Date of Graduation

Fall 12-17-2021

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Program

Kaiser cohort MSN capstone

Abstract

Problem: Breastfeeding is the most beneficial feeding choice for newborns and one of the best ways for mothers to bond with their newborns. In the current Maternal Child Health (MCH) unit, exclusive breastfeeding rates have fallen lower than the unit’s goal of 82%.

Context: Exclusive breastfeeding, when a newborn consumes only human breastmilk, is not always an easy process to initiate immediately after birth and in the early postpartum period. On this specific unit, there is not enough lactation consultant support to provide all patients on the unit.

Interventions: This project considers adding additional lactation consultants to support the MCH unit around-the-clock. A plan-do-study-act cycle was conducted to obtain approval for hiring, training, implementing the proposed lactation consultants and for evaluating of the outcome measures being reviewed.

Measures: Lactation consultants will be added to the nursing staff and work alternate shifts to remain available around the clock for breastfeeding needs. Evaluation of the patient satisfaction will be conducted by rounding on the unit and tracking patient satisfaction scores.

Results: Bringing on the additional lactation consultants to the unit, both outcome measures assessed noted improvement, including increased exclusive breastfeeding rates and higher patient satisfaction scores.

Conclusions: After evaluating the results, the Clinical Nurse Leader made a clear presentation to leadership for the need to permanently implement 24-hour coverage of lactation consultants on the MCH unit to ensure the best optimal outcomes for couplets and for unit goals. Ensuring staff and patients feel supported, with certified lactation consultants available at all times, is the most beneficial environment for couplets and staff to thrive in.

Keywords: breastfeeding, lactation consultant, patient satisfaction, hospital, postpartum

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