Lactation Consultant jobs in Bakersfield, CA

Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care.  Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year. 

Career Opportunities within Kern Medical include many benefits such as: 

• New Hire Premium: 6% of base rate of pay matched up to 6% if contributed to Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Shift Differentials: varies per classification.
• A Comprehensive Benefits Package: includes Holidays, Vacation, Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance.

Position: Lactation Consultant I(IBCLC )

Compensation

The estimated pay for this position is $26.3318 to $32.3848The rates shown include a 6% premium pay (base= $-$ plus 6%). This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position. Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses. In addition, this position may be eligible for participation and company contributions into the Kern County Employees’ Retirement Plan.

Definition:

Under nursing leadership, responsible for providing lactation management services to expectant and new parents.

The incumbent works collaboratively with Labor & Delivery, Newborn and Intensive Care nurseries, Pediatrics, and nursing care teams to develop feeding plans for a range of infants from the normal newborn to the complex neonate and with the interdisciplinary team. The position provides lactation support and services to breast-feeding mothers / infants by physician or nurse referral. Participates in interdisciplinary performance improvement to promote evidence based lactation services and to improve clinical outcomes. Participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of standards of practice, guidelines, policies, procedures, and protocols within specialty of lactation and breastfeeding to meet goals and objectives of Kern Medical. 

Distinguishing Characteristics:

The International Board Certified Lactation Consultant I (IBCLC) is an expert in the management of the breast-feeding mother-baby dyad acting as coach, consultant, teacher, and lactation expert. The classification of Lactation Consultant I differs from that of the Lactation Consultant II in that the Lactation Consultant II requires in-depth clinical knowledge, experience and CA Registered Nurse Licensing. 

Essential Functions:

• Employs an interdisciplinary approach to providing comprehensive lactation support; facilitates the coordination of all necessary services for patients and families. May consult with the Provider for further data collection to determine potential needs and coordination with other Lactation Consultants;
• Within the assigned service area of operation, contacts every woman who has delivered a newborn, offers telephonic evaluation and lactation support, generates a lactation care plan, and monitors follow up;
• Assists with the needs of the mother and her newborn in the post-partum period.
• Documents identified high risk factors and problems, which may require consultation and intervention, and plans for appropriate follow up;
• Collaborates with other members of the health care team to help identify parent's educational and competency gaps related to breastfeeding.
• Assists in reviewing staff knowledge and helps identify competency-based educational needs as it relates to lactation and breastfeeding patients;
• Provides both formal and informal medical and nursing staff education services in a manner that is consistent, uniform, efficient and cost-effective. Assists in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the education and modification of the educational plans as needed;
• Maintains precise records, data, and statistics in order to ensure accurate reporting and documentation of quality assurance and improvement measures;
• May be required to attend Kern County Breastfeeding Coalition meetings;
• Assists with development and updating of lactation protocols in collaboration with the lactation team;
• Carry out other duties as assigned by the nursing supervisor after being deemed competent, which may include but are not limited to the following:
  • Assists with patient observation and care; checks and records vital signs and pain levels; collects specimens; measures and records intake and output of food and fluids; and records results;
  • Passes and observes food trays; assists or feeds patients;
  • Assists patients with personal hygiene and grooming;
  • Answers call signals; makes beds; cleans and cares for equipment;
  • Adheres to isolation precautions/practices, medical asepsis and infection control; observes oxygen precautions;
  • Transports patients as needed for admission, discharge, and procedures; transports specimens to the lab;
  • Performs general clerical duties; operates a variety of office equipment.
  • Assists with admitting, transferring and discharging patients by inputting data into the Electronic Medical Record, schedules appointments and follows up on authorizations;
  • Answers telephones and provides basic information to patients and/or other interested parties;
  • Coordinates the delivery of equipment and/or other services for patients following discharge.

Additional Duties:                                                                                                                                 

• Performs other job related duties as required.

Assignments shall include only those duties and responsibilities for which competency has been validated.

Employment Standards:

• Possess and maintain International Board Certified Lactation Certification (IBCLC);
• Possess a current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) card at time of hire. As a continued condition of employment, employee must maintain RQI Provider certification and competency.
• Must possess and maintain current NRP certification;
• Depending on assignment incumbents may be required to possess and maintain specific certificates of competency as a condition of employment.
• Other unit specific certification may be required.

Knowledge of:

• Care of breastfeeding dyads in the inpatient setting;
• Assists with development of educational plans for patients and staff; pertinent medications and lactation;
• Management of breastfeeding problems

Ability to:

• Provide comprehensive lactation support; meeting the content and performance criteria specific to lactation, including the leadership/professional development, and unit operation;

• Demonstrate standard techniques of record maintenance and report writing; using computers and related software applications;

• Use keyboard and standard office equipment;

• Follow oral and written instruction;

• Communicate both orally and in writing in order to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction;

• Prepare and maintain concise and comprehensive required records and reports;

• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with staff, other hospital employees, patients and their families.

Supplemental:

Dependent upon assignment, applicants may be required to pass an extensive background investigation, and be fingerprinted.  Disqualification for felony, misdemeanor, and traffic offenses will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

All Kern Medical employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers” through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec. 3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2 - Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services.) As Disaster Service Workers, all county employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable following a significant emergency or disaster.

If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.