Lactation Consultant

3110 Kennestone Hospital, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Wellstar Health System seeks a Lactation Consultant to support breastfeeding families within inpatient and outpatient settings. The role emphasizes individualized care, multidisciplinary collaboration, and mentoring staff while advancing patient education and lactation services.

The position requires clinical lactation expertise, a relevant education background, and BLS certification, with IBCLC credentials or preceptor support as part of onboarding.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years with breastfeeding/lactation experience
• IBCLC cert within 1 year of hire
• BLS certification required

Responsibilities

• Inpatient and outpatient lactation consultations with mothers and families
• Provide individualized feeding plans and referral for outpatient consults
• Educate and promote breastfeeding in hospital and community
• Maintain confidentiality and act as a mentor to staff and learners
• Participate in performance improvement initiatives and policy development

Skills

Strong judgment

Independent decision making

Telephone counseling

Keyboard skills

Education

Associates Health Science

Associates Nursing

Bachelor's degree

Job description

How would you like to work in a place where your contributions and ideas are valued? A place where you can serve with compassion, pursue excellence and honor every voice? At Wellstar, our mission is simple, yet powerful: to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve. We are proud to have become a shining example of what's possible when the brightest professionals dedicate themselves to making a difference in the healthcare industry, and in people's lives.

Work Shift Day (United States of America)

Job Summary

The Lactation Consultant has specialized education and extensive experience in managing the needs and care of the breastfeeding family. In providing patient care using an understanding of age specific needs, the Lactation Consultant addresses the physiological, emotional, developmental, psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient and family/ support system. Using a family centered approach, educational needs may range from pre-conception through time of weaning, assisting the mother to attain her individual breastfeeding goals. The Lactation Consultant is responsible for professional and self developmental activities. The Lactation Consultant is responsible for delivering patient care in complex, multiple problem breastfeeding situations. The Lactation Consultant functions as a member of the multidisciplinary health care team as a consultant, instructor, and mentor/preceptor to other health care professionals and clients in hospital and community settings. The Lactation Consultant independently performs her job functions and is responsible to the Manager or Assistant Nurse Manager. The Lactation Consultant who is not IBCLC certified must have an IBCLC preceptor and be checked off for all inpatient, outpatient and phones consultations for 6 months after hire date.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Inpatient Consults

• Contact Patients nurse for any pertinent information
• Visit mother in hospital room for introductions and history intake
• Assess infant feeding/latch
• Provide feeding plan specific to mother/babys individual needs/goals
• Referral for outpatient consult and/or breast pump rental

Outpatient Consults

• History intake/Assessment
• Provide hands on assistance to resolve problems
• Provide plan of care: follow up and referral
• Provide report to healthcare provider via fax and phone call if needed

Phone Consultations

• Follow up phone call to NICU mothers to determine milk supply and address any concerns
• Follow up phone call to Breastfeeding Center outpatients previously seen
• Answer helpline phone calls: address concerns
• Performance Improvement surveys

Professional activities

• Maintains confidentiality
• Serves as a professional role model within professional designation
• Serves a mentor in the development of peers, staff and students
• Serves as resource to nursing staff and leadership, and medical staff
• Supports performance improvement initiatives designed to promote quality patient care

Acts as a resource to members of the health care team

• Work hand in hand with prenatal and postpartum providers to help new families meet their breastfeeding goals.
• Help the hospital to establish and support polices for exclusive breastfeeding

Internal and external (community) breastfeeding education and promotion

• Maintains current clinical knowledge in order to contribute evidence to curriculum
• Identify patient learning needs and utilizes education principles based on age specific criteria to meet these needs
• Designs and implements educational programming that addresses identified learning needs
• Obtain roster and contact class participants prior to class
• Ensure adequate class supplies and communicate needs in a timely and appropriate manner
• Set up for classes adjusting for site specific variances

Breastfeeding Classes

• Teaches breastfeeding classes in the hospital and community.

Retail sales

• Assist customers in choosing breast pump which meets their needs
• Assist customers in choosing/fitting Nursing bra
• Assist customers in choosing other retail items
• Provide direction in breastpump registration and rental process
• Take in cash and provide receipt for cash and carry retail items

Other duties and compliance

• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Required Minimum Education

• Associates Health Science or Associates Nursing or Bachelors
• Other-Preferred

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s)

• All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.
• BLS - Basic Life Support or ARC-BLS - Amer Red Cross Basic Life Support or BLS-I - Basic Life Support - Instructor
• IBCLC - Certified Lactation Consultant within 1 Year

Required Minimum Experience

• Minimum 2 years with breastfeeding/ Lactation experience
• Required Breastfeeding experience is required to become eligible to sit for the exam.
• Required and This experience is considered adequate for entry level into Lactation Consultant practice.
• Required and Hours vary based on educational background. Minimum breastfeeding experience is typically 2500 hours Required

Required Minimum Skills

• Strong judgment skills the ability to work with minimal supervision and make independent decisions that still reflect the policies/procedures and philosophy of the department
• Assisting the breastfeeding mother to attain her individual breastfeeding goals
• Assessment and patient care regarding breastfeeding for newborns, infants and mothers
• Communication with members of the health care team
• Teach breastfeeding classes to the community and to health care workers
• Telephone counseling
• Keyboard skills (computer skills including word processing desirable)
• Other duties as required related to health promotion, the WellStar Health System, and the day to day functioning of the department

Join us and discover the support to do more meaningful work—and enjoy a more rewarding life.

Connect with the most integrated health system in Georgia, and start a future that gives you more.

Nationally ranked and locally recognized for our high-quality care and inclusive culture, Wellstar is one of Georgia’s largest and most integrated healthcare systems. Every day, 24,000+ of us work together to provide personalized care for patients at every age and stage of life – and our team members are the foundation of that care.

Mission, Vision & Values

At a time when the healthcare industry is changing rapidly, Wellstar remains committed to exceeding patients’ and team members’ expectations, while transforming healthcare delivery.

OUR MISSION: To enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve.

OUR VISION: Deliver world-class healthcare to every person, every time.

OUR VALUES: We serve with compassion We pursue excellence We honor every voice

Culture of Excellence Wellstar consistently receives attention and accolades from national organizations that set the standards for world-class care. Our system-wide practice of safety principles, assessing and addressing errors and seeking feedback from our patients and customers continually earns recognition for advances in safety and quality. Featured on the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” list and Seramount 100 Best Companies list, we not only provide top-notch care for our patients, but also foster the culture of Wellstar as a Great Place to Work.