Lactation Specialist Part-Time (NICU)

This position is safety-sensitive and cannot be filled by a candidate who is a current user of medical marijuana. Flu vaccines are required.

About the role

Functions independently in a staff position as an expert practitioner, consultant, educator, and researcher within the lactation specialty. This individual possesses a high degree of knowledge, skill, and competence in the provision of care directly to the patient, family, or community and indirectly through guidance of care by other personnel.

Responsibilities

• Provides comprehensive assessment of the mother/infant dyad and the breastfeeding/lactation process.
• Assesses the lactation status of the mother/infant dyad and communicates assessments with appropriate medical personnel through verbal reports and documentation in the patient's record.
• Assesses education needs of mothers and participates in the identification of mothers within the system who need assistance and/or breastfeeding education.
• Develops plan of care with nursing, nutrition, and medical staff for mother/infant dyad, implements direct and indirect specialized patient care, and evaluates the response to the treatment plan.
• Participates actively with the interdisciplinary team on rounds, discharge planning, and Lactation Rounds.
• Develops patient teaching plans on lactation and related issues.
• Assists mothers who have problems breastfeeding.
• Provides education for mothers on collecting, labeling, storing, transporting, and delivering expressed breast milk while their infants are in the hospital and when at home.
• Monitors progress of the breastfeeding mother/infant dyad and revises treatment plan as needed in collaboration with the medical team.
• Participates in the quality improvement plan for the lactation service.
• Assists the director with developing and maintaining policies and procedures for the Lactation Service.
• Assists the director with the development of the quality improvement (QI) plan for the Lactation Service.
• Collaborates with the Nutritional Services Director, Dieticians, and lactation technicians to identify issues, communicate, and collaborate effectively with other team members to find resolution.
• Serves as an educational resource and participates in research activities while maintaining own level of clinical competency.
• Contributes to the lactation learning needs of the nursing staff, medical residents, house staff, and other hospital personnel as needed.
• Contributes to the breastfeeding education of the community as needed.
• Initiates and/or assists in research projects specific to lactation.
• Participates in lactation continuing education activities for own professional growth.
• Participates in at least 12 in-service education activities per year.

Requirements

• Associate's degree or 2 years of relevant experience.
• 1 year of experience in a related field.
• Certified Lactation Consultant (CLC) – The Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice: TALPP.org.
• Registered Nurse (RN) license – Arkansas or Compact State.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree (recommended).
• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) – International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (recommended).