The Lactation Consultant provides nursing care and breastfeeding instruction to mother/infant dyads while collaborating with the healthcare team to develop and modify care plans. They also serve as an expert resource for hospital staff regarding human milk collection, storage, and feeding policies.
Requirements overview
Candidates must hold a nursing degree (BSN preferred) and a current RN license from the Texas Board of Nursing or Nurse License Compact. A minimum of 9 months of nursing experience and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification are required.
Texas Children’s Hospital is a world-class pediatric facility, nationally recognized as a top children’s hospital, and voted one of the best places to work in Houston for nine years running. We’re committed to creating a healthy community for children by providing the best pediatric care possible, through groundbreaking research and emphasis on education. We also offer a full continuum of family-centered care for women, from obstetrics to well-woman care. As a team member at Texas Children’s Hospital, you’ll work in an environment that values your voice. Texas Children's Hospital, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is recognized as one of America's best children's hospitals.
We are searching for a Lactation Consultant (RN) -- someone who works well in a
fast-paced hospital setting and provide nursing care to patients by assessing,
planning, educating, implementing, and evaluating age-appropriate care in a
manner that incorporates family-centered principles and cost-effective care.
This applicant will provide support and instruction to mother/infant dyads with
breastfeeding needs/lactation problems in a manner developmentally appropriate
for adolescents and adults as necessary.
Think you’ve got what it takes?
* excellent communication, collaboration, and teamwork skill sets
* willingness to float/ work all areas of main campus (this position offers
continuous learning)
Minimum Qualifications
* Bachelor’s degree in nursing, associate’s degree, or technical diploma in
nursing with acceptance or current enrollment in a BSN program and signed
agreement or an associate’s degree in a related field accepted by the Texas
Board of Nursing for the purposes of obtaining and maintaining an RN license
required or must be currently enrolled in a nursing bridge program working
toward an MSN with a verified BSN-equivalency or a signed agreement.
* 9 months experience in nursing (minimum)
* RN License by Texas Board of Nursing or Nurse License Compact
* CPR – Basic Life Support from the American Heart Association
Preferred Qualifications
* BSN
* IBCLC – International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant
* Knowledgeable of physiologic and social sciences to breastfeeding and
lactation
* Ability to organize and time manage job tasks effectively
* Provides lactation instruction and support
Responsibilities:
* Instructs mothers (adolescents and adults) on all tasks necessary to initiate
and maintain lactation during the infant’s hospitalization; may include
prenatal instruction and post-discharge follow-up.
* Communicates the information obtained from maternal and infant observation
and evaluation, collaborates with health care team for development and
ongoing modification of plan of care.
* Documents observations, assessments, and recommendations made during
consultation in patient record.
* Serves as an expert resource to departments and staff throughout the facility
to ensure knowledge of, and adherence to, hospital policies and procedures
related to human milk collection, storage, transport and feeding.
* Obtains information on maternal medication use and evaluates its
compatibility or prohibitive status related to breastfeeding or expressed
breast milk feeding.
* Reports findings to mother and medical team through departmental
documentation guidelines.
* Demonstrates commitment to team, excellent professionalism, interpersonal,
communication, and customer service skills.
* Represents department and self as a liaison to patients/families, visitors,
peers and other health care team members.
* Displays good judgment when interacting with others and demonstrates positive
and effective interpersonal skills.
* Demonstrates the ability to problem solve, identify appropriate resources,
adapt to ongoing changes and handle conflict management with a professional
and supportive attitude
* Ensures and participates in ongoing communication with other health care team
members in order to enhance the patient’s plan of care, advocate for the
patient/family and facilitate unit operations.
* Demonstrates willingness and ability to acquire new knowledge, demonstrate
new skills needed to improve individual, team, and organizational
performance.
* Acts as a resource to new employees and other members of the team to ensure
the delivery of quality patient care.
* Participates in departmental and hospital performance improvement activities
(committees, in-services, task forces); offers written or verbal
recommendations and participates in development of team goals on a yearly
basis.
* Provides active membership in hospital work teams/committees that require
Lactation Services participation.
* Participates in the review/update of lactation related policies, procedures
and workflows and provides feedback to departmental leadership.
* Works collaboratively to coordinate Lactation Consultant schedule and
assignments; adjusts to census and workload as needed.
* Participates in orientation and mentoring of new staff to Lactation and Milk
Bank areas.
"As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, all
successful candidates will be required to undergo respiratory fit testing in
compliance with occupational health and safety standards. "
Since 1954, Texas Children’s has been leading the charge in patient care,
education and research to accelerate health care for children and women around
the world. When you love what you do, it truly shows in the smiles of our
patient families, employees and our numerous accolades such as being
consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top
in the nation by U.S. News & World Report as well as recognition from Houston
Business Journal as one of this city’s Best Places to Work for ten consecutive
years.
Texas Children’s comprehensive health care network includes our primary hospital
in the Texas Medical Center with expertise in over 40 pediatric subspecialties;
the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI); the Feigin Tower
for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive
obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s
Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; Texas
Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, the first hospital devoted to children’s care
for communities north of Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin,
the new state-of-the-art facility providing world-class pediatric and maternal
care to Austin and Central Texas families. We have also created Texas Children’s
Health Plan, the nation’s first HMO focused on children; Texas Children’s
Pediatrics, the largest pediatric primary care network in the country; Texas
Children’s Urgent Care clinics that specialize in after-hours care tailored
specifically for children; and a global health program that is channeling care
to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is
affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine, one of the largest, most diverse and
successful pediatric programs in the nation.
To join our community of 15,000+ dedicated team members, visit
texaschildrenspeople.org
[https://www.texaschildrenspeople.org/career/?job_id=414012] for career
opportunities.
Texas Children’s is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants
and employees are considered and evaluated for positions at Texas Children's
without regard to mental or physical disability, race, color, religion, gender,
national origin, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual
orientation, gender identity, marital status or any other protected Federal,
State/Province or Local status unrelated to the performance of the work
involved.