Lactation Consultant

POSITION SUMMARY

Functions independently and collaboratively to promote breastfeeding and assists mothers in reaching their own goals for breastfeeding.  Develops and implements standards of care and guidelines for assisting breastfeeding mothers in all areas of the organization.  

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education:

1. Graduate of an accredited college of nursing with an Associate Degree in Nursing required.
2. Bachelor of Science in nursing preferred.

Experience:

1. Minimum of 5 years’ experience in assisting mothers and newborns with breastfeeding.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

1. Considerable knowledge of professional nursing and basic medical theory and practice
2. Considerable knowledge of the breastfeeding process, antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum healthcare and psychosocial issues.  Knowledge of preterm newborns and from newborns to toddlers. 
3. Considerable knowledge of the breastfeeding care and educational principle, practices, procedures and techniques required to assess learning needs and teach/counsel staff, patients and family members.
4. Knowledge of pharmaceuticals and the effects on lactation for antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum patients and newborns to toddlers.
5. Ability to discriminate between normal and abnormal findings.
6. Ability to evaluate equipment related to breastfeeding.
7. Ability to coordinate staff competency activities.
8. Ability to act as a medical consultant to other nursing/medical personnel.

License/Certification/Registration:

1. Current Pennsylvania RN licensure.
2. Meets the American Heart Association’s standards for Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) and renews BLS every two years.
3. Certified Lactation Consultant or able to sit for the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant exam within 18 months of hire/transfer.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Performs all duties in an independent manner with little or no need for direct supervision.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

None.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Plans, oversees and coordinates patient, family and staff breastfeeding education activities in coordination with Manager, Women & Children’s Services.  
2. Provides and coordinates didactic education to all patients who require breastfeeding information in accordance with current research literature and national standards of care.
3. Establishes reviews and updates educational content on a variety of maternal and infant conditions to include inverted nipples, cleft palate, cleft lip, etc.
4. Develops or obtains suitable education materials to facilitate patient understanding of content.
5. Documents patient/family education and progress of mother and baby.
6. Updates/revises appropriate procedures and policies relating to breastfeeding.
7. Evaluates equipment related to breastfeeding.
8. Accepts consults for the education of patients/family members in the inpatient settings.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Performs related and miscellaneous duties as assigned.