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Lactation Consultant RN In-House Registry

Northwestern Medicine · DeKalb, IL · Part time · Health Care Provider

Posted Oct 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 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.

About your past

Do you hold the IBCLC credential, and how has it changed your practice?

What they are checking: Whether they bring specialized lactation training beyond general postpartum nursing.

Tell me about a time you helped develop or update a nursing procedure.

What they are checking: Experience improving care processes, not just following them.

What would you do

A mother tells you she wants to stop breastfeeding and feels guilty about it. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Supporting the mother's own goals without judgment, even when they differ from the nurse's preferences.

The staff nurses on the unit give mothers conflicting feeding advice. How would you fix that?

What they are checking: Teaching and standardizing care across the unit, which the posting lists as part of the job.

How do you adjust your teaching for a mom who is exhausted, in pain or does not speak English well?

What they are checking: Making education usable for real families, using interpreters and short practical steps.

This is an in-house registry position. How do you get oriented quickly when you come in after time away?

What they are checking: Whether they can step back into the unit and work safely without long ramp-up.

About the work

Walk me through your assessment of a mom who says her baby will not latch on day two.

What they are checking: A full assessment of mother and infant that looks for the real cause before giving advice.

What signs in the baby would make you worry about intake and loop in the pediatric team?

What they are checking: Recognizing dehydration, excess weight loss and jaundice risk rather than only coaching technique.

How do you help a mom of a NICU or late preterm baby protect her milk supply?

What they are checking: Knowledge of pumping plans and supply protection for babies who cannot feed well at the breast yet.

How do you document a lactation consult so the next nurse can pick up the plan?

What they are checking: Clear documentation of assessment, plan and outcomes that supports continuity of care.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

Lactation Consultant RN In-House Registry The Lactation Consultant RN reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. Responsibilities: • A clinically competent, registered, professional nurse who participates and assists in evaluating and improving nursing care of breast-feeding patients. • Consults with nursing, medical staff and other disciplines to achieve this goal. • Teaches and demonstrates specific nursing care techniques related to the breast-feeding patient. • Assists in the development of nursing care procedures for the breast-feeding patient. • Effectively interacts with patient, significant others, and other health team members, while maintaining ANA standards of professional nursing practice. • Assessment - collects comprehensive data pertinent to the patient's health or situation. • Diagnosis - analyzes the assessment data to determine the diagnosis or issues. • Outcomes Identification - identifies expected outcomes for plan individualized to the patient or situation. • Planning - develops a plan that prescribes strategies or alternatives to attain expected outcomes. • Implementation - implements the identified plan, coordinates care delivery and employs education strategies to promote health and a safe environment. • Evaluation - evaluates progress toward attainment of outcomes. • Collaboration - Collaborates with patient, family, and others in the conduct of nursing practice. • Creates a documented plan, focused on outcomes and decisions related to the care and delivery of services that indicates communications with patients, families, and others. • Considers factors related to safety, effectiveness, cost and impact on practice in the planning and delivery of nursing services when choosing practice options that would result in the same expected outcome. • Integrates research findings into practice. Utilizes the best available evidence, including research findings to guide practice decisions Required : • Bachelor of Nursing • Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois • CPR - Basic Life Support • Certification by the International Board of Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) • Current experience (within past five years) or new nursing graduate (within past two years) Preferred: • One year experience in pertinent clinical specialty Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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