Mastering the BASICS: Essential Components of a Lactation Curriculum for Healthcare Professionals.

From the paper

Abstract

The BASICS curriculum equips educators of healthcare professionals, including pediatric nurse practitioner students, with evidence-based skills to support, promote, and sustain breastfeeding in the healthcare setting. Aligned and mapped to the AACN Essentials (2021), it integrates foundational and advanced lactation knowledge through a competency-based educational design. The curriculum prepares learners to provide best-practice, inclusive, and ethically grounded breastfeeding support, guided by standards from LEAARC (2018), AAP (2024a), and ABM (2025). Several key resources are provided for educators, including a course blueprint to help educators address the complex needs of breastfeeding families. The curriculum identifies the critical lactation topics and activities to prepare future healthcare providers for real-world clinical challenges by aligning them with national health recommendations, professional guidelines, and public health priorities.