Lactation Consultant

About The Job

Med Star Franklin Square Medical Center is seeking an experienced Lactation Consultant to join our Postpartum Unit on a per diem basis. This is an exciting opportunity to support growing families while working alongside a highly collaborative and experienced care team. Our Postpartum Unit features 23 beds
, including 19 couplet care rooms and 4 rooms designed specifically for multiples
, allowing us to provide specialized, family-centered care in a supportive and welcoming environment.

Coordinates the efforts of the health care team in a specialized area. Initiates plan of care changing as reassessment of patient need dictates. Ensures that patient family and staff are educated. Provides clinical expertise to patients and staff.

• Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and objectives and adheres to department policies procedures quality standards and safety standards. Complies with governmental and accreditation regulations.
• Clinical Responsibilities:
  Identified needs of breastfeeding mother-baby pair and prevents recognizes and solves breastfeeding difficulties. Serves as an expert resource in the delivery of lactation care to patient. Uses current clinical management of breastfeeding problems and good technical knowledge of equipment.
• Clinical Responsibilities:
  Maintains specialized knowledge of normal and abnormal newborn nursing physiology maternal anatomy and physiology and adaptation. Establishes and coordinates MCH infection control activities in collaboration with the Infection Control Department and the Nurse Manager. Serves as role model resource leader and change agent for nursing staff. Demonstrates flexibility in time management to meet patient care and unit needs. Serves as expert resource in the larger Med Star system or in the community.
• Communication/Interpersonal:
  Follows appropriate chain of command. Possesses counseling skills with the ability to establish a rapport with patients from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Demonstrates the ability to establish a supportive milieu for the breastfeeding patient that communicates caring and concern. Effectively communicates with unit/divisional and larger organizational committee work groups. Uses direct and assertive communication skills with all members of the health care team.
  
  Communicates breastfeeding advocacy beyond hospital borders.
• Participates in the formulation of policy and procedures and MCH standards of care as the clinical need arises. Yearly revises the mission and objectives of the LRC. Maintains operational budget and cooperates within its framework.
• Participates in and facilitates support groups to meet client and community needs. Cooperate with WIC efforts in breastfeeding promotion. Liaisons with other hospital-based Lactation Consultants. Maintains ILCA and CLCA membership meetings and positions of responsibility. Participates in area conferences or projects I cooperation with Breastfeeding Promotion in Maryland. Holds responsible position at the national/international level. Initiates designs and follows through interagency collaborative efforts.
  
  Initiates designs and facilitates needed support groups for a changing population.
• Chairs and/or participates in ongoing hospital/nursing committees. Keeps all records and statistics current for easy access. Complies activities of the LRC and documents same in an annual report. Applies cost benefit analysis to all operations. Initiates and follows through policy and/or procedure changes. Demonstrates awareness of operational budget needs through cost cutting or revenue generating efforts. Promotes collaboration/research through the sharing/use of statistics.
• Professional Development:
  Encourages nursing staff to become involved in clinical learning activities as they pertain to breastfeeding patients. Provides leadership direction and support for the professional development of staff in lactation education. Participates in unit educational programs such as orientation of new staff and introduction of new breastfeeding equipment.
• Participates in orientation of nursing students to…