Milk Technician - Specialty Lactation

CHRISTUS Health; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

CHRISTUS Health is seeking a full-time Milk Preparation Technician to support hospital infant feeding services. Responsibilities include weighing, measuring, and preparing mother’s own and donor human milk, maintaining strict sanitation, and delivering labeled feedings to designated patient care areas.

The role requires a high school diploma, 1 year of nutrition or breastfeeding education experience preferred, and BLS certification. Work hours are 7AM–5PM in a on-site hospital setting.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• One year of Nutrition or Breastfeeding education experience preferred.
• BLS (Basic Life Support) required.

Responsibilities

• Meets expectations of applicable competencies.
• Accurately weighs, measures, and prepares mother’s own and/or pasteurized donor human milk per physician’s orders.
• Calculates accurate quantities of milk and fortifiers based on diet orders.
• Uses approved techniques and equipment to prepare milk.
• Weighs and measures all milk, fortifiers, and additives.
• Maintains sanitation standards in the milk storage and prep area.
• Monitors milk preparation supplies and discards expired additives.
• Documents and delivers properly labeled milk feedings to appropriate patient care area.
• Enters patient charges daily.
• Delivers prepared milk to nursing areas on schedule and PRN.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Summary:

To store, prepare and deliver a mother's breast milk and/or pasteurized donor human milk to hospitalized infants. To provide assistance to mothers of hospitalized infants expressing milk for their infants in a manner appropriate and as necessary.

Responsibilities:

• Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.


• Accurately weighs, measures, and prepares mother’s own and/or pasteurized donor human milk for infant feeding per physician’s orders.


• Calculates accurate quantities of mother’s own/pasteurized donor human milk and human milk fortifiers based on diet order.


• Uses approved techniques and equipment to prepare milk.


• Weighs and measures all human milk, fortifiers, and nutritional additives.


• Uses sanitary techniques according to established procedures to prepare and store mother's own/pasteurized donor human milk for infant feeding.


• Maintains sanitation standards in the milk storage and prep area with daily sanitation of work areas.


• Monitors all needed milk preparation/storage supplies and discards expired nutritional additives.


• Uses standard sanitation techniques for equipment in use in the milk storage and prep area.


• Uses and practices proper storage times and temperatures for human milk according to written standards at all times to minimize bacterial growth. Rotates stored milk to minimize undue wastage.


• Maintains cleanliness of refrigerator/freezer used to store human milk on a daily schedule.


• Documents and delivers properly labeled human milk feedings to appropriate patient care area.


• Prepares labels to accurately identify mother’s own/pasteurized donor human milk for individually prepared feedings.


• Accurately documents the number of syringes/bottles, milk volumes and additives (when applicable) of human milk preparation on the daily Milk Preparation Record.


• Enters patient charges daily.


• Delivers prepared milk to the appropriate nursing areas on a scheduled daily delivery and PRN.


• Utilizes, monitors, and sanitizes all milk preparation equipment (e.g., analyzer, centrifuge, milk warmer), storage equipment (e.g., refrigerators, freezers), and supplies per Departmental/Hospital policy.


• Performs all tasks necessary to maintain sanitary conditions of milk preparation and storage equipment.


• Maintains competencies required to efficiently and effectively utilize milk preparation/storage equipment and supplies.


• Monitors and maintains the efficient operation and sanitation of all milk preparation/storage equipment.


• Communicate with lactation consultants, nurses, co-workers, and parents to ensure accurate milk preparation, collection, and storage.


• Communicate with parents delivering milk to the Milk storage to ensure proper collection and storage of the mother’s own/pasteurized donor human milk.


• Contact the manager, lactation consultant, or dietician for needed assistance in clarifying feeding orders and verifying the safety of maternal medication use and human milk feeding.


• Communicate with appropriate medical/nursing personnel for needed assistance with feeding order clarification.


• Maintains daily inventory and stock of all Milk storage supplies and equipment required for human milk collection, preparation, and storage.


• Maintains approved par levels of Milk storage supplies (including pasteurized donor human milk) by monitoring inventory, submitting orders, and stocking area on a daily basis.


• Communicates inventory shortages or special-order needs to the Director as appropriate to meet patient care needs.

Job Requirements:

Education/Skills:

• High school diploma or equivalent required

Experience:

• One (1) year of Nutrition or Breastfeeding education experience preferred

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications:

• BLS (Basic Life Support) required

Work Schedule:

7AM - 5PM

Work Type:

Full Time