RN - NICU Lactation Consultant

The Lactation Consultant (LC) is a certified registered nurse skilled in assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation to assist the breastfeeding mother-baby dyad with feeding and help the mother to achieve her individual goals.

The LC functions as a member of the multi-disciplinary health care team as a consultant, educator, and mentor to nurses, healthcare professionals, and patients and their families.

The LC demonstrates behaviors that model the core values and mission statement for the organization.

Position Responsibilities

Clinical Judgment:


* Provide advanced assessment and interpretation, implement nursing care plans and support, and evaluate outcomes for the breastfeeding population based on provider/nurse referrals for breastfeeding or pumping issues within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and other clinical areas of the hospital that request lactation consultation.


* Initiate and receive referrals from physicians, nursing staff, and families.


* Use current lactation theories and research to develop evidence-based feeding plans that address individual feeding issues, such as nutritional requirements, while respecting the family's breastfeeding goals.


* Demonstrate the ability to assess/meet the psychosocial and developmental age-related needs of the specific population served.


* Participates in daily bedside rounds for appropriate patient population.


* Facilitate follow-up phone calls for recently discharged breastfeeding patients.


* Document teaching, plan of care, and progress in electronic record.


* Recommend breastfeeding equipment and devices when their use is appropriate to the lactating mother and her breastfeeding infant.


* Demonstrate knowledge of pharmaceuticals and the effects on lactation for postpartum mother's and neonates.


* Adhere to the International Lactation Consultant's Association (ILCA) Standards of Practice.

Facilitator of Learning:


* Demonstrate clinical expertise while supporting the breastfeeding mother-baby dyad.

Provides evidence-based education or teaching skills to direct care staff and families.


* Act as a role model and preceptor to communicate, implement, and support organizational objectives and standards as they relate to the nursing mother-baby dyad.


* Assist in the development and/or review of all literature relating to breastfeeding that is distributed to families in the hospital and related to their discharge to home.


* Plan, oversee, and coordinate family and staff breastfeeding education activities.


* Provide evidence-based competency education for healthcare associates.


* Identify the needs for and works with appropriate resources to develop education related to new technologies, procedures, equipment, and patient specific needs.


* Mentor nursing and LC students.


* Educate and collaborate with unit based CLC and assist in the maintenance of competencies.

Collaboration:


* Focus on multid...