Lactation Consultant Full Time

American Addiction Centers • Park Ridge, IL

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The RN Lactation Consultant is a registered professional nurse who provides holistic nursing care through the nursing process to individuals, groups, families, or communities. This role involves collecting comprehensive data through assessment pertinent to the mother and baby's health, analyzing this data to create nursing diagnoses and determine interventions, and coordinating the implementation of the plan of care with the healthcare team. The consultant also influences the plan to enhance the abilities of others and effect change, and evaluates progress towards goals and health outcomes. This position serves as a consultant for lactation difficulties beyond the knowledge of healthcare providers, consults on and implements lactation plans of care, and acts as a liaison between the community and hospital, providing ongoing expertise, education, and support. They also provide education for mothers and families in correct lactation management, educate patients, families, and healthcare team members, and develop and implement an annual lactation educational program for the healthcare team. Additionally, the role involves participating in lactation program development and implementation, working with shared governance structures on lactation-related issues, and contributing to the development of policies, procedures, algorithms, and guidelines specific to lactation practice. The consultant identifies, monitors, and evaluates quality and safety issues related to practice, maintains a phone consultation system for lactation questions, and represents the lactation department at various meetings.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN), required
• 3 years minimum experience in Maternal Child Nursing
• Global perspective of changing health care environment.
• Ability to prioritize work.
• Basic computer skills.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills.
• Utilization of critical thinking in timely decision-making.
• Able to collaborate as a member of the health care team.
• Knowledge of lactation equipment and supplies.
• Current RN license in Illinois
• Certified as International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), or must have one of the following: Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Certified Lactation Specialist (CLS), Certified Lactation Educator (CLE) or Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) and be certified as an IBCLC within 2 years of hire/transfer.
• Current BLS certification through the American Heart Association
• NRP certification as required by site
• Ability to demonstrate a commitment to patient-focused care.
• Ability to prioritize independently and respond to multiple simultaneous requests.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with established time constraints and in difficult situations.
• May be exposed to hazardous materials and life-threatening diseases.
• Ability to perform lifting/transfer activities related to patients (up to 30 lbs. may be required).
• This position needs to recognize needs and behaviors of specific age groups and cultures of patients treated.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a consultant when difficulties with lactation are beyond the knowledge and/or training of the health care provider.
• Consults, develops and implements lactation plans of care.
• Serves as a liaison and/or facilitator between the community and hospital providing ongoing expertise, education and support to groups and individuals.
• Provides education for mothers and family in correct lactation management.
• Educates patients, families and health care team members.
• Develops and implements ongoing lactation educational program annually on lactation for the healthcare team.
• Participates in lactation program development and implementation.
• Works with the appropriate shared governance structure on issues relating to lactation.
• Participates in development of policies, procedures, algorithms and guidelines specific to lactation practice at site and system levels.
• Identifies, monitors and evaluates quality and safety issues related to practice.
• Maintains phone consultation system for lactation questions and problems.
• Represents the lactation department at unit/system/community meetings.
• Collecting comprehensive data through assessment that is pertinent to the condition of the mother and baby's health.
• Analyzing assessment data to create nursing diagnosis and determine the necessary interventions.
• Coordination of plan of care implementation with the health care team.
• Consultation to influence the identified plan to enhance the abilities of others and effect change.
• Evaluation of progress towards attainment of goals and health outcomes.
• Evaluates and integrates research findings into lactation practice.
• Maintains current knowledge of lactation research and reflects this knowledge in current lactation practice.
• Participates in lactation research projects.
• Pursues continuing education relevant to lactation consultant practice including reading current professional journals, participating in workshops, seminars, in-service programs, conferences, accredited courses, and professional organizations.
• Provides a communication link between the hospital and health care provider’s office to assure coordination of patient care and maintains communication with health care providers concerning patients experiencing lactation and breastfeeding problems.
• Demonstrates appropriate assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation based on stages of life and developmental status.

Benefits

• Comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs
• Competitive compensation
• Generous retirement offerings
• Programs that invest in your career development
• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level