Lactation Consultant

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The primary purpose of the Lactation Consultant position is to skillfully provide direct patient care and consultation services for patients related to breastfeeding in accordance with profession nursing standards. The Lactation Consultant assesses, provides/teaches and evaluates Lactation education programs to childbearing clients, their family members and to appropriate HUMC employees. Assists in helping mothers to increase their breastfeeding skills and attain their lactation goals. The Lactation Consultant serves as a lactation resource person for hospital staff, students and community members. Designs and provides patient and staff education programs, assists in establishing the standard of care for breastfeeding mothers and participates in continuous performance improvement programs.

A day in the life of a Lactation Consultant at Hackensack Meridian Health may include:

• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development and possesses the ability to respond to specific issues and data reflective of the patient's status
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide for the primary care within the framework of the job description to the following patient populations: infants (0 -12 months); Toddlers (13 months to 4 years); Adolescents (13 to 17 years); Young adults (18 to 34 years); and adults (35 - 65 years)
• Develops, implements, and evaluates a plan of care for patients experiencing difficulty initiating or maintaining lactation. 4. Conducts bedside Lactation Rounds daily
• Documents all Lactation and teaching interventions
• Utilizes effective teaching methods based on adult learning principles
• Assists parents and their families in understanding alternatives that may be required to accomplish Lactation goals and communicate this information to all members of the health team
• Demonstrates the knowledge, clinical skills and ability to develop and conduct competencies, workshops and /or in-services for the staff in order to reinforce and update knowledge about current trends in the lactation process. Assure that Lactation Services are provided in a timely manner
• Demonstrates the ability to assist breastfeeding mothers in other areas of the hospital who may need assistance. (For example: Mothers separated from infant due to either maternal or child illness, or other emergencies)
• Creates, reviews, evaluates and/or revises departmental policies related to breastfeeding as necessary. Utilizes Evidence Based Practice principles (AWHONN, IBCLC, ACOG) and HUMC standards and guidelines in development or revision
• Participates in the development and conducts Daily Discharge Teaching Classes/ breastfeeding classes (in conjunction with the Mother/Baby RN), in house, following prescribed outline and emphasizing breastfeeding education
• Actively promotes increased awareness and literature about HUMC rental station in the Woman's Gift Shop for patients/families
• Performs other duties as assigned; includes other job functions that are important, but not essential to perform this job. (ie: Assignment in the nursery, cover newborns on overflow units)
• Attends yearly International Conference to maintain certification. Informs leadership of current trends and necessary changes to policies/procedures or protocol
• Maintains mandatory education requirement for the medical center
• Identifies the needs of the patient population served and modifies and delivers care that is specific to those needs (i.e., age, culture, language, hearing and/or visually impaired, etc.). This process includes communicating with the patient, parent, and/or primary caregiver(s) at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy, etc.)

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Graduate of a NLN/AACN accredited program in nursing
• Maternal Child Health, Nursery experience as a staff nurse for a minimum of 5 years

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification
• NJ State Professional Registered Nurse License