RN Lead Lactation Consultant

Pay range: $47.35 - $71.03 hourly, varies on experience. Women's Health Clinic - Redmond, Oregon

RN – Lead Lactation Consultant – Ambulatory

Nurse Manager

Center for Women’s Health

March 2025

Creating America’s healthiest community, together

In the spirit of love and compassion, better health, better care, better value

Accountability, Caring and Teamwork

The RN – Lead Lactation Consultant – Ambulatory positions provide specialized care and education to patients and families in an outpatient setting.

The RN – Lead Lactation Consultant – Ambulatory is a certified professional responsible for development of an ambulatory lactation program for St. Charles Health System (SCHS) in addition to providing direct breastfeeding education, counseling, and support to mothers and families in a medical office setting. This role involves assessing, planning, and providing lactation services to ensure a positive breastfeeding experience and successful outcomes for mother and baby.

The Lactation Consultant collaborates with medical staff to integrate breastfeeding education into patient care plans. Additionally, the lactation consultant performs newborn hearing tests and provides this information to the baby’s primary care provider (PCP). This role does not directly manage other caregivers but may be asked to provide feedback on the work of others.

• Lactation Support and Counseling

  • Provides one-on-one breastfeeding counseling and support to patients, addressing challenges such as latch difficulties, low milk supply, and other concerns.
  • Conducts pre‑ and post‑natal consultations to educate families on breastfeeding techniques, benefits, and expectations.
  • Assists with breastfeeding equipment, such as pumps, and provides instructions for their use.

• Clinical Assessment

  • Assesses the breastfeeding process, identifying potential issues and creating individualized care plans.
  • Monitors infant growth and maternal health related to breastfeeding, referring to other healthcare providers as necessary to meet the patient’s/family’s physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and intellectual needs; and evaluates patient’s progress.

• Education and Advocacy

  • Educates families about the importance of breastfeeding and how to overcome common challenges.
  • Delivers group classes or educational sessions on lactation and breastfeeding for expectant parents.

• Program Development

  • Works closely with Women’s and Children’s service line leadership on the development of ambulatory lactation services and workflows.
  • Evaluates the tri‑county regional need for lactation services and identifies areas of need that are not being met through SCHS or community partnerships.

• Collaboration and Communication

  • Works closely with pediatricians, obstetricians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated care.
  • Documents all patient care with proficiency in compliance with St. Charles Health System policies and regulatory agencies.
  • Documents care plans in the SCHS electronic medical record (EMR) system.
  • Communicates with community resources for additional patient support when needed.

• Quality Improvement and Training

  • Stays updated on the latest breastfeeding practices, research, and guidelines.
  • Participates in ongoing education, certifications, and training to maintain professional expertise.
  • Provides breastfeeding education and support training to medical office staff.

Maintains and demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of nursing principles, practices, standards, and techniques and applies this knowledge in accordance with St. Charles Health System policies and work instructions and within laws and regulations governing nursing practice in the State of Oregon.

Calculates dosages and administers medications accurately in accordance with St. Charles Health System policies and procedures for medication administration.

Provides and maintains a safe environment for caregivers, patients and guests.

Demonstrates awareness of and supports St. Charles Health System’s…