RN-Lactation Consultant-PRN

Division : Eskenazi Health

Sub-Division : Hospital

Req ID : 21226

Schedule : PRN / Per Diem

Shift : Varied

Eskenazi Health serves as the public hospital division of the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County. Physicians provide a comprehensive range of primary and specialty care services at the 327-bed hospital and outpatient facilities both on and off of the Eskenazi Health downtown campus as well as at 10 Eskenazi Health Center sites located throughout Indianapolis.

FLSA Status : Non-Exempt

Job Role Summary

The RN-Lactation Consultant demonstrates specialized knowledge and clinical expertise in breastfeeding / chestfeeding and human lactation. Lactation Consultants are primarily focused on providing safe, family-centered, and comprehensive infant feeding services for breastfeeding / chestfeeding dyads in collaboration with the patient, patient's family, significant others, and other members of the health care team. As an integral member of the Health Care Team, the Lactation Consultant functions within the Scope of Practice as defined by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) and follows Standards of Practice as defined by their professional association, International Lactation Consultant Association, and adheres to policies, procedures, and guidelines of care.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Functions as a member of the health care team as a clinical expert to promote, support, and protect human milk feeding as optimal first nutrition for all infants.
• Provide holistic, evidence-based breastfeeding / chestfeeding support and care from pre-conception through weaning for birthing people and their families.
• Use clinical expertise to assess lactation history and feeding for the breastfeeding / chestfeeding dyad, and develop, implement, and evaluate an individualized feeding plan for breastfeeding / chestfeeding and pumping dyads.
• Provide education to families, health professionals, and the community about breastfeeding / chestfeeding and human lactation.
• Participate in the development of evidence-based policies and practices to improve infant feeding outcomes in alignment with current research guidelines.
• Coordinates unit level quality and process improvement activities with direction from leadership to resolve clinical problems related to feeding outcomes.
• Issue rental or insurance breast pumps to patients and provide education on pump usage, human milk handling, and storage guidelines.
• Provide prenatal and post-delivery consultative care to patients for lactation-related needs, to include antenatal education and consults, outpatient consults, telephone triage, and inpatient consults on outside units when needed.
• Assist NICU families with initiating pumping in a timely manner and transitioning to breastfeeding / chestfeeding when desired and appropriate.
• Participate in the development of education materials for patients and lactation curriculum for varying levels of staff throughout the organization.
• Make appropriate referrals to other health care providers and community support resources in a timely manner and prior to discharge as needed.
• Maintain stock of necessary lactation and human milk feeding supplies to provide appropriate lactation care.
• Assist with all aspects of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, to include planning, implementing, and evaluating current program initiatives, strategies, and outcomes, and conducting continuous quality improvement activities in alignment with requirements from Baby Friendly USA.
• Continues to pursue educational and / or professional growth opportunities pertinent to clinical and professional development, seeks specialty certification within identified time frames as appropriate.

Job Requirements

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Accredited by The Joint Commission and named one of the nation's 150 best places to work by Becker's Hospital Review for four consecutive years and Forbes list of best places to work for women, and Forbes list of America's best midsize employers, Eskenazi Health's programs have received national recognition while also offering new health care opportunities to the local community. As the sponsoring hospital for Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, the city's primary EMS provider, Eskenazi Health is also home to the first adult Level I trauma center in Indiana, the only verified adult burn center in Indiana, the first community mental health center in Indiana and the Eskenazi Health Center Primary Care – Center of Excellence in Women's Health, just to name a few.

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