Lactation Consultant

Job Summary

The Lactation Consultant has specialized education and extensive experience in managing the needs and care of the breastfeeding family. In providing patient care using an understanding of age specific needs, the Lactation Consultant addresses the physiological, emotional, developmental, psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient and family/support system. Using a family centered approach, educational needs may range from pre-conception through time of weaning, assisting the mother to attain her individual breastfeeding goals.

The Lactation Consultant is responsible for professional and self developmental activities and for delivering patient care in complex, multiple problem breastfeeding situations. The Lactation Consultant functions as a member of the multidisciplinary health care team as a consultant, instructor, and mentor/preceptor to other health care professionals and clients in hospital and community settings. The Lactation Consultant independently performs job functions and is responsible to the Manager or Assistant Nurse Manager.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Inpatient Consults

• Contact patient's nurse for any pertinent information
• Visit mother in hospital room for introductions and history intake
• Assess infant feeding/latch
• Provide feeding plan specific to mother/baby's individual needs/goals
• Referral for outpatient consult and/or breast pump rental

Outpatient Consults

• History intake/Assessment
• Provide hands on assistance to resolve problems
• Provide plan of care: follow up and referral
• Provide report to healthcare provider via fax and phone call if needed

Phone Consultations

• Follow up phone call to NICU mothers to determine milk supply and address any concerns
• Follow up phone call to Breastfeeding Center outpatients previously seen
• Answer helpline phone calls: address concerns
• Performance Improvement surveys

Professional Activities

• Maintains confidentiality
• Serves as a professional role model within professional designation
• Serves as a mentor in the development of peers, staff and students
• Serves as resource to nursing staff and leadership, and medical staff
• Supports performance improvement initiatives designed to promote quality patient care
• Work hand in hand with prenatal and postpartum providers to help new families meet their breastfeeding goals
• Help the hospital to establish and support policies for exclusive breastfeeding

Internal and External Breastfeeding Education and Promotion

• Maintains current clinical knowledge in order to contribute evidence to curriculum
• Identify patient learning needs and utilizes education principles based on age specific criteria to meet these needs
• Designs and implements educational programming that addresses identified learning needs
• Obtain roster and contact class participants prior to class
• Ensure adequate class supplies and communicate needs in a timely and appropriate manner
• Set up for classes adjusting for site specific variances
• Teaches breastfeeding classes in the hospital and community

Retail Sales

• Assist customers in choosing breast pump which meets their needs
• Assist customers in choosing/fitting nursing bra
• Assist customers in choosing other retail items
• Provide direction in breastpump registration and rental process
• Take in cash and provide receipt for cash and carry retail items

Performs other duties as assigned. Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.