Lactation Educator RN
Company : Catholic Health Initiatives
Location : Omaha, NE, 68124-2319
Job Type : Full Time
Salary : 38.78-56.24 HOUR
Date Posted : 3 January 2026
Job Summary and Responsibilities
Works directly with newborn nursery, special care nursery, and Labor and Delivery staff, and birth center staff as a consultant for mothers that are breastfeeding. Responsible for Breastfeeding support group and telephone consultations. Provides follow-up support for mothers after dismissal. Responsible for discharge phone call follow-ups. Involvement in exclusive breastfeeding task force and community projects. Resource for Certified Lactation consultants on staff and training nursing staff.
Essential Key Job Responsibilities
- Coordinates care of postpartum patients who are breastfeeding; helps nursing mothers with potential/actual problems; is available for follow-up calls for support and guidance; works in close consultation with nursing staff.
- Acts as a resource person for staff caring for patients. Acts as a communication link between Maternal Child staff.
- Provides education to new mothers about breastfeeding as well as sharing knowledge will all maternal child areas.
- Provides backup support to appropriate areas, including Maternal Child Health, Special Care Nursery, and Childbirth Education, within the scope of license.
- Compiles with internal and external regulations, policies, and procedures, per Policy Stat; identifies areas of noncompliance and assists in resolution. Demonstrates leadership in achieving nursing division goals and supports Shared Governance structure.
- Assumes responsibility for personal and professional growth through participation in meetings, inservice programs, continuing education programs, and fulfills yearly requirements as stated by policy. Assists in orientation of new staff and participants in Quality Improvement activities.
- Maintains professional attitude with patients, visitors, and other hospital personnel while ensuring confidentiality of patient and other hospital information.
- Maintains compliance with established, departmental, and organizational policies, procedures, and objectives concerning quality improvement, safety, and environmental conditions and infections.
- Acknowledges the value of multicultural traditions and demonstrates this when caring for patients. Must have the ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a diverse and multicultural environment.
- Contributes to planning for use of physical, human, and capital budget fiscal resources.
- Assess the patient's pain and establish an acceptable pain level. Responds and intervenes to verbal and non-verbal pain. Informs pain assessment and interventions to nursing staff.
- Participates in all safety, security, and infection control programs that are mandatory as well as those required and provided by the department.
- Demonstrates work practices consistent with Commonspirit and department-specific safety, security, and infection control policies.
- Maintains appropriate stock/supplies of needed teaching materials and breast pumps and parts for use by patients and outpatients.
- Authorized to make entries in the medical record, consistent with and limited to the scope of the job duties and any applicable licensure.
- Collaboration with community outreach.
Job Requirements
Completion of a nursing program in an accredited institution. A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing.
Preferred: Three years experience in hospital nursing in Maternal Child Health.
Registered Nurse License in Nebraska or Iowa, Nebraska and Iowa are compact states, license must be held in the state of your residence.
Board Certified Lactation Consultant-IBCLC required, or progression towards certification to comply with the requirements of the IBCLC Board to include 2500 clinical hours in breastfeeding. Certification completion not to exceed 1 year from hire.
BLS or BLS instructor certification is required upon hire. Acceptable credentialing bodies and certifications include the following: American Red Cross: CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, American Safety and Health Institute: CPR, PRO, must say “Professional Level with AED”, and American Heart Association: Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers.
Knowledge of breastfeeding techniques. Knowledge of availability of community resources for nursing mothers. Excellent teaching skills required. Job requires frequent reading skills, verbal communication skills, and written communication skills.
Where You'll WorkAt CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy, our focus is patient-centered care. Our level I trauma center and academic medical center campus is designed to heal the body, mind, and spirit of every person in a more comfortable, less stressful hospital environment. Our full range of medical services includes trauma services, heart and vascular care, emergency services, surgery, maternity, cancer care, and diagnostic imaging.
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Frequently asked questions
Progression as a Lactation Educator RN in Omaha often involves obtaining IBCLC certification and gaining extensive clinical experience. Networking within local maternal-child health programs and continuing education through Nebraska’s nursing boards supports career growth in this specialized nursing field.
Expertise in breastfeeding techniques, effective communication with postpartum patients, and familiarity with community lactation resources set Lactation Educator RNs apart. Their role demands specialized patient education and coordination with maternal child health teams, beyond typical nursing duties.
Lactation Educator RNs enhance patient care by offering tailored breastfeeding support, facilitating follow-up consultations, and training nursing staff. This leads to better breastfeeding success rates, improved newborn health, and stronger community outreach efforts.
Employers in Omaha highly value the IBCLC credential, often requiring board certification within a year of hire. Additionally, BLS certification is mandatory, reflecting local healthcare standards for lactation nursing roles.
Salaries for Lactation Educator RNs in Omaha generally fall between $65,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience and certifications. This range aligns with regional healthcare compensation trends for specialized nursing roles.
At Catholic Health Initiatives, the Lactation Educator RN benefits from a patient-centered culture and access to a level I trauma center, enabling collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and involvement in community projects that enrich breastfeeding support services.
Challenges include managing diverse patient needs in a busy hospital setting, ensuring compliance with evolving healthcare regulations, and coordinating education across multiple departments, all while maintaining cultural sensitivity and confidentiality.
Omaha's demand for lactation consultant RNs is growing steadily due to increased focus on maternal-child health. However, the pool of certified professionals is limited, making competition moderate but favoring those with IBCLC certification and hospital experience.
Given Omaha’s spread-out neighborhoods, commuting time can influence job selection. Positions near central hospitals like CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center offer more accessible transit options, which is a key consideration for candidates.
Lactation Educator RNs possess nursing licensure and often require IBCLC certification, enabling them to perform clinical assessments and medical documentation. In contrast, lactation counselors may focus primarily on education without nursing responsibilities.