Position Summary: 

The Registered Nurse Lactation Consultant provides expert breastfeeding support, education, and counseling to mothers, babies, and families, addressing issues such as latch, milk supply, and feeding techniques. They collaborate with healthcare providers to promote breastfeeding-friendly practices while staying informed on current research to ensure evidence-based care. Working in hospitals, clinics, or private settings, they offer individual consultations, teach classes, and provide ongoing guidance to support successful breastfeeding experiences.

Minimum Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.
• Current Montana Licensure (Registered Nurse).
• Current American Heart Association BLS.
• IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) certification or Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) certification.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program Certification required within six (6) months of hire; recertification required every two (2) years.
• Three (3) years of clinical experience in maternal/child nursing, with a focus on lactation support.
• Experience in teaching, communication, and counseling.

Preferred

• Affiliation with professional nursing and lactation organizations.
• Knowledge of cultural and socioeconomic factors that may impact breastfeeding practices.

Essential Job Functions:

In addition to the essential functions of the job listed below, employees must have on-time completion of all required education as assigned per DNV requirements, Bozeman Health policy, and other registry requirements.

• Provide individual and group lactation support services, including prenatal education, in-hospital visits, postpartum home visits, and follow-up support via phone and email.
• Assess and document maternal and infant health, as well as breastfeeding goals, to tailor care plans and ensure successful breastfeeding practices.
• Offer breastfeeding education and counseling to healthcare providers, families, and the community to promote informed decisions and support breastfeeding initiatives.
• Identifies clients in need of additional resources and refer them to appropriate community services to enhance overall care.
• Develops and leads breastfeeding classes and workshops to educate and empower families and healthcare providers.
• Promote breastfeeding-friendly practices by maintaining best practices, integrating research findings, and participating in quality improvement and research initiatives.
• Demonstrate leadership and professionalism through continuous learning, self-evaluation, and adherence to ethical standards, nursing regulations, and current clinical guidelines.
• Foster a safe, health-promoting environment by applying strategies that support wellness and uphold high standards of nursing and lactation care.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrates sound judgment, patience, and maintains a professional demeanor at all times.
• Exercises tact, discretion, sensitivity, and maintains confidentiality.
• Performs essential job functions successfully in a busy and stressful environment.
• Learns current and new computer applications and office equipment utilized at Bozeman Health.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Analyzes, organizes, and prioritizes work while meeting multiple deadlines.

Schedule Requirements

• This role requires regular and sustained attendance.
• The position may necessitate working beyond a standard 40-hour workweek, including weekends and after-hours shifts.
• On-call work may be required to respond promptly to organizational, patient, or employee needs.

Physical Requirements:

• Lifting (Repeatedly – 50 pounds): Exerting force and/or using a negligible amount of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects or people.
• Sit (Occasionally): Maintaining a sitting posture for extended periods may include adjusting body position to prevent discomfort or strain.
• Stand (Repeatedly): Maintaining a standing posture for extended periods may include adjusting body position to prevent discomfort or strain.
• Walk (Repeatedly): Walking and moving around within the work area requires good balance and coordination.
• Climb (Rarely): Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like using feet and legs; may also use hands and arms.
• Twist/Bend/Stoop/Kneel (Repeatedly): Twisting, bending, and stooping require flexibility and a wide range of motion in the spine and joints.
• Reach Above Shoulder Level (Repeatedly): Lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects as necessary above the shoulder, requiring strength and stability.
• Push/Pull (Repeatedly): Using the upper extremities to press or exert force against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward, or outward.
• Fine-Finger Movements (Continuously): Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than using the whole hand as in handling.
• Vision (Continuously): Close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures and to read computer screens, printed materials, and handwritten materials.
• Cognitive Skills (Continuously): Learn new tasks, remember processes, maintain focus, complete tasks independently, and make timely decisions in the context of a workflow.
• Exposures (Continuously): Bloodborne pathogens, such as blood, bodily fluids, or tissues. Radiation in settings where medical imaging procedures are performed. Various chemicals and medications are used in healthcare settings. Job tasks may involve handling cleaning products, disinfectants, and other substances. Infectious diseases are caused by contact with patients in areas that may have contagious illnesses. Emotionally challenging situations, such as dealing with distressed patients or difficult family interactions.

*Frequency Key:  Continuously (100% - 67% of the time), Repeatedly (66% - 33% of the time), Occasionally (32% - 4% of the time), Rarely (3% - 1% of the time), Never (0%).