Lactation Consultant

Job Description

• PURPOSE OF JOB :
  
  

To provide support and education to breastfeeding women and their infants, to provide in-service education to nursing staff regarding breastfeeding and to serve as an expert consultant on breastfeeding to other health care providers.

• ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

• Develops, reviews, implements and maintains standards, policies and procedures, which ensure consistent and effective care of breastfeeding mothers and infants considering age-specific accommodations.
• Communicates with patients, physicians, family members and other health care disciplines in achieving excellence in patient care during hospitalization and at discharge planning.
• Promotes safety through adherence to protocols, policies, procedures and evidence-based guidelines and Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals.
• Actively participates in and supports departmental and organizational quality initiatives and goals.
• Maintains clinical competency according to hospital and unit-specific standards.
  
  

Iii.job Criteria And Performance Standards

• Develops, reviews, implements and maintains standards, policies and procedures, which ensure consistent and effective care of breastfeeding mothers and infants considering age-specific accommodations.

• Provides breastfeeding consultation to women in the prenatal and immediate postpartum period in accordance with protocols and procedures.

• Provides breastfeeding consultation to mothers of newborns in the ICN, in accordance with established protocols and procedures.
• Assesses patient's needs on an ongoing basis and adjusts plan of care.
• Documents all assessments, interventions and patient education appropriately.
• Communicates with patients, physicians, family members and other health care disciplines in achieving excellence in patient care during hospitalization and at discharge planning.
• Evaluates the mother's and infant's breastfeeding capabilities, and reports pertinent observations to the registered nurse, obstetrician, pediatrician or other appropriate person.

• Uses interpersonal communication techniques that show a willingness to accept and give constructive feedback for promoting professional excellence.

• Makes appropriate referrals to community support groups.
• Promotes good working relationships and good communication among staff and between departments and disciplines.
• Shows willingness to accept and give constructive feedback for promoting professional excellence.
• Follows staffing guidelines.In the interest of patient care, responds to changes or needs by cooperating with staff rotation, reassignments and weekend/holiday scheduling.
• Promotes safety through adherence to protocols, policies, procedures and evidence-based guidelines and Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals.
• Demonstrates initiative and self-direction in completion of assigned responsibilities in accordance with department needs.

• Demonstrates leadership skills in team building and enhancing interpersonal relationships to create a cohesive and productive environment.
• Recognizes interdepartmental relationships and interacts effectively
• Safely administers medications and treatments as ordered according to hospital policy and formulary using the appropriate principles of safe medication administration, 2 patient identifiers.
• Safely handles various types of drugs and body fluids using knowledge of appropriate standard precautions.
• Actively participates in and supports departmental and organizational quality initiatives and goals.
• Identifies professional goals, which reflect own strengths and weaknesses and seeks assistance for improvement of performance.

• Attends and participates in meetings according to department standards.
• Supports and participates in department, hospital, and evidence based care quality initiatives, including core measures.
• Participates as a team member or in workgroups on department, hospital and/or ISLT evidence based care quality initiatives.
• Evaluates, revises and improves patient care using creative strategies and current research findings.
• Maintains clinical competency according to hospital and unit-specific standards.
• Demonstrates competency in maintaining specific technological skills required by job category and/or specialty area. See individual department competencies for unit specific requirements. Demonstrates recognition of equipment or technological adaptations dependent on age-specific patient needs (See Scope of Practice as delineated in departmental standards and/or related Policy and Procedure in the Policy and Procedure Manual).

• Completion of annual mandatory requirements:
• B.L.S. certification
• RAHE (Required Annual Hospital Education).
• Fit testing N95 mask
• Unit Skillathon
• Attendance at six intershifts .
• Maintain and enhance knowledge and competence through practice and ongoing participation in inservices and formalized professional conferences.

• Follow the competency statements of the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC).
  
  

Job Qualifications

:

Graduate of Accredited School of Nursing Current licensure by the State Board of Nursing Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or College graduate.

• Certified by International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBCLC)

• Experience:
• Baccalaureate (4 year) or higher; plus, minimum 2500 hours of practice as a breastfeeding consultant (as defined); plus, minimum 30 hours of continuing education specific to breastfeeding within the three years prior to taking the exam.
  
  

OR

• Associate degree, including diploma RN, (at least 2 years of academic credit); plus minimum 4000 hours of practice as a breastfeeding consultant (as defined); plus minimum 30 hours of continuing education specific to breastfeeding within the three years prior to taking the exam.

• Other Skills:
• B.L.S. certification required

• Excellent Interpersonal communication skills
• Team participation skills