Course Title: Advanced Lactation Consultancy

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Advanced Lactation Consultancy

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
OHTH2143	Bundoora Campus	Postgraduate	150H Health Sciences	Internet	Sem 1 2010, Sem 2 2010, Sem 1 2011

Course Coordinator: Dr Jennifer James

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6650

Course Coordinator Email: jennifer.james@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.6.04

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment or via email

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Students will have successfully completed Breastfeeding & Human Lactation (NURS1175) prior to undertaking Advanced Lactation Consultancy.

Course Description

This course gives you the opportunity to build on knowledge gained in Breastfeeding & Human Lactation by developing their understanding of complex breastfeeding and human lactation issues. The course will focus on advanced professional and clinical practice as they apply to the needs of breastfeeding mothers and babies with complex care requirements.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The course will focus on advanced professional and clinical practice as they apply to the needs of breastfeeding mothers and babies with complex care requirements.

The overarching aims of this course are to develop an understanding of advanced professional practice areas related to breastfeeding & human lactation. The course will focus on key areas identified by the IBLCE exam blueprint as being essential core knowledge for preparation for professional practice.
On completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate the skills, knowledge and attitudes which are integral to competent and comprehensive clinical care of breastfeeding mothers and babies who are experiencing complex health issues
• Describe the implications of infectious diseases for the breastfeeding mother and her baby
• Integrate knowledge of complex health issues in care planning for breastfeeding mothers and their babies
• Describe how cultural and psychosocial issues influence infant feeding decisions, experiences and outcomes and how these relate to IBCLC clinical practice
• Demonstrate an understanding of pharmacology and toxicology as they relate to the breastfeeding dyad and subsequent clinical decision making

Overview of Learning Activities

There is a range of learning requirements for this course that require different learning activities. Accordingly, a variety of planned online learning experiences will be utilized involving group discussion, simulations and other interactive learning experiences. The study module format will be used to give an overview of the specified study area and to direct you to foundational, critical, and evidence-based practice readings. Facilitated open discussions in the online discussion context will draw on the your own professional work and life experiences as well as prescribed readings for the course. This approach will enable yo to share yourclinical experiences and practice wisdom, to critique existing research literature and to explore and debate issues regarding lactation consultant practice.

Overview of Learning Resources

The entire course is supported by information, learning activities and resources on the online MyRMIT. As well as enhanced learning opportunities, this forms part of the assessment through journal article critiques and critique of internet sites through which you are expected to participate in. The lecturer will regularly monitor the your input and activity in the online setting and provide ongoing feedback. Textbooks, journal articles and the electronic media will also provide learning resources.

Overview of Assessment

In order to achieve the learning outcomes, you will need to be able to demonstrate appropriate attainment of professional knowledge of issues around the learning objectives.
Assessment for this Course will be aligned to the role of the IBCLC and will consist of: a literature review; a clinical care plan and a multiple choice exam