Application

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Lactation Education Resources

Application for Internship Program

Dear Internship Applicant,

We are pleased to offer a Lactation Consultant Internship Program for those wishing clinical experience in a variety of health care settings. You, as an intern, will be paired with experienced lactation consultants who will act as your mentor each day. This 100 hour program is designed to give you a broad range of clinical experiences as well as time for developing care plans and researching the rational for the care you give.

You will have the opportunity to observe and participate in post-partum breastfeeding teaching, home visits, out-patient office visits, breastfeeding class for expectant parents, telephone counseling and breastfeeding support for mothers of premature infants. Because of the variety of settings you will be placed, volume of patients they have for the day and the types of patients available, there will be variation in your daily activities.

To document your progress, you will use a competency check list to record the skills you learn. Depending on the amount of previous experience you have, you may not complete all skills within the 100 hour time frame. You will also keep a log of the patients you see each day and complete a plan of care, with references, for one of those patients. At the end of the program you will make a case presentation on one of the patients that interested you to an appropriate group. Details are in the attached Internship Program information.

We think that the experiences you will have and the knowledge you will gain while in the Internship program, will give your lactation consultant career a head start. Working with an intern is a challenging and rewarding experience for us as well. We look forward to welcoming you to our Internship Program!

Sincerely,

Vergie Hughes RN MS IBCLC
Director

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

PURPOSE:

To provide educational and practice opportunities in a variety of setting for those interested in obtaining clinical experience in preparation for beginning lactation consultant practice.

PREREQUISITES:

1) Commitment to complete 100 hours.

2) Malpractice insurance coverage (provide copy)

If you do not currently have malpractice insurance you may obtain it from Seabury &

Smith, (formerly Maginnis & Associates) by calling 1-800-621-3008 or any other carrier

of your choice.

3) Completion of a week long Lactation Consultant Training Program (45 Continuing Education Credits) or equivalent.

3) Health clearance.

4) Interview with the Director (in person or by phone)

5) Letters of recommendation (2) from a supervisor or someone who can attest to your experience and expertise

6) Completed Internship application

7) Current CPR card (provide copy)

FEE:

$750 for 100 supervised hours and related reference materials. (No refunds are given after the program is begun). Additional time can be scheduled as needed in individual situations on a pro-rated basis. Payment programs can be arranged.

COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM:

The trainee will be awarded a completion certificate for 100 supervised hours or 50 CERPs when:

1) 100 hours are complete

2) all daily logs are turned in

3) one case presentation is made to an appropriate audience

4) a written evaluation of the Internship program is submitted

5) complete payment has been received

POLICIES:

Scheduling

Initial scheduling will be done with the Director to determine mutually convenient dates. In special circumstances, an intern may schedule week-end hours if available.

Trainees are encouraged to schedule a full week of training (or several consecutive days) at the onset of the program. Completion of the remainder of the hours can be done as the schedule of the trainee permits. The time limit for completing the 100 hours Internship program is six months.

Supervision

During the internship program LER will provide guidance and arrange observation/practice opportunities in a variety of clinical settings. The training period will begin with observations of the functions of the lactation consultants. She will then perform the various competencies under the supervision of the Lactation Consultants. When she has been observed several times and is believed to have mastered each skill, she may perform that activity independently with the lactation consultants as a resource for problems or questions.

Clinical settings will be arranged based on the interns interests and the availability of supervision at the site. Learning opportunities are based on the availability of patients and their clinical situations. Every effort will be made to offer a variety of educational experiences. The trainee may not reach the level of independent practice in each competency by the completion of the 100 hours.

Conflict of interest

Trainees may not solicit, distribute materials or business cards, or promote goods or services of any type while enrolled in the Internship program.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the 100 hour commitment the Lactation Intern will:

1.Be able to counsel mothers with breastfeeding difficulties over the phone.

2. Distinguish between common breastfeeding problems and more complex problems and provide appropriate referral as needed.

3. Be familiar with the features of different kinds of breast pumps, cleaning and trouble shooting.

4. Be able to recommend a breast pump suitable for the individual needs of each patient.

5. Be competent in providing routine education and support to hospitalized mothers of normal newborns and premature infants.
6. Be informed about the proper storage and handling of breastmilk.

8. Be familiar with resources for breastfeeding information including a medical library, the LER library, reference files, audio and video tape library.

9. Be aware of resources and handouts for patients with special needs: e.g. handicapped infants, mothers of multiples, mothers whose first language is not English, mothers with low reading level, etc.

10. Provide anticipatory guidance to mothers of normal newborns and mothers with breastfeeding problems.

11. Be able to document assessments and recommendations in appropriate records.

12. Be familiar with the appropriate use of special aids such as breast shells, nipple shields, feeding tube devices, special pillows, dimple rings and periodontal syringes.

Internship Program Application Form

Name______________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip _______________________________________________________________

Phone number _______________________________________________________________

Fax number _________________________ email ____________________________________

Educational background:

___________________________________________________________________________

Lactation Consultant Training Program completed (or equivalent) date: _____________________

Anticipated time schedule for 100 hours of training: (scheduled as space is available)

___________________________________________________________________________

Previous experience working with breastfeeding mothers and babies: (include type of setting, volunteer and paid positions, duties and dates of employment, number of hours per week of breastfeeding instruction or support given.

___________________________________________________________________________

Goals and learning needs for the Internship program:

___________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

LACTATION INTERNSHIP

HEALTH CLEARANCE FORM

_____________________________________has:
Name of applicant

1. Has a negative PPD (Mantoux Method) less than 3 months prior to the date of scheduled clinical observation or a negative chest x-ray less than 1 year prior to scheduled clinical observation. Date done _______________

2. Has had rubella vaccination (MMR)

3. Has had chicken pox , has not had chicken pox.

4. Has had hepatitis B vaccination (or provide statement of declination)

She is in general good health and has no health problems that will interfere with her completion of the Lactation Consultant Internship Program.

______________________________________________________
Signature of Physician / Nurse Practitioner and name of Facility

LACTATION INTERNSHIP

CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT

In the course of your activities with patients you will have access to confidential medical and personal information and records. This information may not be divulged to others in any way. Case reports and written assignments should identify patients only by a pseudonym or initial. In addition, you may become aware of sensitive programmatic information. This may not shared with anyone outside of the institution.

An infraction in this area is considered very serious and may be grounds for disciplinary action or dismissal from the internship program.

By signing this statement, you acknowledge that you will not share or divulge any personal, medical or programmatic information to anyone who is not authorized to have access to it.

___________________________________________

Signature of intern, date

Mail your application to Vergie Hughes
5614 Dover St Churchton, MD 20733
or Fax to 443-607-8898