The integration of the use of human milk and breastfeeding in baccalaureate nursing curricula

There is currently a lack of comprehensive breastfeeding content in nursing curricula across the United States. Breastfeeding is critical to maternal and child health and decreases morbidity and mortality. If bedside nurses are to fulfill the role of patient educator, they, too, must be educated formally about all aspects of breastfeeding and benefits of human milk. The gap must be bridged between the comprehensive research that exists regarding human milk and the knowledge that nurses possess. The authors outline ways in which incorporating breastfeeding content into nursing curricula can improve the knowledge base of the bedside nurse. This, in turn, will allow lactation specialists to have more time to consult with more complex patient cases.