Lactation Consultant - RN PRN Premium

Job Title

Plans, implements, supervises, and evaluates the nutritional needs of the breastfeeding infant. Provides consultative services to mothers during the prenatal, antenatal, and post-partial phase as needed. Provides support, education and resources as needed to the breastfeeding NICU mom during infant's hospitalization, with follow up as needed after discharge. Assists NICU/WBN staff as needed with tasks (i.e. AM assessments, first breastfeeding visits, discharges).

Responsibilities

Clinical Practice and Care Management

• Performs complete physical assessment upon admission.
• Initiates individualized problem list or critical path including age specific, psychosocial, education, cultural needs, and discharge planning.
• Conducts and documents assessment/reassessment according to department policies and procedures.
• Documentation is complete, accurate, legible, and reflects appropriate standards of care.
• Plans care of patient according to unit hospital policies and procedures.
• Enforces hospital policies as needed.
• Transcribes and implements physicians orders accurately and in a timely manner.
• Coordinates the interdisciplinary team members in the plan of care to incorporate the individuals health care goals and uniqueness.
• Demonstrates accuracy and documents effectiveness of all treatments, medications, IV therapies, and blood products administered.
• Provides and monitors nursing care to achieve appropriate outcome. Modifies care and coordinates follow-up based upon appropriate factors including age specific needs.
• Accepts additional responsibilities as assumed by the unit leaders such as exam room, physician rounds, and tray deliveries.
• Patient report to ongoing shift is concise and contains all pertinent information.
• Documents clinical information to support the assessment, treatment, education, and continuity of care among health care providers within assigned shift.
• Obtains, analyzes, and utilizes information to enhance and improve individual and organizational performance in patient care.
• Observes and assesses patient/family interaction and refers to appropriate support services as needed.
• Performs an assessment to determine the patients learning needs, abilities, preferences, and readiness to learn. Considers cultural and religious practices as well as barriers to learning.
• Analyzes and reports abnormal assessment findings to physician.
• Participates in a coordinated process of care, based on the patients assessed needs and spanning the illness to wellness continuum.
• Provides appropriate patient care and clinical information to other healthcare professionals for continuing care.

Conduct and Communication Skills

• Observes and enforces department/hospital policy concerning no smoking, telephone usage, dress code and other rules governing conduct while at work.
• Appropriately identifies self to others (i.e. patients, patients family, staff, physicians, etc.)
• Accepts responsibility for action and omissions. Is responsive to identified need for change.
• Willing to adjust personal schedule to meet hospital staffing needs when requested (including weekends and holidays).
• Reports to department on time and prepared to begin assigned duties.
• Provides proper notification and advance notice for absence or tardiness and takes corrective action to prevent recurrences.
• Supports and encourages a harmonious working relationship within the department, other disciplines, and departments. Promotes an environment for an interdisciplinary team approach to achieve the mission/goals of the hospital. Motivates staff in a positive manner.
• Self-motivated; performs job duties utilizing effective time management. Seeks additional work as time permits.
• Seeks guidance about questionable or uncertain situations.
• Demonstrates cost conscious attitude toward staffing, supplies, and departmental function.
• Obtains and uses information to improve patient outcomes and individual and hospital performance. Maintains interdepartmental communication through utilization of available resources.
• Follows established hospital guidelines with regards to appropriate access of information.
• Utilizes hospital and/or departmental manuals appropriately (i.e. Safety Manual, MSDS Manual, Policy & Procedure Manuals, etc.)
• Respects each patients rights and conducts business relationships with patients and the public in an ethical manner. (i.e. confidentiality, privacy, security, preferences, etc.)
• Reflects the hospitals values and a sensitivity to the hospitals ethical and compliance principles in his/her daily activities.
• Able to institute and follow policy and procedures as related to ethical issues.
• Follows appropriate channels of communication to effectively express ideas, issues, concerns, suggestions, and questions.

Professional Development

• Attends required in-services.
• Attends and participates in a minimum of 3/4ths of departmental meetings.
• Meets hospital wide and department specific educational requirements.
• Participates in hospital wide and department specific Performance Improvement projects. Makes suggestions to improve department or hospital wide performance.
• Identifies self or department improvement needs and seeks appropriate resources.
• Maintains a safe, functional, and effective environment for patients, staff members, and other individuals in the hospital.
• Responds to Emergency Preparedness Plan according to hospital policy. (i.e. Code Blue, Code Red, Code White, etc.)
• Knowledgeable of location and use of emergency response equipment (i.e. fire extinguishers, fire alarms, crash carts, etc.)
• Maintains a safe and orderly work area. Cleans equipment as needed.
• Maintains equipment in safe and proper working condition through correct use and appropriate notification of malfunction.
• When indicated, completes occurrence reports in a timely manner.
• Applies appropriate ergonomic principles to reduce the potential for job related injuries.
• Can implement all policies and procedures to identify and reduce the risks of acquiring and transmitting infections among patients, employees, and others.
• Maintains a current Employee Health screening status as per hospital policy.

Qualifications

Experience: Minimum three years of Maternal/Infant Nursing

Education: Completion of state approved Registered Nursing Program

Training: Per license

Special Skills: NRP (within 6 months of employment)

Licensure: Current RN and Certification by International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBCLC) within 2 years. BLS.