Which Master's Degree should I apply for?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in NICU, Mother-baby, home health care.

OK, here's the deal. I am an RN with 8 yrs experience in the NICU. I will have my BSN this October. I have always been interested in becoming a IBCLC (International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants). There's a Master's of Arts degree in Maternal/Child health with concentration in Lactation. This is not a MSN degree. To become an IBCLC, I do not NEED to get my master's degree, however I'm sure it's always beneficial. I could do a distance learning course to prepare to sit for the IBCLC exam. I guess my question is if I was to do a Master's degree program which would be better to do, the MA with concentration in Lactation (NOT a MSN degree) or get my MSN in public health? I hope this all makes sense. A couple months ago I was prepared to apply to a Women's Health NP Program after graduation, however I've recently found that this specialty would not be what I'd expect. I'm not interested in doing Pap's all day. LOL

Any advice would be greatly appreciated ?

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I am surmising that you intend to practice in the US - your profile indicates you're currently out of the country. If so - PRETTY PLEEZE go the MSN route. Although the thought may not even be on your career horizon today - you may eventually want to teach - and you need an MSN to do that. And - years from now - you don't want to have to go back (again) and re-tool if you feel like teaching.

I don't blame you about the Pap-thing -- ICK. I

Although i am definitely not familiar with anything about the OB world (I don't know nuthin 'bout birthin no babies, Miz Scarlet) it sounds like a lactation specialist would be heavily weighted toward the education end of the spectrum.

I would suggest that you look into some MSN programs with education or CNS tracks. was pretty upset a few years back when all the grad schools went 'whole hog' into the NP racket, but I think a few of them have brought back other (education, admin, CNS, etc) grad school tracks.

Specializes in ED.

If you want to be a lactation consultant, you can do that by working in OB/postpartum and gaining hours counseling moms. You can also get certified as a lactation counselor as a start point. I would NOT go back to school if your main goal is a LC. I'd do MSN or NP.

I have put some thought into this also. I have a couple questions for you.

1. Have you already checked into the ILBLC requirements for certification? That IS the way to go for lactation consulting-period From what I understand, their program for certification is pretty rigorous and time consuming, by itself. Around here, an RN with L&D or OB/GYN exp. and ILBLC cert. would be ideally suited to work at the hospitals or have a private practice as a Lactation Consultant. I have employed a couple of them in my chilodbearing years and they charged me by the hour and were able to bill my insurance company and everything.

2. Why are you pursueing the Masters level degree? It isn't needed to practice as LC. It would be helpful in certain circumstances, like say, you saw yourself working for the city putting together a program encouraging young mom's to breastfeed and studying the outcomes on infant health. The MPH would be awesome for that, combined with the ILBLC. Would having the MSN help you in your hospital getting work as LC?

I think what you're doing is awesome. I have utilized LC's with each of my three babies for different reasons (and extended nursed them all...) After nursing the first two for 24 mos. each, I thought I was a champ until my 3rd arrived with a whole new host of problems. She didn't regain and reach her birth weight until she was a month old! Without my LC, I was seriously considering stopping, and I had already had 4 years of experiance! A new mom most certainly would have. You can make a huge difference!

Specializes in NICU, Mother-baby, home health care.
I am surmising that you intend to practice in the US - your profile indicates you're currently out of the country. If so - PRETTY PLEEZE go the MSN route. Although the thought may not even be on your career horizon today - you may eventually want to teach - and you need an MSN to do that. And - years from now - you don't want to have to go back (again) and re-tool if you feel like teaching.

I don't blame you about the Pap-thing -- ICK. I

Although i am definitely not familiar with anything about the OB world (I don't know nuthin 'bout birthin no babies, Miz Scarlet) it sounds like a lactation specialist would be heavily weighted toward the education end of the spectrum.

I would suggest that you look into some MSN programs with education or CNS tracks. was pretty upset a few years back when all the grad schools went 'whole hog' into the NP racket, but I think a few of them have brought back other (education, admin, CNS, etc) grad school tracks.

Thank you so much for you advice. Yes, I'm overseas, since I'm a military wife, I'm able to work on US Military posts. :) Teach....ick...I'm not sure I have the patience. LOL Who knows, you could be right. Funny, how I have the patience to work with mother's and breastfeeding, but I feel I can't do the college level teaching thing. LOL funny. :)

Thanks again!!!

Specializes in NICU, Mother-baby, home health care.
If you want to be a lactation consultant, you can do that by working in OB/postpartum and gaining hours counseling moms. You can also get certified as a lactation counselor as a start point. I would NOT go back to school if your main goal is a LC. I'd do MSN or NP.

Yes, I've acquired breastfeeding counseling hours from my 8 yrs NICU experience but since i"ve been here in germany, its been difficult finding a job. I'm hoping to work for WIC in the next month or so :) So that will help also get my hours in. Since i"m here in germany, there are no Lactation councelor courses (in english) available.

Thank you so much for your advice. I greatly appreciate it. :)

Specializes in NICU, Mother-baby, home health care.
I have put some thought into this also. I have a couple questions for you.

1. Have you already checked into the ILBLC requirements for certification? That IS the way to go for lactation consulting-period From what I understand, their program for certification is pretty rigorous and time consuming, by itself. Around here, an RN with L&D or OB/GYN exp. and ILBLC cert. would be ideally suited to work at the hospitals or have a private practice as a Lactation Consultant. I have employed a couple of them in my chilodbearing years and they charged me by the hour and were able to bill my insurance company and everything.

2. Why are you pursueing the Masters level degree? It isn't needed to practice as LC. It would be helpful in certain circumstances, like say, you saw yourself working for the city putting together a program encouraging young mom's to breastfeed and studying the outcomes on infant health. The MPH would be awesome for that, combined with the ILBLC. Would having the MSN help you in your hospital getting work as LC?

I think what you're doing is awesome. I have utilized LC's with each of my three babies for different reasons (and extended nursed them all...) After nursing the first two for 24 mos. each, I thought I was a champ until my 3rd arrived with a whole new host of problems. She didn't regain and reach her birth weight until she was a month old! Without my LC, I was seriously considering stopping, and I had already had 4 years of experiance! A new mom most certainly would have. You can make a huge difference!

wow, thank you so much for your insight. :) yes, i've researched the IBCLC website and am aware about how rigorous it is, thus my reasoning behind going for the Master's degree in Lactation. It completely covers everything in the IBCLC exam. I have 8 yrs experience in the NICU, and my last supervisor was an RN, IBCLC so she's guided me along the way as well. I know I don't NEED the Master's degree I'm just thinking maybe it would give me some more leverage when applying for jobs. Plus, I'm one of those people who always wants to keep learning, so I want to learn everything there is to learn about mother/child and lactation. :) I'm also considering starting my own LC business eventually when the time is right. I'm so glad that you've had such wonderful experiences with LC's. That's what I miss about working with moms and babies..I enjoyed comforting and easing mom's frustrations with breastfeeding and feeling so good at the end when mom and baby were breastfeeding problem free. :)

thanks again soooooo much!!

Specializes in ED.
wow, thank you so much for your insight. :) yes, i've researched the IBCLC website and am aware about how rigorous it is, thus my reasoning behind going for the Master's degree in Lactation. It completely covers everything in the IBCLC exam. I have 8 yrs experience in the NICU, and my last supervisor was an RN, IBCLC so she's guided me along the way as well. I know I don't NEED the Master's degree I'm just thinking maybe it would give me some more leverage when applying for jobs. Plus, I'm one of those people who always wants to keep learning, so I want to learn everything there is to learn about mother/child and lactation. :) I'm also considering starting my own LC business eventually when the time is right. I'm so glad that you've had such wonderful experiences with LC's. That's what I miss about working with moms and babies..I enjoyed comforting and easing mom's frustrations with breastfeeding and feeling so good at the end when mom and baby were breastfeeding problem free. :)

thanks again soooooo much!!

But even if you do the masters in lactation, you still would have to meet the requirements to become a IBCLC anyway, so you might as well use the time to gain hours and go straight for the IBCLC.

Specializes in NICU, Mother-baby, home health care.
But even if you do the masters in lactation, you still would have to meet the requirements to become a IBCLC anyway, so you might as well use the time to gain hours and go straight for the IBCLC.

I completey understand your point :) I guess this is where I am on the fence. I'm hoping to get a job with WIC (I could get my hours through working there) while I'm going to school. OR, like you said, I can order the distance learning (home study) modules and do this while working...and maybe decided AFTER I get my IBCLC whether or not I want to return to school to get my Master's degree. I just figure that maybe while I'm in the frame of mind of doing online academics might as well stay in it. But....i don't know WHAT to do now. :) I know for a fact that I'll eventually want my Master's degree. It's just a matter of, do I do it NOW or LATER??

:) HELLLLLPPPP lol

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