermont? I think it was, which would cost me business and would be very difficult for women with little children. Thirdly, it required that you make your own arrangements in your area for much of your work. Part of my problem is what is lacking in my area! Lastly, while I was still trying to focus on if I could do this, I found out from several women that the degree itself is not necessarily well-respected because it is a pretty unusual program. So, how could an IBCLC justify a MAJOR expense that will not help her increase business and may not be respected by other schools or organizations? Let me qualify this with one note. I spoke to several people there, all of whom seemed to be knowledgeable and kind, so please, if any of the faculty there are reading this, don't take offense. It isn't that I don't think the degree would be worthwhile only, as I said, not realistic for most IBCLCs.

Becky

[Guest guest]

Dear Colleagues:

No one has ever, in 30+ years of clinical work, ever asked or cared about where

I got my masters' degree. I've had to give information about it when I've

applied for jobs, but that's it.

So I am curious about the Union " degree itself is not necessarily well

well-respected because it is an unusual program. "

A google search for 'on-line graduate programs' yields over 3 million hits.

On-line education is recognized and respected. ILCA has links to on-line courses

for LC students to obtain the education necessary to meet exam requirements.

warmly,

Nikki Lee

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> Ok this is just my personal opinion, and you need to remember that I was

looking into the PhD, not the Masters, as I already have a Masters.  First of

all, the expense was ENORMOUS.  There is no way I could justify it.  My PP

certainly couldn't pay for it, especially since it would not help me get more

clients.  Secondly, it requires weeks away in Vermont? I think it was, which

would cost me business and would be very difficult for women with little

children.  Thirdly, it required that you make your own arrangements in your

area for much of your work.  Part of my problem is what is lacking in my

area!  Lastly, while I was still trying to focus on if I could do this, I found

out from several women that the degree itself is not necessarily well-respected

because it is a pretty unusual program.  So, how could an IBCLC justify a MAJOR

expense that will not help her increase business and may not be respected by

other schools or organizations?  Let me qualify this with one note.  I spoke

to several people there, all of whom seemed to be knowledgeable and kind, so

please, if any of the faculty there are reading this, don't take offense.  It

isn't that I don't think the degree would be worthwhile only, as I said, not

realistic for most IBCLCs.

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> Becky

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[Guest guest]

Sorry, Nikki, I didn't mean to be insulting in any way. I have no problem with it being online. That is not what I meant. I meant that I have heard that people were having trouble getting hired in LC jobs with the degree because it still isn't an RN, the only thing that really seems to matter. It may be a graduate degree in lactation but that MA or PhD without a medical background is still not respected by most of the hiring agencies. Sorry again that I didn't make that clear.

Becky

[Guest guest]

The only thing about online or distance learning that I would tell prospective

students to be cautious about is if you are unfamiliar with the college or

university make sure you understand the accreditation process and confirm the

school you are attending is accredited through one of the Department of

Education regional accreditating bodies.

You just want to make sure you are registering for a degree that is not issued

by a diploma mill and that your credits will generally articulate or transfer to

other accredited colleges or universities.

Union University is accredited.

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> Dear Colleagues:

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> No one has ever, in 30+ years of clinical work, ever asked or cared about

where I got my masters' degree. I've had to give information about it when I've

applied for jobs, but that's it.

>

> So I am curious about the Union " degree itself is not necessarily well

well-respected because it is an unusual program. "

>

> A google search for 'on-line graduate programs' yields over 3 million hits.

On-line education is recognized and respected. ILCA has links to on-line courses

for LC students to obtain the education necessary to meet exam requirements.

>

> warmly,

> Nikki Lee

>

[Guest guest]

I think on-line programs have become more and more respected over time. I have a

friend who designs PhD programs for prestigious universities and his most recent

work has been for alternative programs. OTOH, I have to admit, I have heard very

negative feedback from folks who have attended Union or work in university

administration and have heard that they have had a very difficult time with

their PhD program, which lost accreditation, and I cannot tell if it was ever

reinstated. Here is some info about that:

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/union-institute-and-university-phd-c32\

4477.html

And, I agree that a situation has been created (I believe with full intent) that

has tied the RN and IBCLC together in a way that never should have happened and

is detrimental to mothers and babies. (Please do not read this as if I think RNs

should not be IBCLCs or are not great IBCLCs!!! What I am saying is that there

should be no connection in the field as relates to certification or employment.)

Because they are connected as such, IBCLC is very often simply an add-on

credential.

Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

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> > Dear Colleagues:

> >

> > No one has ever, in 30+ years of clinical work, ever asked or cared about

where I got my masters' degree. I've had to give information about it when I've

applied for jobs, but that's it.

> >

> > So I am curious about the Union " degree itself is not necessarily well

well-respected because it is an unusual program. "

> >

> > A google search for 'on-line graduate programs' yields over 3 million hits.

On-line education is recognized and respected. ILCA has links to on-line courses

for LC students to obtain the education necessary to meet exam requirements.

> >

> > warmly,

> > Nikki Lee

> >

>

[Guest guest]

As part of my graduate program I have to do 60 hours of teaching practicum. I

have to develop and create some kind of education for nurses. Of course, I

immediately began thinking about something in lactation and began searching for

a need in the area. I know from working and teaching on several units that there

is plenty of room for further education. I was a little shocked to find that the

area hospitals and nurses told me they felt there was already enough programs

available, both online and in person, the problem was they didn't want to spend

the money! So I have been turning to other ideas for my project and practicum!

The hospitals don't want to pay for the nurses to receive more education and the

nurses aren't interested in paying out of pocket. There are some online programs

they are aware of for CEU's and some longer programs, like Aviva's, but the

problem is interest.

Barb Cavanaugh

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> > > Dear Colleagues:

> > >

> > > No one has ever, in 30+ years of clinical work, ever asked or cared about

where I got my masters' degree. I've had to give information about it when I've

applied for jobs, but that's it.

> > >

> > > So I am curious about the Union " degree itself is not necessarily well

well-respected because it is an unusual program. "

> > >

> > > A google search for 'on-line graduate programs' yields over 3 million

hits. On-line education is recognized and respected. ILCA has links to on-line

courses for LC students to obtain the education necessary to meet exam

requirements.

> > >

> > > warmly,

> > > Nikki Lee

> > >

> >

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[Guest guest]

Dear Barb:

My first reaction upon reading what the area hospitals and nurses said is " what

a crock! "

1) JCAHO perinatal core measurements now include rates of exclusive

breastfeeding. Staff needs to learn what that is and how to count it.

2) Any other education deemed essential gets done..........if you were offering

another EFM course, there would be no problem. Grrrrr!

3) If you are teaching for free (because you need to for your requirements),

their expenditure is halved. Can you apply for nursing contact hours for your

course? Maybe your educational institution would help with that.

4) Where are the advocates within the institution? Any pediatricians or OBs or

family practice or neonatologists that would back you?

5) I teach for free at institutions around the City. The word is spreading and

more and more programs are requesting my services: now I am teaching nurses

(both staff and students), OBs, pediatricians, and family practice physicians.

Keep plugging away. If hospitals don't work, try home visiting agencies or

public health agencies or WIC offices.

warmly,

Nikki

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> > > > Dear Colleagues:

> > > >

> > > > No one has ever, in 30+ years of clinical work, ever asked or cared

about where I got my masters' degree. I've had to give information about it when

I've applied for jobs, but that's it.

> > > >

> > > > So I am curious about the Union " degree itself is not necessarily well

well-respected because it is an unusual program. "

> > > >

> > > > A google search for 'on-line graduate programs' yields over 3 million

hits. On-line education is recognized and respected. ILCA has links to on-line

courses for LC students to obtain the education necessary to meet exam

requirements.

> > > >

> > > > warmly,

> > > > Nikki Lee

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