Full Time Lactation Consultant

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This position is a health care professional that specializes in the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding through various methods of education, instruction, and follow-up of the breastfeeding couplet. The overall goals of this role are to enable mothers and families to make informed infant feeding choices, initiate and maintain lactation, overcome obstacles, prevent premature weaning and enhancement of maternal role satisfaction.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

• Current Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which services will be provided or current multi-state Registered Nurse license through the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).
• Obtain certification in Basic Life Support within 30 days of hire date.
• Obtain Certified Lactation Counselor Certification through Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice OR Board Certified Lactation Consultant Certification through International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners within six (6) months of hire date.
  
  

EXPERIENCE:

• Five (5) years of nursing experience with at least three (3) years of experience in maternal/infant care.
  
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN).
  
  

EXPERIENCE:

• Five (5) years of experience in maternal/infant care.
  
  

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties. Other duties may be assigned.

• Promotes breastfeeding advocacy through planned educational opportunities directed toward the roles of maternal, family and health care workers.
• Provides parent education for informed choice of infant feeding; nutritional recommendations for lactation; and the effects of medications, recreational drugs, herbs and home remedies related to lactation and infant health.
• Provides staff education through adult learning principles and on-going mentoring.
• Assures the delivery of comprehensive breastfeeding clinical support through the coordination and provision of expert patient care.
• Provides inpatient consultation (including the emergency department) with mothers who are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
• Performs assessment of the mother-baby couplet identifying possible conditions or difficulties based on history, interview, and assessment.
• Provides information and problem-solving ideas to resolve breastfeeding difficulties through personal interaction and demonstration.
• Provides emotional support and crisis intervention directly to mothers and through staff mentoring.
• Acts as a breastfeeding advocate for the patient, incorporating the understanding of cultural differences related to breastfeeding couplet.
• Participates in the development and enhancement of policies, procedures, and standards of practice regarding breastfeeding.
• Collects data for quality improvement activities and assists in developing and analyzing data, integrating information into clinical nursing practices.
• Participates in research that may improve patient care.
  
  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends minimizing the need for employees to manually lift patients, and limit safe patient handling to 35 pounds. All transfers, lifts and re-positioning will be completed utilizing the lift equipment and/or other patient handling aids as indicated by the patient’s profile and appropriate algorithms.
• Heavy/Hard work: Work requires strength and/or stamina, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, standing, walking, and carrying of materials and equipment weighing 35 lbs
  
  

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Working closely with others.
• Working protracted or irregular hours.
• Working around biohazards.
• Working around infectious diseases.
• Working with hands in water.
• Working with electrical hazards associated with patient care equipment.
  
  

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of relevant scientific principles, established standards of care and/or research findings.
• Knowledge of procedures and techniques involved in administering routine and special treatments to patients.
• Knowledge of and appropriate application of the nursing process.
• Knowledge of professional theory, practice and procedure.
• Ability to communicate clearly with patients, families, physicians, and other employees.
  
  

Additional Job Description:

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Shift:

Varied (United States of America)

Exempt/Non-Exempt:

United States of America (Exempt)

Company:

UNTWN Uniontown Hospital

Cost Center:

29 UNTWN Birthing Center

Address:

500 W Berkeley Street

Uniontown

Pennsylvania

Equal Opportunity Employer

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All WVUHS employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.