Job Summary:

The Lactation Consultant is a health care professional who is knowledgeable, skilled and experienced in lactation and breastfeeding management. The primary focus of this position is to provide education, assistance, and support to breastfeeding women and newborns. The Lactation Consultant will also provide education to the perinatal nurse

who will be caring for maternity patients.

The Lactation Consultant will provide education within the scope of the Childbirth Education Program as well as continued consultation to patients who are in need of services post-discharge.

The Lactation Consultant will be responsible for creating policies and procedures within the scope of Breastfeeding.

Essential Functions:

• Assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation of care in a variety of patient care situations

• Establishment and implementation of Breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to staff

• Training and education of all staff in the skills necessary to implement breastfeeding policy

• Maintains and expands knowledge and skills for lactation consultant practice by participating in continuing education programs and professional development activities

• Interface with Childbirth Educators to educate consistently and comprehensively on breastfeeding issues

• Establishment of an employee breastfeeding program so that employees returning to work may continue breastfeeding

• Follow-up with breastfeeding patients as appropriate - availability as a referral source for NWH

• Referral and communication to primary care provider as appropriate.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Current Licensure in nursing in Massachusetts
• IBCLC Certification
• Demonstrated, successful teaching experience
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Knowledge of Business Administration Preferred
• BSN preferred
• Recent OB or Mother/Baby nursing experience preferred.
• Knowledge of the special needs and behaviors of infant, child, adolescent, adult patients required.
• CPR Training Required

Physical Environment:

The Lactation Consultant works in a variety of patient care environments where there may be exposure to communicable diseases and hazardous materials such as chemothera-peutic agents, radioisotopes and radiation. Caring for patients also involves exposure to human waste and other unpleasant elements. Other duties may include general cleaning with exposure to dirt, odors, cramped quarters, etc.

Physical Standards of Job Description:

• Constantly - 75% or more of the worker's time is spent in the activity
• Frequently - 25% to 75% or more of the worker's time is spent in this activity
• Occasionally - 5% to 25% or more of the worker's time is spent in this activity
• Rarely - under 5% or more of the worker's time is spent in the activity
• N/A - not applicable

Basic activity being performed



C



F



O



R



N/A



Comments



Walking

X

19% - Patient care activitie

Standing

X

16% - Patient care activitie

Sitting



with back support

X

8% - Patient care and paperwork



without back support

X

Reaching



Overhead

X

10% - Patient care activitie

Forward

X

Lateral

X

Low

X

Stooping

3% - Patient care activitie

Bending at waist

X

Crouching

6% - Patient care activitie

Bending at knee

X

Kneeling

X

1% - Patient care activitie



Climbing

X

1% - Patient care activitie



Crawling

X

1% - Patient care activitie



Twisting

X

5% - Patient care activitie



Balance

X

5% - Patient care activitie



Other:

Other:

Pushing Tasks by weight



5 lb

X

5% - Patient care activitie

5-15 lb

X

15-40 lb

X

40-75 lb

X

75-100 lb

X

Pulling Tasks by weight



5 lb

X

10% - Patient care activitie

5-15 lb

X

15-40 lb

X

40-75 lb

X

75-100 lb

X

Lifting Tasks by weight



5 lb

X

10% - Patient care activities: lifting of equipment and lifting/positioning of patients - weight varies significantly

5-15 lb

X

15-40 lb

X

40-75 lb

X

75-100 lb

X

Sensory Requirements



Yes



No



Comments



Visual Activity



Close paper work



X

VOI used



X

Color vision required



X

Visual monotony

X



Hearing Activity



Conversation



X

Monitoring Equipment



X

Telephone



X

Transcription

X



Background Noise



X

Sensory Discrimination



Hot/Cold



X

Sharp/Dull



X

The above is intended to describe the general contents and requirements of work being performed by people assigned to this position. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all duties, responsibilities or skills of personnel so classified.