Christa R. McCullick
Holmen,WI
Summary
Registered Nurse and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant with over 14 years of comprehensive healthcare experience, including a decade dedicated to maternal and child health and 4 years as an IBCLC. Proven leadership abilities demonstrated through charge nurse roles and active involvement in staff education development, alongside contributions as a Conference Committee member for the Wisconsin Association of Lactation Consultants. Specialized in delivering prenatal consultations, teaching newborn care classes, and providing family education in both inpatient and outpatient settings, with a strong emphasis on managing high-risk maternal and neonatal populations. Committed to advancing quality improvement initiatives and evidence-based practices that enhance breastfeeding support, boost patient satisfaction, and ensure the delivery of safe, efficient care.
Overview
1
1
Certification
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Inpatient and Outpatient Lactation Consultant/Registered Nurse
Emplify Health by Gundersen - Supervisor: Brittany Burnham
La Crosse, WI
02.2023 - Current
- Deliver comprehensive lactation care across inpatient and outpatient settings within a high-volume hospital system with approximately 1900 annual births.
- Provide hands-on clinical support with latch, positioning, milk transfer assessment, and feeding challenges
- Educate families and advocate for women using inclusive, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approaches to infant feeding
- Serve as a consultant and trusted resource for staff education and mentorship related to lactation best practices
- Develop collaborative relationships with interdisciplinary teams (OB, Pediatrics, NICU, nursing) to ensure coordinated, family-centered care
- Support families from birth and beyond, delivering continuity of care from immediate postpartum through long-term lactation goals
- Formulate tailored care strategies addressing complex lactation issues for NICU and medically fragile infants.
- Conduct prenatal lactation consultations to prepare families for feeding success and individualized care planning
- Deliver specialized support for low milk supply, re-lactation, and induced lactation, including care for adoptive and transgender parents
- Guide parents in establishing and maintaining milk supply through effective pumping strategies and return-to-work planning
- Assess the quality of clinical care; collecting, developing, and analyzing data derived from quality improvement programs
Obstetrics and Nursery Registered Nurse
Emplify Health by Gundersen - Supervisor: Michelle Laurenson
La Crosse, WI
02.2017 - 02.2023
- Served as a charge nurse, coordinating unit workflow, staffing, and patient assignments in a fast-paced setting
- Delivered comprehensive care, including postpartum maternal recovery, detailed maternal and newborn assessments, and family-centered education on infant feeding and newborn care
- Cared for high-risk antenatal patients, providing fetal monitoring and early identification of complications to assure that care provided is of the highest quality
- Managed complex maternal conditions, including hypertension and diabetes, to ensure safe outcomes
- Provided post-operative care for gynecological surgery patients, including pain management, monitoring for complications, and recovery support
- Responded rapidly to obstetric and neonatal emergencies
- Assisted with bedside procedures such as IUD placement, subdermal contraceptive implant insertion, newborn frenectomy, and circumcision
- Taught “Caring for Your Newborn” classes to expectant parents
Student Nursing Assistant
University of WI Hospital & Clinics – Acute Medical and Progressive Care Unit
Madison, WI
11.2015 - 12.2016
Certified Nursing Assistant
St. Mary's Hospital – Cardiovascular Care Unit
Madison, WI
08.2014 - 12.2016
Patient Care Technician/Unit Secretary
Baylor Scott & White - Cardiac and Telemetry Unit
McKinney, TX
09.2012 - 12.2013
Education
B.S. - Nursing
Edgewood University
Madison, WI01-2017
B.S. - Exercise Science
University of Wisconsin
La Crosse01-2012
Skills
- Breastfeeding support
- Interpersonal skills
- Analytical thinking
- Diversity and inclusion
- Multitasking
- Problem-solving
- Active listening
- Relationship building
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Continuing education
Certification
- WI Registered Nurse - 01/2017, #233921
- International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant - 09/2022, L-308853
- AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification, expires: 10/2027
- Wisconsin Association of Lactation Consultants (WALC) Conference Committee and Board Member
- Postpartum Support International Perinatal Mental Health Certificate (PMH-C) (08/2026)
- Intersection of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Lactation (03/2026)
- Hyperlactation and the Mastitis Spectrum (03/2025)
- Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Breastfeeding the NICU Infant (06/2024)
- Babies in Common Fitting Flanges for Pumping Milk Workshop
- The Three Step Framework for Inducing Lactation 03/2025
- Supporting Families with Low Milk Supply 08/2024
- Edgewood College Student Nurse Association, Madison, WI (Aug. 2014 – Dec. 2017)
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society: Beta Eta-at-Large Chapter (Nov. 2016)
Timeline
Inpatient and Outpatient Lactation Consultant/Registered Nurse
Emplify Health by Gundersen - Supervisor: Brittany Burnham
02.2023 - Current
Obstetrics and Nursery Registered Nurse
Emplify Health by Gundersen - Supervisor: Michelle Laurenson
02.2017 - 02.2023
Student Nursing Assistant
University of WI Hospital & Clinics – Acute Medical and Progressive Care Unit
11.2015 - 12.2016
Certified Nursing Assistant
St. Mary's Hospital – Cardiovascular Care Unit
08.2014 - 12.2016
Patient Care Technician/Unit Secretary
Baylor Scott & White - Cardiac and Telemetry Unit
09.2012 - 12.2013
B.S. - Exercise Science
University of Wisconsin
B.S. - Nursing
Edgewood University