JobsAdvocate Health

Lactation Consultant IL

Advocate Health · Oak Lawn, IL

Posted Sep 14, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you worked with a mother who was struggling with breastfeeding and the usual advice wasn't working. What did you do?

whether the candidate can go beyond standard protocols and adapt a care plan to a specific patient

Tell me about a time you had to educate hospital staff, not just patients, on a lactation issue. How did you approach it?

experience building and delivering staff education, since annual program development is a core duty

Describe a time you took a research finding or new evidence and changed how you practiced lactation care.

genuine engagement with evidence-based practice rather than just routine habit

Tell me about a time you had several urgent requests at once, like a new admission, a discharge teaching, and a phone consult, all at the same time. How did you prioritize?

ability to manage competing demands in a fast-paced unit with limited staffing

Tell me about working with a family whose cultural or personal beliefs about feeding differed from typical medical recommendations.

cultural sensitivity and ability to support patient choice while still giving sound guidance

Technical

Walk me through how you'd assess a newborn with poor latch and a mother with flat or inverted nipples in the first 24 hours after birth.

depth of clinical assessment skill and familiarity with common but tricky lactation problems

What lactation equipment and supplies do you consider essential, and how do you decide what to recommend for a given situation, like a premature infant versus a healthy term baby?

practical knowledge of tools and judgment about matching equipment to clinical need

Where are you in the IBCLC certification process, and what have you done to keep your lactation knowledge current?

whether the candidate meets the certification requirement and takes continuing education seriously

How would you go about writing or updating a lactation policy or algorithm for the unit?

experience contributing to policy and process improvement work, not just bedside care

Situational

A pediatrician's office calls concerned about a baby's weight loss after discharge, but the mother says feeding feels fine. How do you handle that conversation with both the provider and the family?

ability to coordinate across care settings and manage conflicting information without alienating either party

If you disagreed with a physician's plan of care around a breastfeeding issue, what would you do?

comfort asserting clinical expertise while staying collaborative with the broader care team

You're on the phone consult line and a mother describes symptoms that could be mastitis but also might be something more serious. What do you ask and what do you tell her to do?

triage judgment and safety awareness in a remote, unsupervised consult setting

This role includes every third weekend and every other holiday. How do you feel about that schedule, and what has your experience been working rotating weekends before?

realistic buy-in to the actual schedule demands, not just interest in the role itself

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 37905 Advocate Christ Medical Center - Perinatal Services Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 24 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Every 3rd weekend, every other holiday. Pay Range: $33.05 - $49.60 Major Responsibilities: Lactation Management 1)Serves as a consultant when difficulties with lactation are beyond the knowledge and/or training of the health care provider. 2)Consults, develops and implements lactation plans of care. 3)Serves as a liaison and/or facilitator between the community and hospital providing ongoing expertise, education and support to groups and individuals. 4)Provides a communication link between the hospital and health care provider’s office to assure coordination of patient care and maintains communication with health care providers concerning patients experiencing lactation and breastfeeding problems. 5)Demonstrates appropriate assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation based on stages of life and developmental status. Education 1)Provides education for mothers and family in correct lactation management. 2)Educates patients, families and health care team members. 3)Develops and implements ongoing lactation educational program annually on lactation for the healthcare team. Process Improvement 1)Participates in lactation program development and implementation. 2)Works with the appropriate shared governance structure on issues relating to lactation. 3)Participates in development of policies, procedures, algorithms and guidelines specific to lactation practice at site and system levels. 4)Identifies, monitors and evaluates quality and safety issues related to practice. 5)Maintains phone consultation system for lactation questions and problems. 6)Represents the lactation department at unit/system/community meetings. Evidence Based Practice 1)Evaluates and integrates research findings into lactation practice. 2)Maintains current knowledge of lactation research and reflects this knowledge in current lactation practice. 3)Participates in lactation research projects. 4)Pursues continuing education relevant to lactation consultant practice including reading current professional journals, participating in workshops, seminars, in-service programs, conferences, accredited courses, and professional organizations. Education/Experience Required: Associate's degree Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Global perspective of changing health care environment. • Ability to prioritize work. • Basic computer skills. • Effective interpersonal communication skills. • Utilization of critical thinking in timely decision-making. • Able to collaborate as a member of the health care team. • Knowledge of lactation equipment and supplies. If hired/transferred into role as of April 2, 2017, must be certified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Current incumbents have two years from April 2, 2017 to obtain IBCLC certification. Current BLS through the American Heart Association Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: Flexible hours according to customer needs. Ability to demonstrate a commitment to patient-focused care. Ability to prioritize independently and respond to multiple simultaneous requests. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with established time constraints and in difficult situations. May be exposed to hazardous materials and life-threatening diseases. Ability to perform lifting/transfer activities related to patients (up to 30 lbs. may be required). This position needs to recognize needs and behaviors of specific age groups and cultures of patients treated. If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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