RN IBCLC advice

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Hello all,

Just wondering if any of you RN's are Lactation Consultants as well. I am doing things a bit backwards and getting my IBCLC first and then going to BSN school. My long term plan is to work in a birth center, not a hospital. Any tips or advice? Experiences? TIA.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Yes, I am an IBCLC. Back when I got my certification, it took many many consultancy hours (4000) and nursing school was the easiest pathway to sit for the exam, so I chose to go to nursing school as a means to an end (wasn't actually planning on working as a nurse). They have since made it a lot easier to get the certification. What pathway are you planning on using?

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I am going with the academic pathway 2. I am going to University of California San Diego Online. It's 9 months of school plus 300 clinical hours which they set up for you and then you take the exam. I am the same as you, not wanting to really do nurse duties but I've heard it will make me more competitive. The pre reqs for IBCLC and nursing are the same so I am working on both, doing IBCLC first so I can work on the side doing that, if need be, while I'm in nursing school.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Working in private practice as an LC is NOT lucrative. You will make very little money unless you are Jack Newman.

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So you would recommend the hospital setting? I'm becoming more comfortable with the idea of working in a hospital. The main reason why I didn't want to work in a hospital is because of what goes on in the hospital, like the c/s rate, RIC, unneccessary inductions to name a few. How can you work there if you are morally opposed to what goes on in there? Surely there is no way one nurse with more holistic approaches can make a difference in a woman's labor experience? I used to joke that the only way you'd catch me on that side of the fence is if I was a doula. I love it all, but I think I would be a great Lactation Consultant. I would also love to be a nurse, not just to make myself more competetive. Do you think having the IBCLC would make me more competetive when I apply for a BSN program?

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Hospitals generally don't hire IBCLCs who are not also RNs

And I can work there because being a nurse is not about ME and my agenda, but about taking care of my patients and meeting them where they are.

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Yup, that's exactly why I'm getting both of those.

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I became an IBCLC and now am going back to school to complete my BSN. You're in good company!

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I became an IBCLC and now am going back to school to complete my BSN. You're in good company!

May I ask which pathway you chose? If it was pathway two which school did you go to and how was it?

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I came in through what is now pathway 1. I was a volunteer bfing counselor for several years before I applied.

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Specializes in Retired NICU.

Rat lady, if you really want the holistic approach, have you considered taking a midwife program? There are RN and non-RN programs. I'm an NICU RN that just sat for the IBCLC.

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No, I don't know if I want to be a midwife. I know for sure I want to help women breastfeed... How was the test? Which pathway did you take?

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