Car Seat Education Consultant

HealthPartners•Saint Paul, MN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Injury Prevention Program, the Car Seat Education Consultant provides in-person car seat and roadway safety education to patients in inpatient and emergency department settings. The consultant assesses each patient’s needs and teaches caregivers about car seat selection, direction, location, installation, harnessing, next steps, turnaround time, aftermarket products, and safety in and around vehicles. Education must follow current best practices and manufacturer instructions. The consultant is familiar with Minnesota seat belt and child passenger safety laws and other laws that promote roadway safety. The role collaborates with health care team members, makes appropriate referrals, and completes accurate and timely documentation. It provides consultation for Special Care Nursery/NICU car seat tolerance tests, supports car seat safety outreach and inventory, and participates in research and process improvement. The consultant works with a high level of autonomy and serves as the primary car seat resource for patients and their care teams.

Requirements

Completion of a four-year degree, or a two-year degree in a health care-related or education field plus two years of work experience in the field of study.
At least six months of experience as a child passenger safety technician or instructor providing community-based and/or clinical-based car seat education.
Current SafeKids Child Passenger Safety Technician certification.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Knowledge of current child passenger safety best practices, American Academy of Pediatrics position statements, crash dynamics, basic infant and child anatomy and physiology, and basic and complex installation or harnessing problem-solving techniques.
Awareness of emerging car seat technology, different seat types, and how to obtain current information.
Demonstrated competency with different car seat types, seat belts, LATCH, and alternative approved locking mechanisms or methods.
Ability to stay within scope and educate according to best practices and car seat and vehicle manufacturer guidelines.
Ability to communicate effectively with caregivers of all ages and their companions, both orally and in writing.
Knowledge of teaching and learning principles and ability to provide a safe, hands-on learning environment in which caregivers perform the final installation and harnessing.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patient-care and non-patient-care staff, patients, families, the public, and external agencies.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize appropriately.
Ability to perform basic word processing on a computer.
Ability to participate on an interdisciplinary treatment team.
Ability to work with a high level of autonomy and provide expertise to patients and their care teams.
Ability to stand and walk for up to six hours daily, bend and stoop, lift up to 30 pounds daily, and move the wheeled vehicle demonstration seat through hallways and patient rooms.

Nice To Haves

At least 12 months of regular, active experience providing child passenger safety education.
Experience in education and/or patient care.
Current SafeKids Child Passenger Safety Instructor certification.
Completion of special-needs training (Safe Travel for All Children).
Identification as a Safe Kids Coalition child passenger safety coordinator and/or technician proxy.

Responsibilities

Assess patients and provide individualized child passenger safety education based on pediatric or newborn patients’ age, height, weight, and needs.
Demonstrate safe car seat practices and ensure caregivers practice harnessing the child or demonstration doll and installing the car seat in a vehicle or demonstration seat.
Follow industry standards, best practices, and car seat and vehicle manufacturer instructions.
Review car seat history, condition, labels, and recall status; educate caregivers on relevant safety practices, including safe sleep and safety in and around vehicles.
Recognize high-risk issues and refer patients to appropriate resources, including for car seat replacement or age-specific signs of abuse.
Use EPIC to retrieve orders, initiate social work referrals when needed, and document visits; coordinate with the charge nurse and clinical team to prioritize and conduct patient visits.
Assist with Special Care Nursery/NICU car seat tolerance tests, including setup according to manufacturer instructions and consultation with the health care team on best practices and support options.
Provide harnessing and car seat recommendations for special care patients, communicate risks and document any deviations from manufacturer instructions due to medical conditions, and offer vehicle-side education to families preparing for discharge.
Monitor car seat inventory levels and replace seats as needed.
Support outreach events and participate in community car seat clinics as needed for recertification or staffing.
Introduce caregivers to surveys, obtain consent, administer surveys accurately, protect privacy and confidentiality, and provide research data to the critical care research center in a timely manner.
Participate in research publication and presentation activities and provide feedback on process improvements, workflow, time utilization, teaching tools, and educational materials.
Maintain professional, respectful, culturally sensitive communication with patients, families, and team members; support patient safety, infection control, and a safe learning environment.
Comply with safety practices, confidentiality, corporate integrity requirements, mandatory education, and organizational requirements; maintain regular and timely attendance.