Lactation Consultant Nurse Clinician at Duke Health

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States and is the number one hospital in North Carolina, according to U.S. News and World Report for 2023-2024. Duke University Hospital is the largest of Duke Health's three hospitals and features 1048 patient beds, 65 operating rooms, as well as comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Duke Nursing Highlights:

• Duke University Health System is designated as a Magnet organization
• Nurses from each hospital are consistently recognized each year as North Carolina's Great 100 Nurses.
• Duke University Health System was awarded the American Board of Nursing Specialties Award for Nursing Certification Advocacy for being strong advocates of specialty nursing certification.
• Duke University Health System has 6000 + registered nurses
• Quality of Life: Living in the Triangle!
• Relocation Assistance (based on eligibility)

Lactation Consultant Nurse Clinician

Intensive Care Nursery – Duke University Hospital

Duke University Health System seeks to hire an experienced Registered Nurse who will embrace our mission of Advancing Health Together.

The Lactation Consultant Nurse Clinician is an expert in the management of the mother-baby dyad and families that are having complex lactation and nursing issues. S/he is clinician, teacher, consultant, and leader. As a consultant, s/he works collaboratively with the ICN and TCN nursing care teams to develop complex feeding plans. S/he makes clinical assessments, and use current lactation theories and research to develop evidence-based feeding plans that address individual feeding issues while respecting the physician's and family's breastfeeding goals.

*Willing to consider newly LC licensed nurses.*

Work Schedule:

40 hours per week.

What you will do:

• Provide clinical care and lactation services to breast-feeding mothers by physician or nurse referral. Recommendation by ILCA (International Lactation Consultants Assoc) is 1 LC per 1000 births per year.
• Collaborate with birthing center nursing care teams to develop complex feeding plans.    
• Use current lactation theories and research to develop evidenced based feeding plans that address individual feeding issues, such as nutritional requirements, while respecting the family's breastfeeding goals.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team and outpatient LC to provide continuity of care upon discharge of patients.
• Serve as a role model for advance nursing skills in lactation. 
• Facilitate the professional development of health care team at DUMC by improving clinical and theoretical education and knowledge of Lactation
• Participate in developing, implementing and evaluating patient education resources and programs
• Teach, coach, support breastfeeding mothers utilizing evidence-based practice and with DUHS approved educational resources.
• Teach, coach, support, and mentor DUH nursing staff and other healthcare learners to promote evidence-based clinical practice, and support breastfeeding skills to mother-infant dyad.
• Assess local community need for breastfeeding education, and participate/teach in programs to address needs.
• Utilize evidence-based research and knowledge to support clinical, educational and consultative roles in order to provide a scientific basis for professional nursing practice.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team and Dept. of ACP in research opportunities that will advance lactation.
• Participate in interdisciplinary performance improvement and clinical research to promote evidence-based nursing practice and to improve clinical outcomes.
• Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of standards of practice, guidelines, policies, procedures, and protocols within area of lactation.
• Serve as a consultant to nursing, members of the healthcare community, and to the larger community in areas of lactation.
• Participate in the design, implementation and evaluation of programs and projects in lactation and breastfeeding to meet goals and objectives of DUHS. -    Identifies and analyzes system barriers to provision of excellent care and develops plans to resolve barriers. 
• Role model advanced practice professional nursing through conduct, appearance, communication, mutual respect, leadership, ethical decision-making, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Assume responsibility for professional self-development. Quality of work reflects high professional and ethical standards
• Communicate effectively to maintain positive working relationships.
• Demonstrate responsibility for professional practice through active participation in professional organizations, a minimum of 25 continuing education hours/year, and in maintaining certification as lactation consultant.
• Enhance the body of knowledge in nursing, lactation, and breastfeeding through exchange of ideas and knowledge using methods such as posters, newsletters, presentations, and publications.

Knowledge, Skills, Education, and Experience Required:
 

• Previous work experience (3+ years) as a clinical nurse is required.
• Bachelor's degree in nursing, health, nutrition, or related field required (BSN Preferred)  

Licensure, Certification or Registration Required:
 

Current registration with North Carolina State Board of Nursing as a registered professional nurse OR current compact RN licensure to practice in the state of North Carolina required.
BLS (or higher) certification required.
Certification by IBLCE (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners) is required. Professional specialty certification (preferred).
 

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.