Lactation Consultant Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health•Halifax, NS

8d•CA$41 - CA$52•Onsite

About The Position

IWK Health is seeking a Lactation Consultant Nurse (LCN) for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) within the Women's & Newborn Health Program. This role involves collaborating with the Neonatal Care team to provide holistic and comprehensive care to infants and their families in a fast-paced, dynamic teaching environment. The LCN is responsible for assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care, promoting health and advocating for informed choice infant feeding support. This includes the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding, utilizing current research-based knowledge. The LCN will provide consultation to other healthcare providers, directly care for patients and families, and lead activities for healthcare professionals and patients/families. The role also involves participating in the development of standards of care, guidelines, policies, and procedures related to infant feeding to strengthen Baby-Friendly Standards. The Lactation Consultant Nurse adheres to the ILCA Standards of Practice and the IBCLC Code of Ethics.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing required (candidates with equivalent experience and education will be considered).
Licensed, or eligible to be licensed, with the Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator (NSNMR) required.
Current IBCLC (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant) certification or IBCLC in progress required.
Recent clinical NICU experience required.
Current successful completion of a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Basic Life Support Level (BLS)Program within the last 12 months, or successful completion of a BLS Renewal Challenge Certificate, required.
Current Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification required.
Demonstrated commitment to the Baby Friendly Initiative.
Demonstrated excellent communication and interpersonal skills and is able to maintain good interpersonal and working relationships with all members of the health team.
Demonstrated ability to take initiative, be self-motivated, and work both independently and as part of a team.
Demonstrated change management skills, leadership skills, critical thinking and oral/written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Possible consideration of an RN with commitment to obtain their IBCLC within the first 12 months if unable to recruit current IBCLC or IBCLC in progress applicants.
Clinical experience as a Lactation Consultant preferred.
Competency in other languages considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Collaborating on the delivery of holistic and comprehensive care to meet the needs of infants within the context of their family.
Providing nursing care including assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation with the purpose of promoting health within a fast paced and dynamic teaching environment.
Being responsible and accountable for the application of current theory and research in the delivery of family integrated patient care consistent with the philosophy, objectives, vision and mission of IWK Health, providing inpatient care to infants and their families.
Advocating for informed choice infant feeding support by collaborating with other members of the healthcare team to ensure the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding primarily within the Women's and Newborn Health Program of IWK Health.
Using current research based knowledge related to breastfeeding, provides consultation to other health care providers as well as provides care directly to patients and their families.
Providing leadership in planning, coordinating, implementing and evaluating activities for healthcare professionals and patients/families.
Participating in the development of standards of care/guidelines/policies and procedures relating to and involving infant feeding to strengthen Baby-Friendly Standards.
Adhering to the ILCA Standards of Practice and the IBCLC Code of Ethics.