Inova Fairfax Hospital Women’s Center is pleased to offer a 500-hour internship program to provide educational and practice opportunities in a variety of settings to help prepare you for the IBLCE exam under the Mentored Lactation Education Plan.

Please review the Eligibility Pathways on the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners Web site to determine if this program best suits your needs.

Review the internship prerequisites and learning objectives
Download an application 

Program outline

1. Work with breastfeeding mothers and babies under the supervision of a re-certified lactation consultant at an Inova Hospital for a minimum of 500 hours. These hours will be divided in approximately this way:
   
   400 hours – hospital postpartum floor
   25 hours – labor and delivery unit
   25 hours – neonatal intensive care unit
   50 hours – outpatient setting
2. Keep records of clinical experiences on the designated forms (the clinical competencies from IBCLC practice)
3. Submit daily logs recording the patients seen
4. Write 10 case studies including relevant research (2-3 pages and copies of reference journal articles)
5. Attend at least one meeting of LCAGW, a prenatal breastfeeding class, a La Leche League Meeting, and Breastfeeding Mothers Support Group and provide a written summary of each
6. Present a case study at a Breastfeeding Committee meeting

Tuition

Tuition for the 500 hour internship is $2,400 for Registered Nurses and $2,800 for all others. All Inova employees receive a 10% discount.

Scheduling

Interns will schedule time with the supervising lactation consultants based on their availability. Generally interns work 1-3 days per week, times that are scheduled in advance with approval of the lactation department management coordinator. The 500-hour internship must be completed within 12 months.

Supervision

During the internship program, Inova Fairfax Hospital lactation consultants provide guidance and arrange observation/practice opportunities in a variety of clinical settings. As an intern, you will begin by observing your mentor. Observation does not count toward your 500 hours. When your mentor feels you are ready, you will begin caring for patients under the supervision of the lactation consultants.

Learning opportunities are based on the availability of patients and their clinical situations. Every effort is made to offer a variety of educational experiences.

Completion certificates

Completion certificates are awarded when:

1. 500 hours are completed
2. Clinical Competencies for IBCLC Practice have been completed and signed off by the mentor
3. All logs and reports have been received by the mentor
4. A written evaluation of the Internship Program has been submitted
5. Payment has been received in full

 

For further information please contact Amy Hobaugh at 703-776-6773