Purpose:

Provides optimal breastfeeding management.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct clinical lactation rounds assessing patients' status and problems and develop individualized care plans.

• Conduct clinical training of professional, nursing and ancillary staff.

• Participate in discharge planning by identifying post-discharge needs and providing breastfeeding instruction, providing information on the safe use of medication with breastfeeding and breastfeeding aids as well as on community support groups and services.

• Assist in marketing lactation program to the community, establishing preceptorships and conducting informational seminars.

• Maintain accurate and legible patient care records and develop reports.

• Design and update staff instruction manual, review current and planned educational materials, policies and procedures.

• Act as a lactation consultant and referral resource for other health team members, patients, and their families.

• Assist in employee preparation for lactation consultant certification examination.

• Follow the mandatory reporting procedures for any incident or serious event that did affect or potentially could have affected the clinical care of any patient.

• Assist with verifying knowledge and skills/attitude-based competencies and ensuring that all direct care providers/staff have received training to address gaps in knowledge and/or skills/attitude-based competencies.

• Assist with planning, implementing, and verifying that all direct care providers and direct care staff have all required skills.

• Assist with orienting new direct care staff and direct care providers to the facility infant feeding policy and providing updates to existing staff.

• Analytical ability and independent judgment; interpersonal skills; organizational and leadership abilities.

• Clinical lactation management skills including psycho-motor skills necessary to use appropriate breastfeeding aids and teaching skills to provide related in-services. Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances: CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire. Employees practicing in Maryland: Registered Nurse License is required.

• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

• Board Certified Lactation Consultant

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran