Neonatal Feeding Specialist - 32 Hours/Week - Days

Nebraska Methodist Hospital•Omaha, NE

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Nebraska Methodist Health System is seeking a Neonatal Feeding Specialist to provide a variety of services to premature and medically complex infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Newborn Nursery related to feeding difficulties. This role involves assessing and documenting baseline and changes, providing regular updates and consultative advice to staff and families, and promoting evidence-based feeding practices with an emphasis on family participation. The position is 32 hours per week on the day shift and is located at Methodist Women's Hospital.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language pathology or nursing required.
Minimum 5 years of clinical experience in respective field required.
Minimum 2 years neonatal clinical experience required.
Current licensure as appropriate for specialty required (Occupational Therapist (OT), Physical Therapist (PT), Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) or Registered Nurse (RN)).
Current American Heart Association or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) strongly preferred at time of hire, required within 3 months of hire.
Each discipline will obtain respective certification in neonatal care within 1 year of eligibility required.
Skill prioritizing, organizing and performing assigned duties.
Skill accurately performing work.
Skill with verbal and written communication.
Knowledge of various teaching methods and adult learning styles.
Knowledge of practices, methods and procedures of clinical discipline.
Ability to establish effective working relationships with staff and patients.
Ability to practice within standards of practice as outlined by professional organization and licensing body.
Ability to work independently based on patient load.
Exerting up to 35 pounds of force (Medium Light Work).

Nice To Haves

Master's degree from an accredited university preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate comprehensive infant feeding services to newborns, premature and convalescing infants, utilizing evidence-based feeding practices.
Facilitate the orientation of neonatal staff to feeding protocols and interventions, and provide ongoing education based on current evidence-based practices.
Assist orienting staff to the special needs of NICU patients.
Perform initial and ongoing feeding assessments on NICU patients and provide recommendations to the multidisciplinary team.
Identify and interpret the infant's feeding strengths, feeding functional level, thresholds, and sensitivities.
Provide recommendations for feeding changes and education/guidance on feeding practices based on patient needs.
Provide and maintain materials supportive of infant's feeding needs and reference materials for family use.
Participate with marketing in developing printed materials.
Provide regular assessments and updates to family, ensuring care plan is updated as needed and that families have necessary information for discharge.
Provide ongoing education and support to families.
Participate in multidisciplinary rounds and discharge planning, anticipating the need for appropriate follow-up.
Participate in daily rounds on a regular basis.
Provide leadership in the promotion of evidence-based feeding practices with an emphasis on family participation, blending individualized patient/family needs with medical interventions.
Ensure family-centered care is used in all planning.
Participate with NICU leadership in the development of philosophy of care.
Participate in ongoing process improvement activities related to feeding care and interventions.
Ensure unit feeding practices are based on current care research and integrated into related policies.
Participate in interdisciplinary rounding, collaborating with other team members to develop and document feeding care plans for NICU and Newborn Nursery infants.
Provide education to staff on policy updates to ensure transfer of knowledge.
Assist in the development of NICU and newborn nursery policies.
Review policies for relevance and the inclusion of Family Centered Care.