What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lactation Specialist position at Adventist Health?
Centered in the heart of Boyle Heights, Adventist Health White Memorial is one of the area's leading healthcare providers since 1913. We are comprised of a 353-bed hospital, three medical office buildings, residency programs, comprehensive cancer care and a vast scope of services located in the Los Angeles area. In 2019, Adventist Health White Memorial was recognized with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest presidential honor for performance excellence. We are proud to promote wellness in the community at the local farmers market and through our community resource center with services for seniors and Spanish-speakers. Los Angeles is known for its art, rich culture, numerous sports teams and world-renowned dining. There is something for everyone in this culturally diverse city.
Job Summary:
Provides inpatient lactation services to women and their families adapting the instruction and care to the lifestyle, cultural lifestyle, cultural background and socio-economic status of the patient. Works in collaboration with the direct nursing staff and the physician to assist the patient in achieving a satisfactory start to successful breastfeeding. Assists in the implementation of short and long range goals applying to breastfeeding that are identified by the nursing staff providing direct patient care.
Job Requirements:
Education and Work Experience:
- High School Education/GED or equivalent: Preferred
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of education/related experience: Preferred
- Two years' relevant experience: Preferred
- Experience teaching health education classes and facilitating support groups: Preferred
Licenses/Certifications:
- Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the state of practice: Preferred
- Certified Lactation Consultants: Required
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Basic Life Support (BLS OR HS-BLS OR RQIBLS) certification: Preferred
- International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC): Required
Department Specific License/Certifications:
- Basic Life Support (BLS OR HS-BLS OR RQI BLS) certification: Required
Essential Functions:
- Employs an interdisciplinary approach to providing comprehensive newborn assessment and lactation support. Facilitates the coordination of all necessary services for patients and families. Coordinates patient care for hospital admissions, specialty referrals, and ancillary support departments based on the assessment from the newborn visit. Within the assigned service area of operation, contacts every woman who has delivered a newborn, offers telephonic assessment and lactation support, generates a nursing care plan, and monitors follow up. Assesses the needs of the mother and her newborn in the post-partum period. Documents identified high risk factors and problems, which may require consultation and intervention, and plans for appropriate follow up.
- Collaborates with other members of the health care team to identify parent's educational and competency gaps related to breastfeeding and newborn assessment. Conducts and documents individual or family lactation or newborn visits to address the identified gaps associated with the newborn or lactation visit. In collaboration with other members of the healthcare team, assesses staff knowledge and identifies competency-based educational needs of staff related to breastfeeding patients and newborn assessment. Provides both formal and informal medical and nursing staff education services in a manner that is consistent, uniform, efficient and cost-effective. Evaluates the effectiveness of the education and modifies educational plans as needed.
- Provides daily assessment and support of new mothers and infants in conjunction with the nursing staff. Appropriately documents breastfeeding assessments, interventions and plan of care in the medical record. Communicates breastfeeding assessment and plan of care with bedside nurse to ensure continuity. Performs duties of the clinical nurse in assigned setting when necessary. Assists with development and updating of lactation protocols in collaboration with a health care team of physicians, nurse practitioner, midwife, social workers, and nutritionists. Teaches group prenatal newborn care and lactation classes. Provides education and mentoring to health care professionals. Mentors nursing staff in providing inpatient education.
- Communicates and markets breastfeeding education programs to a broad target audience using appropriate methods, and based on identified/assessed needs. Provides breastfeeding education to obstetrical and pediatric care providers in the community. Communicates the assessment and plan of care to the mother and/or baby’s doctor when seen in the outpatient clinic.
- Collaborates with the department manager, quality management, and/or designee to establish ongoing monitoring of breast feeding, mother-infant care indicators, policy implementation and improve quality of perinatal care as needed. Collects, monitors, records, and reports data as needed. Meets with appropriate person and/or committee as needed to review monitored data for quality assurance.”
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Organizational Requirements:
Adventist Health is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our associates and patients. Therefore, we require that all associates receive all required vaccinations, including, but not limited to, measles, mumps, flu (based on the seasonal availability of the flu vaccine typically during October-March each year), COVID-19 vaccine (required in CA, HI and OR) etc., as a condition of employment, and annually thereafter. Medical and religious exemptions may apply.
