Registered Nurse (RN) - Lactation

We are searching for a Lactation Consultant (RN) who works well in a fast-paced hospital setting and provides nursing care to patients by assessing, planning, educating, implementing, and evaluating age-appropriate care in a manner that incorporates family-centered principles and cost-effective care. This role involves supporting and instructing mother/infant dyads with breastfeeding needs or lactation problems, with developmentally appropriate care for adolescents and adults as needed. The position requires floating and working across all areas of the main campus, offering continuous learning opportunities.

About Us

Since 1954, Texas Children’s has been leading the charge in patient care, education, and research to accelerate health care for children and women around the world. Consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas and among the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Texas Children’s is recognized as one of Houston’s Best Places to Work. Our comprehensive health care network includes:

• Primary hospital in the Texas Medical Center with expertise in over 40 pediatric subspecialties
• Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI)
• Feigin Tower for pediatric research
• Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, focusing on high-risk births
• Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, The Woodlands, and North Austin
• Texas Children’s Health Plan, the nation’s first HMO focused on children
• Texas Children’s Pediatrics, the largest pediatric primary care network in the country
• Texas Children’s Urgent Care clinics specializing in after-hours care for children
• A global health program providing care to children and women worldwide

Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine, one of the nation’s most diverse and successful pediatric programs.

Responsibilities

• Instructs mothers (adolescents and adults) on all tasks necessary to initiate and maintain lactation during the infant’s hospitalization; may include prenatal instruction and post-discharge follow-up.
• Communicates information obtained from maternal and infant observation and evaluation, collaborating with the health care team to develop and modify the plan of care.
• Documents observations, assessments, and recommendations in the patient record.
• Serves as an expert resource to departments and staff to ensure knowledge of and adherence to hospital policies related to human milk collection, storage, transport, and feeding.
• Obtains information on maternal medication use and evaluates its compatibility or prohibitive status related to breastfeeding or expressed breast milk feeding; reports findings to the mother and medical team.
• Demonstrates commitment to teamwork, professionalism, interpersonal communication, and customer service skills.
• Acts as a liaison to patients, families, visitors, peers, and other health care team members.
• Displays good judgment and positive interpersonal skills in interactions with others.
• Problem-solves, identifies resources, and adapts to ongoing changes with a professional and supportive attitude.
• Ensures and participates in ongoing communication with the health care team to enhance the patient’s plan of care and advocate for the patient/family.
• Demonstrates willingness and ability to acquire new knowledge and skills to improve individual, team, and organizational performance.
• Acts as a resource to new employees and team members to ensure quality patient care.
• Participates in departmental and hospital performance improvement activities, including committees, in-services, and task forces.
• Provides written or verbal recommendations and participates in the development of team goals annually.
• Provides active membership in hospital work teams/committees requiring Lactation Services participation.
• Participates in the review and update of lactation-related policies, procedures, and workflows, providing feedback to leadership.
• Works collaboratively to coordinate the Lactation Consultant schedule and assignments, adjusting to census and workload as needed.
• Participates in the orientation and mentoring of new staff in Lactation and Milk Bank areas.

As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, all successful candidates will be required to undergo respiratory fit testing in compliance with occupational health and safety standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing, associate’s degree, or technical diploma in nursing with acceptance or current enrollment in a BSN program and a signed agreement, or an associate’s degree in a related field accepted by the Texas Board of Nursing for RN licensure, or currently enrolled in a nursing bridge program working toward an MSN with verified BSN-equivalency or a signed agreement.
• Minimum of 9 months of nursing experience.
• RN License by the Texas Board of Nursing or Nurse License Compact.
• CPR – Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.

Qualifications

• BSN (preferred).
• IBCLC – International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (preferred).
• Knowledgeable of physiologic and social sciences related to breastfeeding and lactation.
• Ability to organize and time-manage job tasks effectively.
• Provides lactation instruction and support.