Registered Nurse: Lactation Consultant

MU Health Care; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 50,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, vision and dental insurance

Paid leave and holidays

Retirement options

Tuition assistance

Discounts on services

Job summary

MU Health Care is seeking a passionate Lactation Consultant to support new mothers in achieving breastfeeding goals. The role emphasizes education, clinical management of lactation, and collaboration across disciplines to improve outcomes.

This on-site position at University Hospital in Columbia, MO offers a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities to develop innovative programs that promote maternal and infant health.

Qualifications

• Missouri RN licensure (or Multi-State RN) required within 30 days of residency change.
• IBCLC certification required within one year as a condition of continued employment.

Responsibilities

• Actively promotes breastfeeding and assists mothers in reaching their goals; develops standards of care for lactation across the organization.
• Plans and coordinates patient, family, and staff breastfeeding education and evaluates education effectiveness.
• Maintains documentation of patient education and progress in hospital records.
• Provides antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum lactation classes and supports lactation services across inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Participates in quality improvement and staff education to improve breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates.

Education

Missouri RN license (or compact RN)

IBCLC certification (IBLCE)

Job description

Shift

Days, full time, four 8-hour day shifts one week , three 8-hour day shifts other week plus one 4-hour day shift. Two-weekend day requirement each 6-week schedule. CRMC and UH locations.

Work Arrangement

On-Site

Department

Lactation Consultants

Facility

University Hospital - 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO

Compensation

• Base Pay Range: $36.19 - $52.67/hour, based on experience
• Shift Differentials: Additional $3.00/hour for weekend shifts

ABOUT THE JOB

MU Health Care is looking for a passionate and knowledgeable lactation consultant dedicated to supporting new mothers in achieving their breastfeeding goals. We seek someone who thrives on empowering families, providing expert education, and fostering a nurturing environment for both patients and staff. The ideal candidate will be a natural educator, skilled in the clinical management of breastfeeding, and eager to develop innovative programs that promote maternal and infant health. If you are someone who values patient-centered care, has a keen eye for detail, and enjoys collaborating across disciplines to improve breastfeeding success, this is the role for you. Join MU Health Care, where your expertise will inspire and support new mothers on their breastfeeding journey.

ABOUT MU HEALTH CARE

MU Health Care is proud to be named one of Forbes' Best-in-State Employers seven years in a row, and that's largely a result of the incredible culture and team we've built. At MU Health Care, we have an inspired, hard-working and collaborative environment driven by our mission to save and improve lives. Here, we believe anything is possible and rally around solutions. We celebrate innovation and offer opportunities to be a part of something bigger - to have a voice and role in the work that is serving our community and changing the field of medicine.

Our academic health system - the only in mid-Missouri - is home to seven hospitals, including the region's only Level 1 Trauma Center and region's only Children's Hospital, as well as over 90 specialty clinics. Here you can define your career among our many clinical and nonclinical positions - with growth, opportunity and support every step of the way.

Employee Benefits

• Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one
• Generous paid leave and paid time off, including ten holidays
• Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8%and full vesting in three years
• Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)
• Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more
• See a comprehensive list of benefits here.

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION

• Actively promotes breastfeeding and assists mothers in reaching their own goals for breastfeeding. Develops and implements standards of care and guidelines for assisting breastfeeding mothers in all areas of the organization where they might be served. Supports programs already in place. Organizes information and posters for activities to promote breastfeeding.
• Plans, oversees, and coordinates patient, family, and staff breastfeeding education activities. Provides and coordinates didactic education to all patients who require breastfeeding information in accordance with current research literature and national standards of care. Evaluates the effectiveness of patient and family education.
• Reviews and updates information regarding wellness topics such as nutrition, preventative services, and exercise to promote good health habits and increase patient compliance with the health care plan. Implements and maintains a reference library of breastfeeding materials appropriate for both healthcare providers and mothers interested in learning more about lactation.
• Provides antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum classes on breastfeeding, breast care, and related topics to inpatients or outpatients. Knowledgeable and skilled in the physiology and clinical management of breastfeeding. Documents patient/family education and progress of the mother and baby in accordance with hospital standards.
• Maintains professional growth in the area of educational techniques and acute/chronic/wellness topics to maintain the quality of patient education services. Accepts consults for the education of patients and family members in the inpatient or outpatient settings. Evaluates equipment related to breastfeeding and maintain the breastfeeding room. Supports hospital employees who are breastfeeding.
• Plans, oversees, and coordinates annually and as-needed education. Reviews care routines, policies, procedures, or other aspects of the mother-baby hospital experience with involved clinical staff in order to highlight the successes or needs of the lactating mother and their breastfeeding infants. Responsible for coordinating staff competency activities and documentation of activities in staff education folders. Develops a reference library for staff use.
• Serves as the consultant for MU Health Care service regarding breastfeeding issues. Establishes and maintains a telephone line to provide contact with patients who require assistance or those referred for outpatient assistance. Establishes and maintains a regular follow-up system of continuing care for mothers and their infants first seen in the hospital. Develops documentation records to track patient progress/concerns.
• Communicates with health care providers regarding patient condition and disposition and documents events properly. Screens patient records and performs patient interviews to assess the medical and obstetrical history and determine the health care needs. Recognizes sub-optimal changes in status and symptoms that require follow-up and reports to the physician.
• Serves as a liaison, resource, or case manager. Offers case conferences that highlight the particular needs of lactating mothers and their breastfeeding infants for RMCHP. Coordinates patient care services between clinic providers, specialists, pharmacy, and other ancillary services.
• Participates in Quality Improvement, Total Quality Management, and research processes which result in the improvement of clinical interventions. Conducts annual audits to determine breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates and the effects of change in protocols.
• May complete unit/department specific duties as outlined in department documents.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Missouri Board of Nursing RN or Nurse Licensure Compact multi-state RN. When primary state of residency changes, compact state RNs must apply under new state of residency within thirty (30) days.
• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) certification by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE), or other national lactation organization, within one (1) year as a condition of continued employment in this job classification.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Five (5) years of lactation consultant experience.
• Additional license/certification requirements as determined by the hiring

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. This position is very active and requires ambulating, reaching, and moving objects weighing up to and over 20 lbs. This role also routinely comes into contact with patients who may have contagious illnesses. This position is in a health care facility open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work during inclement weather will be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.