Lactation Consultant - Registered Nurse (RN) - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Job description

111 Michigan Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20010

Kids Are Our Everything.
Department
10300 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Pay Range
$41.69 - $60.18
Who We Are:
At Children’s National Hospital, you’ll be part of a Level IV NICU team delivering the highest level of neonatal care, as designated by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Our 66-bed unit brings together pediatric subspecialists, surgical teams, anesthesiologists, and highly skilled NICU nurses to care for the most complex and critically ill newborns. Recognized among the nation’s best neonatology programs by U.S. News & World Report , and supported by a Magnet™-designated nursing program, we offer an environment where clinical excellence, innovation, and collaboration drive exceptional outcomes.
Our NICU nurses provide 24/7 specialized intensive care and are leaders in their field, holding advanced certifications, including many certified lactation specialists and contributing to nationally recognized best practices in neonatal care. You’ll work in a unit thoughtfully designed with staff and family experience in mind, featuring private rooms, advanced technology, and a calm, supportive care environment that enables you to deliver both high-acuity care and meaningful family-centered support.
At Children’s National, we recognize that care extends beyond the bedside. You’ll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to engage families in the care journey through participation in rounds, education, and specialized support programs, including developmental services, behavioral health resources, and comprehensive family support. Join a team where your expertise makes a profound impact, advancing care for the most vulnerable patients while supporting the families who rely on us every day.
About the Role:
As a Lactation Consultant RN II in our Level IV NICU, you will play a vital role in supporting the nutritional health, development, and bonding of our most vulnerable newborns and their families. Working within a highly specialized neonatal care environment, you will provide expert lactation assessment, education, and evidence-based interventions for premature, medically complex, and critically ill infants. Collaborating closely with neonatologists, bedside nurses, advanced practice providers, and a full spectrum of pediatric subspecialists, you will help develop individualized feeding plans that support optimal growth and successful breastfeeding outcomes. Located on our main campus, our integrated care model provides seamless, 24/7 access to nationally recognized experts and advanced resources, empowering you to guide families through their feeding journey while making a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of infants and those who care for them.
All nursing practice is based on the legal scope of practice, national and specialty nursing standards, Children's National Policies and Procedures, and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Professional Model of Care requires registered professional nurses to be responsible and accountable for their own practice. Children's National supports the development of RN relationships within the community; specifically those relationships associated with the health and well being of the community at large.
Minimum Education
Bachelor's Degree (Required)
Minimum Work Experience
3 years Neonatal nursing experience (Required)
1 year Experience as a lactation consultant (Required)
Required Skills/Knowledge
Must successfully complete hospital and nursing orientation at CNMC.
Required Licenses and Certifications
Registered Nurse (Required) IBCLC (Required)
Functional Accountabilities
Professional Practice & Research
• Participate in/supports Shared Nursing Leadership.
• Contribute to CNMC’s Magnet Journey .
• Accountable to support/participate in the Division of Nursing’s Performance Improvement Process.
• Participate in community activities.

Education
• Maintain knowledge of lactation procedures and necessary equipment.
• Develop and manage lactation education and support programs.
• Ensure lactation education and guidelines are based on evidence of best practice.
• Provide lactation education to CNMC staff members.
• Support lactation efforts of CNMC employees.
• Provide resources for parent and staff education and evaluate effectiveness on a continual basis.

Nursing Process
• Perform assessments of lactation concerns/issues with inpatient families.
• Accountable to implement strategy for the advancement of successful lactation.
• Document individual assessments, teaching and plan of care in medical record.
• Responsible for oversight of the employee and family lactation areas.

Communication
• Communicate lactation counseling follow-up with interdisciplinary team.
• Attend interdisciplinary rounds and contributes to plan of care.
• Serve as a consumer advocate for patient/family concerns.
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.

Leadership
• Adapt to change in a professional manner.
• Model clinical leadership in a team environment.
• Maintain positive demeanor and productive work ethic.

The disclosed salary range includes the minimum and maximum rates within which Children’s National believes an individual’s base pay rate will fall for this position. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the maximum of the pay range. The exact pay rate for this position will be based on a variety of factors in alignment with the Children’s National compensation philosophy. These factors are legitimate and non-discriminatory including, but not limited to, the current market conditions; organizational needs; the individual’s combination of prior work experience, level of education, knowledge, skills, and other qualifications. Children’s National is committed to providing a fair and competitive total rewards package to each of our employees. This base salary range does not include our comprehensive benefits package or any additional compensation for which this position may be eligible.
Childrens National Hospital is an equal opportunity employer that evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, identity, or other characteristics protected by law. The “Know Your Rights” poster is available here: and the pay transparency policy is available here: Know Your RightsPay Transparency Nondiscrimination Poster.
Please note that it is the policy of Children's National Hospital to ensure a “drug-free” work environment: a workplace free from the illegal use, possession or distribution of controlled substances (as defined in the Controlled Substances Act), or the misuse of legal substances, by all staff (management, employees and contractors). Though recreational and medical marijuana are now legal in the District of Columbia, Children's National and its affiliates maintain the right, in accordance with our policy, to enforce a drug-free workplace, including prohibiting recreational or prescribed marijuana.