Lactation Consultant - RN

Lactation Consultant RN

Maternal Child

Position Summary

A Registered Nurse who specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding.  Provide and coordinate breastfeeding education to patients and staff.  Assume responsibility for hospital lactation program development and maintenance, promotion of Healthy People 2010 goals/objectives and facilitate attainment of LMHS mission.

 

Responsibilities

·  Assures development & implementation of an effective and evidence-based program that advocates and supports breastfeeding

·  Provides consultation to inpatients on the Maternity Services & Pediatric units as needed to include coaching and consulting with mother-baby couplets and working collaboratively with nursing care teams, Pediatricians and Obstetricians to develop feeding plans for a range of infants from the normal newborn to special care newborns in a level II nursery.

·  Make clinical assessments and use current lactation theories and research to develop evidence-based feeding plans that address individual feeding issues while respecting the physician’s and family’s breastfeeding goals

·  Building resources with goal of a comprehensive program and outpatient services to facilitate post-discharge follow-up of breastfeeding mothers/infants.

·  Ensures continuity of care for patients post-discharge through effective communication with medical care providers and other community resources as appropriate.

·  Conducts breastfeeding education of nursing staff, patients and families through formal and informal education, utilizing principles of adult learning.

·  Conducts ongoing evaluation and data analysis of the effectiveness of breastfeeding program with development and implementation of program modifications as needed to achieve departmental goals related to breastfeeding.

·  Represent LMH at appropriate professional meetings and community events conducting outreach activities that promote women and children’s health as appropriate.

·  Provide services in a manner that is appropriate for patient’s age; demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to meet the patient’s physical, psychosocial, education and safety needs.

·  Presents a courteous and helpful demeanor, appropriate for age, to all patients, visitors, employees and medical staff members.

·  Maintains current knowledge related to clinical practice guideline in specialty area and applicable rules and regulations governing practice as a lactation consultant.

 

Requirements

·  Current Ohio License as a Registered Nurse, BSN preferred

·  Two years inpatient obstetric or maternal child experience preferred

·  Certified as a Lactation Consultant by the International Board of Lactation Consultants (IBCLC).

·  Skill in the acquisition, operation and maintenance of breast pumps and supplies is desired

·  Certified in neonatal resuscitation and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation