Lactation Consultant RN

Job Description

Job Description

SUMMARY: Provides preventive prenatal and postpartum instruction; identifies early signs of breastfeeding difficulties and suggests appropriate options to parents and medical staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Cooperate with other health workers in maintaining frequent and regular communication with the breastfeeding mother.
2. Confers with mothers and assesses the progress of breastfeeding and may recommend alternatives that will improve its quality and increase its duration.
3. Assists in the following:
   1. Prevention and management of engorgement.
   2. Prevention and management of sore nipples.
   3. Promotion of ample milk supply
   4. Breastfeeding the infant with slow weight gain or failure to thrive; when the infant is jaundiced; more than one infant (twins, triplets, tandem); the premature infant; when mother and infant are separated (hospitalization, employment, school); in the presence of food intolerance and/or allergy; the infant with special needs.
   5. Suck difficulties that interfere with breastfeeding.
4. Instructs mothers in the appropriate use of breastfeeding devices.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES :

1. The lactation consultant may provide:

1. Prenatal and postnatal breastfeeding classes.
2. Private consultations
3. Home visits
4. Assistance in the Hospital
5. Inservice education to health professionals
6. Training for students: nurses, dietitians and physicians
7. Telephone counseling for mothers
8. Breast pump rentals and other devices
9. Educational materials and literature

1. Other duties as assigned from time to time.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES : None.

EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

1. Previous clinical experience in a patient care setting preferred with successful completion of orientation and training to the point of competence.
2. A working knowledge of:
3. Anatomy of the breast and physiology of lactation
4. Newborn anatomy and physiology
5. Behavioral sciences
6. Developmental stages of infant growth
7. Biochemical properties and immunological aspects of human milk
8. Nutrition
9. Pathology
10. Pharmacology and human milk
11. Development of human attachment
12. Effect of environmental toxins
13. Professional ethics

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS :

1. Current California RN license required.
2. Current BLS and NRP certification required.
3. Certificate in Lactation Consultation required.

AGE OF POPULATION SERVED:

Newborn to 30 days. Childbearing women and female adolescents to elderly.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS : see attached.