RN Perinatal Educator

Coffee Regional Medical Center

RN/Perinatal Educator

Position Summary

• The RN Perinatal Educator provides education to OB patients. The educator also provides breastfeeding education, support, and assistance to new mothers. The educator provides safe, competent and evidence-based care.

• Overview
• The evaluation is to assure individual performance, departmental goals and organizational goals are aligned. It is designed to support communication between the manager and the employee. Employee perception of their own performance is very important. To maximize the benefit of this process, both the manager and the employee participate in the evaluation process.

Qualifications

• A. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Must have 5 yrs experience with IBCLC certification)
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Reads and understands the English language.
• Ability to think critically and analytically with little or no supervision.
• Ability to work effectively in situations of high stress and conflict and communicate goals and outcomes.
• Ability to process information and prioritize.
• Possesses exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Possesses independent work habits, is self-reliant and self-directed.
• Ability to learn, adapt, and change as required by the job functions.
• Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of material and information accessed and reviewed.
• Basic computer literacy
• Ability to move freely, reach, bend, and complete light lifting.
• Ability to use good body mechanics while performing daily job functions and ability to follow specific OSHA guidelines.
• Ability to maintain attendance to meet standard job practices.

• B. Education
• Associate degree RN required; BSN preferred.

• C. Licensure
• RN License in Good Standing with the GA Board of Nursing

• D. Experience
• Experience in perinatal and lactation education preferred.
• International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Certification preferred.

E. Interpersonal skills

F. Essential technical/motor skills

G. Essential physical requirements • Sedentary

• Exert up to 10 lb. of force occasionally and/or a minute amount frequently - 50-74%
• Light: Exert up to 20 lb. of force occasionally and/or up to 10 lb. of force frequently - 1-24%

H. Essential mental requirements

I. Essential sensory requirements

J. Other

K. Equipment used

Other qualifications

• A. Exposure to hazards (body fluid exposure level)
• Level I

• B. Age of Patient Populations Served
• Neonates 1 - 30 days
• Infants 30 days - 1 year
• Children 1 - 12 years
• Adolescents 13 - 18 years
• Adults 19 - 70 years

• Job specific duties and performance standards
• Below are those tasks, duties, and responsibilities that comprise the means of accomplishing the position’s purpose and objectives. These are critical or fundamental to the performance of the position. They are the major functions for which the person in the position is held accountable. Following are the essential functions of the position, along with the corresponding performance standards.
• Upholds the standards of the IBCLC profession by:

o Working within the framework defined by the IBLCE Code of Professional Conduct and the Clinical Competencies for IBCLC Practice

o Integrating knowledge and evidence when providing care for breastfeeding families from the disciplines defined in the IBLCE Exam Blueprint

o Working within the legal framework of the respective geopolitical regions or settings

• o Maintaining knowledge and skills through regular continuing education
• Protects, promotes and supports breastfeeding by:

o Educating women, families, health professionals and the community about breastfeeding and human lactation

o Facilitating the development of policies which protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

o Acting as an advocate for breastfeeding as the child-feeding norm

o Providing holistic, evidence-based breastfeeding support and care, from preconception to weaning, for women and their families

• o Using principles of adult education when teaching clients, health care providers and others in the community
• Provides competent services for mothers and families by:

o Performing comprehensive maternal, child and feeding assessments related to lactation.

o Developing and implementing an individualized feeding plan in consultation with the mother

o Providing evidence-based information regarding a mother’s use, during lactation, of medications (over the counter and prescription), alcohol, tobacco and street drugs, and their potential impact on milk production and child safety

o Providing evidence-based information regarding complementary therapies during lactation and their impact on a mother’s milk production and the effect on her child

o Integrating cultural, psychosocial, and nutritional aspects of breastfeeding

o Providing support and encouragement to enable mothers to successfully meet their breastfeeding goals.

o Using effective counselling skills when interacting with clients and other health care providers

• o Using the principles of family-centered care while maintaining a collaborative, supportive relationship with clients
• Reports truthfully and fully to the mother and/or infant’s primary health care provider and to the health care system by:

• o Recording all relevant information concerning care provided and, where appropriate, retaining records for the time specified by the local jurisdiction.
• Preserves client confidence by:

• o Respecting the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of mothers and families
• Acts with reasonable diligence by:

o Assisting families with decisions regarding the feeding of children by providing information that is evidence-based and free of conflict of interest.

o Providing follow-up services as required

o Making necessary referrals to other health care providers and community support resources when necessary

o Functioning and contributing as a member of the health care team to deliver coordinated services to women and families.

o Working collaboratively and interdependently with other members of the health care team

o Reporting to IBLCE if they have been found guilty of any offence under the criminal code of their country or jurisdiction in which they work or is sanctioned by another profession.

• o Reporting to IBLCE any other IBCLC who is functioning outside this Scope of Practice
• Clinical Competencies:

o The IBCLC has the duty to uphold the standards of the profession and will

 Conducts her/himself in a professional manner, practicing within the framework defined by the IBLCE Code of Professional Conduct for IBCLCs, the IBLCE Scope of Practice for the IBCLC, and the IBLCE Clinical Competencies for the Practice of IBCLCs

 Critiques, evaluates and incorporates evidence-informed findings into practice within the laws of the setting in which s/he works.

•  Obtains continuing education to enhance skills and maintain IBCLC certification.
• Protects, promotes and supports breastfeeding and will:

 Provides evidence-informed education through various means including development of client information fact sheets, counseling, curriculum development, and multimedia campaigns to women, families, health professionals and the community about breastfeeding and human lactation.

 Participates in the development of policies at global, national, and local levels which protect, promote and support breastfeeding or breastmilk intake in all situations including emergencies.

 Advocates for breastfeeding women, children and families in all settings and promote breastfeeding as the child-feeding norm globally.

 Supports practices which promote breastfeeding and discourage practices which interfere with breastfeeding and will:

 Promotes the principles of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative

 Carefully chooses a method of feeding when supplementation is unavoidable and use strategies to maintain breastfeeding to meet the mother’s goal.

•  Promotes the principles of the World Health Organization Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding
• Provides competent services for mothers and families and will perform a comprehensive maternal, child and feeding assessment related to lactation, such as:
• History Taking and Assessment Skills

 obtains the mother’s permission to provide care to her and her child.

 ascertains the mother’s goals for breastfeeding.

 utilizes appropriate counseling skills and techniques.

 respects a mother’s race, creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, and national origin.

 obtains a lactation history.

 identifies events that occurred antenatally, during the pregnancy, labor and birth process that may adversely affect breastfeeding.

 assesses the breasts to determine if changes are consistent with adequate function/lactation.

 assesses maternal physical, mental, and psychological states.

•  assesses social supports and possible challenges.
• Skills to Assist Breastfeeding Dyad

 promotes continuous skin-to-skin contact of the newborn and mother.

 provides education to assist the mother and family to identify newborn feeding cues and behavioral states.

 assesses oral anatomy and normal neurological responses and reflexes.

 assists the mother and child to find comfortable positions for breastfeeding.

 identifies correct latch/attachment.

 assesses effective milk transfer.

 assesses for adequate milk intake of the child.

 assesses for normal infant behavior and developmental milestones.

 provides suggestions as to when and how to stimulate a sleepy baby to feed.

 provides evidence-informed information to assist the mother to make informed decisions regarding breastfeeding.

 provides education for the mother and her family regarding the use of pacifiers/dummies including the possible risks to lactation.

 provides appropriate education for the mother and her family regarding the importance of exclusive breastfeeding to the health of the mother and child and the risk of using breastmilk substitutes (formula)

 provides information and demonstrate to the mother how to perform manual expression of breastmilk.

 provides information and strategies to prevent and resolve painful damaged nipples.

 provides information and strategies to prevent and resolve engorgement, blocked ducts and mastitis.

 provides information and strategies to minimize the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

 provides information regarding family planning methods including Lactation Amenorrhea Method (LAM) and their impact on lactation.

 assists and support the mother and family to identify strategies to cope with peripartum mood disorders (prenatal depression, “baby blues”, postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis) and access community resources.

 provides information regarding introduction to appropriate family foods.

 provides information regarding weaning from the breast when appropriate, including care of mother’s breasts and preparation and use of breastmilk substitutes according to World Clinical Competencies for the Practice of IBCLCs Health Organization Guidelines for Safe Preparation, Storage and Handling of Powdered Infant Formula

 calculates an infant’s caloric/Kilojoule and volume requirements.

 assesses the mother’s milk supply and provide information regarding increasing or decreasing milk volume as needed.

 assesses the breastfeeding child’s growth using World Health Organization adapted growth charts.

•  provides education to the mother related to normal child behaviors; signs of readiness to feed and expected feeding patterns.
• General Problem-solving Skills

 evaluates potential or existing challenges and factors that may impact on a mother to meet her breastfeeding goals.

 assists and support the mother to develop, implement and evaluate an appropriate, acceptable, and achievable breastfeeding plan utilizing all resources available.

 facilitates breastfeeding for the medically fragile and physically compromised child.

 evaluates how each breastfeeding dyad and situation is unique, and their effect on breastfeeding.

 provides anticipatory guidance to reduce potential risks to the breastfeeding mother or her child.

•  assesses and provide strategies to initiate and continue breastfeeding when challenging situations exist/occur.
• Use of Techniques and Devices

 critiques and evaluates indications, contraindications and use of techniques, appliances and devices which support breastfeeding or may be harmful to continued breastfeeding including alternative feeding methods.

 evaluates, critiques, and demonstrates the use of techniques and devices which support breastfeeding, understand that some devices may be marketed without evidence to support their usefulness and may be harmful to the continuation of breastfeeding.

 evaluates and critique how techniques and devices may be used to ensure initiation and/or continuation of breastfeeding in certain circumstances.

•  provides evidence-informed information to the mother regarding the use of techniques and devices.
• Develop, Implement and Evaluate an

 uses adult education principles.

 selects appropriate teaching aids.

 provides information on community resources for breastfeeding assistance.

 provides evidence-informed information regarding a lactating mother’s use of medications (over the counter and prescription), alcohol, tobacco and street drugs, including their potential impact on milk production and child safety.

 provides evidence-informed information regarding complementary therapies during lactation and their impact on a mother’s milk production and the effect on her child.

 integrates cultural, psychosocial, and nutritional aspects related to breastfeeding.

 provides support and encouragement to enable mothers to successfully meet them.

 uses effective counseling and communication skills when interacting with clients and other health care providers.

 uses the principles of family-centered care while maintaining a collaborative, supportive relationship with clients.

 supports the mother to make evidence-informed decisions for her child and herself.

 provides education and information at a level which the mother can easily understand.

•  evaluates the mother’s understanding of all information and education provided.
• Individualized Feeding Plan in Consultation with the mother
• Reports truthfully and fully to the mother and/or child’s primary health care provider and to the health care system and will:
• Obtains the mother’s consent for obtaining and disclosing of information as needed or as specified by local jurisdiction.
• Provides written assessments as required.
• Maintains documentation of all client contacts, assessments, feeding plans, recommendations, and evaluations of care
• Retains records for the time specified by the local jurisdiction.
• Preserves client confidence and will:
• Respects the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of mothers and families except where the reporting of a danger to a mother or child is specifically required by law.
• Acts with reasonable diligence and will:
• Assists families with decisions regarding feeding their children by providing evidence-informed information that is free of any conflicts of interest.
• Provides follow-up services as required and requested.
• Makes appropriate referrals to other health care providers and community support resources in a timely manner depending on the urgency of the situation.
• Works collaboratively with the health care team to provide coordinated services to families.
• Reports immediately to IBLCE if found guilty of any offence under the criminal code of the IBCLC’s country or jurisdiction in which they work or if sanctioned by another profession.
• Reports immediately to IBLCE any IBCLC who is functioning outside the IBLCE Scope of Practice for IBCLCs and/or not maintaining a practice which meets with the IBLCE Code of Professional Conduct for IBCLCs or the IBLCE Clinical Competencies for the Practice of IBCLCs