Lactation Consultant

Job Details

Full time 36 hours/week rotating shifts
With a commitment to patient- and family-centered care, the Lactation Consultant RN uses the nursing process in ways that values the uniqueness of each individual and addresses the physical, psychological, emotional, and social needs of the diversity of patients served by Jefferson Health. the Lactation Consultant RN is responsible for providing safe, family-centered patient care by assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating lactation plans for the breastfeeding/chest-feeding dyad, as well as for the pumping parent, and is fully collaborative with the patient, patient's family, significant others, and members of the health care team. The Lactation Consultant demonstrates specialized knowledge and clinical expertise in breastfeeding/chest-feeding and human lactation.

Job Description

Summary
With a commitment to patient- and family-centered care, the Lactation Consultant RN uses the nursing process in ways that values the uniqueness of each individual and addresses the physical, psychological, emotional, and social needs of the diversity of patients served by Jefferson Health. the Lactation Consultant RN is responsible for providing safe, family-centered patient care by assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating lactation plans for the breastfeeding/chest-feeding dyad, as well as for the pumping parent, and is fully collaborative with the patient, patient's family, significant others, and members of the health care team. The Lactation Consultant demonstrates specialized knowledge and clinical expertise in breastfeeding/chest-feeding and human lactation.

Job Duties

• Interacts with co-workers, patients, their family/designated care partner(s), and other staff consistent with the values of Jefferson.
• Integrates Evidence-Based Practice, clinical expertise, patients, their family/designated care partner(s) preferences and cultural beliefs and values for delivery of optimal healthcare.
• Partners with patients, their family/designated care partner(s)) in identifying learning needs and priorities and provides education in ways that are useful, understandable, and affirming.
• Minimizes risk of harm to patients and others by following established nursing practices and protocols and individual performance.
• Uses information technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support ethical decision-making.
• Uses data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and uses improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of patient care.
• Functions effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care.
• Recognizes the patients, their family/designated care partner(s) in providing safe, compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient's personal preferences, priorities, needs, and cultural beliefs and values.
• Creates an environment of belonging and inclusion, demonstrating skills in problem solving and conflict resolution.
• Demonstrates a commitment to learning and seeks opportunities for continued professional growth and development and acts in primary preceptor role to appropriate staff members
• Actively participates in hospital- and practice setting-based committees, including safety and quality improvement.
• Demonstrates willingness to give and receive feedback and integrates appropriate changes into practice.
• Provides consultation to inpatients and/or outpatients regarding lactation to meet care needs.
• Offering post-delivery consultative care to patients: breastfeeding/chest feeding, family bonding and planning, etc.
• Evaluating patient's response to care and initiates independent and/or collaborative changes where appropriate
• May facilitate prenatal classes in the ambulatory setting
• May support the ambulatory practices with lactation training and consultation

Minimum Qualifications

• Specialized Diploma Graduate of an accredited school of nursing required and
• 2 years experience in maternal/child nursing. Demonstrated experience in planning, implementing and evaluating teaching/learning experiences.
• Patient-and Family-Centered Practice
  Knowledge of how to convey respect and collaborate with each patient, family and/or designated care partner in care and care planning.
• Cultural Awareness
  Knowledge of people with diverse backgrounds and the ability to convey respect and connect effectively.
• Effective Communication
  Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques, ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors. Uses the language of partnership with patients and families, engaging them in their health and health care. Appropriately and respectfully delegates to other team members.
• Patient Assessment and Care
  Knowledge of and ability to assess ailments and injuries of patients and implement a treatment plan.
• Patient and Designated Care Partner Education
  Knowledge of child and adult education techniques and the ability to elicit learning priorities and needs and educate patients and their designated care partners on the patient's condition, the treatment and medications suggested and given, and the next steps in the patient's recovery.
• Discharge Planning
  Knowledge of the patient's post-discharge needs and the ability to partner with the patient and family/designated care partner(s) in developing a discharge plan and arranging for follow-up care.
• Assessment and Diagnosis
  Knowledge of various tools and techniques for patient assessment and nursing diagnosis or clinical judgement, ability to explore and analyze reasons behind symptoms and generate resolutions according to available drugs, facilities and techniques.
• Health Information Documentation
  Knowledge of the relevance of health information and appropriate documentation methods, ability to record medical histories, symptoms, vital signs, medications, diagnoses, treatment plans, procedures, tests, and medical results in written or electronic form.
• BLS - Basic Life Support AHA - American Heart Association
• IBCLC - International Board Certified Lactation Consultant - International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners
• RN - Licensed Registered Nurse_PA - State of Pennsylvania

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree BSN or completion of BSN within 3 years of hire strongly preferred

Additional Qualifications

Physical Demands
Lift and carry 40-50 lbs. Examples: Push/pull patients on bed, stretcher (requires 29 lbs. push force), lateral transfers up to 50 lbs. of the patient's weight. Frequent to continuous standing/walking. Patient transporters can walk 8-10 miles per shift. *Patient care providers may be required to perform activities specific to their role including kneeling, bending, squatting and performing CPR.

Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.

Work Shift

Rotating (United States of America)

Worker Sub Type

Regular

Employee Entity

Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Inc.

Primary Location Address

833 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow's professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.    

Jefferson is committed to providing equal educa­tional and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status. 

Benefits

Jefferson offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including medical (including prescription), supplemental insurance, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, tuition assistance, as well as voluntary benefits, which provide colleagues with access to group rates on insurance and discounts. Colleagues have access to tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service. All colleagues, including those who work less than part-time (including per diem colleagues, adjunct faculty, and Jeff Temps), have access to medical (including prescription) insurance.

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