Lactation Nurse- NICU- 36 hrs

Registered Nurse or APRN with IBCLC will function under the Registered Nurse scope of practice and be accountable for planning, implementing, and evaluating direct care and staff education in support of lactating mother-infant dyads at CCMC. Primary area of responsibility is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

• Provide comprehensive lactation assessment, consultation, and individualized plans of care.
• Support medically complex infants, children, and lactating parents.
• Collaborate with physicians, APPs, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, and social work.
• Document assessments, education, interventions, and outcomes in the electronic medical record.
• Participate in interdisciplinary rounds and discharge planning.
• Provide patient, family, and staff education using evidence-based practice.
• Develop and update lactation policies, procedures, educational materials, and clinical guidelines.
• Lead and participate in quality improvement, regulatory readiness and research.
• Coordinate lactation resources including breast pumps and lactation spaces.
• Represent Connecticut Children's on committees and community initiatives.
• Serve as the hospital subject matter expert for lactation.
• Mentor nurses, students, and IBCLC candidates.
• Promote evidence-based practice and professional standards.
• Support Joint Commission and organizational quality initiatives.

Performs other job-related duties as assigned

• Required Preferred

Education

• Required: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Education:

Experience

• Required: Minimum two years RN experience either in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), maternal-child, post-partum unit, pediatric inpatient unit, or outpatient lactation clinic and one year inpatient lactation consultation.

Experience:

License / Certification / Registration

• Current Connecticut RN license.
• Current IBCLC certification REQUIRED upon hire.
• Current BLS certification.
• Connecticut Licensed Lactation Consultant (LLC)

License / Certification / Registration:

Knowledge

• As above

Skills

• As above

Abilities

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift clinical equipment, assist patients with positioning and feeding, and safely perform nursing duties.

Physical Demands & Environmental Conditions

Frequency

Never

Minimal

up to 25%

Occasional

25% - 50%

Frequent

50% - 75%

Constant

75% - 100%

Stand ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

Walk ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

Sit ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

Manual Dexterity/Repetitive use of hands, wrists, arms, elbows ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

Forward reach w/hands and/or arms ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

Climb or balance ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

Stoop, kneel, crouch ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

Overhead/above shoulder reaching ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

Lifting: Floor to Waist

<15 lbs ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

15 - 25 lbs. ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

25 - 40 lbs. ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

50 lbs. ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐

Lifting: Waist to Shoulder

<15 lbs ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

15 - 25 lbs. ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

25 - 40 lbs. ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

50 lbs. ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐

Lifting: Above Shoulder

<15 lbs ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

15 - 25 lbs. ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

25 - 40 lbs. ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

50 lbs. ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐

Pushing / Pulling

<15 lbs ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

15 - 25 lbs. ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

25 - 40 lbs. ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

50 – 100 lbs ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐

More than 100 lbs.*

(push/pull on wheels only)

*indicate weight range

☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐

Environmental Conditions

Indoor ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

Exposure to Outdoors/Weather ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

High Temperatures/Humidity ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐

Extreme Cold Temperatures ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐

Exposure to bloodborn pathogens / bodily fluids ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐

Intense Noise Level ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐

Exposure to Radiation ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐

Exposure to Fumes ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Exposure to Heights ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐

Exposure to Confined Spaces ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒

Driving ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Specify any other physical requirements required to perform an essential job function, not listed above: Significant bending over equipment. Significant walking, ability to transport equipment, lifting, sitting. Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so the requirements of the position can be fully met. Education and/or Experience Required:

• Education Required: Must possess a degree or diploma from an accredited nursing program for registered nurses.
• Experience Required: Minimum of one-year hospital-based nursing experience required.

Education and/or Experience Preferred

• Education Preferred: BSN preferred.
• Experience Preferred: NICU, special care nursery, or postpartum experience strongly preferred.
• Minimum of one-year hospital-based nursing experience required; NICU, special care nursery, or postpartum experience strongly preferred.

License and/or Certification Required

• Registered nurse, or APRN licensed to practice nursing in the State of Connecticut.
• International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) certification required or acquired within one year.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR in adult, child & infant is required upon hire and maintained thereafter.

Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut that is 100% dedicated to children. Established on a legacy that spans more than 100 years, Connecticut Children’s offers personalized medical care in more than 30 pediatric specialties across Connecticut and in two other states. Our transformational growth establishes us as a destination for specialized medicine and enables us to reach more children in locations that are closer to home. Our breakthrough research, superior education and training, innovative community partnerships, and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion provide a welcoming and inspiring environment for our patients, families and team members.

At Connecticut Children’s, treating children isn’t just our job – it’s our passion. As a leading children’s health system experiencing steady growth, we’re excited to expand our team with exceptional team members who share our vision of transforming children’s health and well-being as one team.

Connecticut Children’s offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package for eligible team members, including medical, dental and vision insurance, hospital paid life and disability coverage, paid time off and leave programs, education and training assistance, a retirement savings plan with hospital match, and an employment assistance program. Eligibility for certain benefits is based on scheduled hours worked. All team members are eligible to participate in the retirement savings plan, regardless of scheduled hours worked. Additional benefit information is available here .