Foteini Andritsou

Biography

A. Qualification Summary

Certified Lactation Consultant from IBLCE (International Board of Lactation Consultants Examiners), Registered Sick Children’s Nurse (RSCN) from the Nursing and Midwifery Council and a specialised Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse from Oxford Brookes University and Oxford University NHS Hospitals.
I have completed my Bachelor and Master studies in Children’s Nursing at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. During my studies and my work, I discovered the beautiful and powerful world of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and its special babies and their families. After more than 10 years of experience in clinical neonatal and neonatal research nursing in Greece and Oxford’s University and the Newborn Care Unit, and having supported hundreds of families to achieve their personal milestones during the parenthood and breastfeeding journey, in September 2020 I took the International Board of Lactation Examination.
Interested in breastfeeding research and research related to pain in neonates, and especially how exposure to painful stimuli can change the physiological and neuro-developmental outcomes in premature babies during their long journey in NICU.
Passionate in supporting the dyad mother/parent-infant by specialising in the clinical management of breastfeeding and infants’ lactation and nutrition specific requirements.
Passionately a believer that by empowering the parents and by inspiring the health care professionals and the health and social care public services in breastfeeding’s promotion and support, we make the society and the world a better place for children.

B. Summary of Professional and Academic Profile

- Currently working in the NHS as Neonatal Infant Feeding Lead (NIFL).
- International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) from International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE).
- 13 years’ experience working as clinical neonatal nurse (Larissa-Greece University Hospital, John Radcliffe Oxford University Hospital), senior neonatal research nurse (Oxford University, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Neuroimaging Research Group), senior neonatal nurse (Princess Elizabeth Hospital Guernsey), Neonatal Infant Feeding Lead (Royal Hampshire County Hospital Winchester).
- NMC Registered Sick Children’s Nurse (RSCN).
- 6 years Bachelor (BSc) and Master (MSc) studies in Children’s Nursing.
- Specialized Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse from Oxford Brookes University (PgCert in Neonatale Practice).
- Qualified Newborn Examiner from Plymouth University, Faculty of Health-Msc Advanced Professional Practice, Level 7, Advanced Newborn and Infant Examination Module, Trainee Newborn Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) Practitioner, Achieve the newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) competences from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC).
- Family and Infant Developmental Education (FINE) Level 1-Foundation Toolkit, Portsmouth.
- Family and Infant Developmental Education (FINE) Level 2-University College London Hospitals.
- Newborn Life Support (NLS) Course, recommended by the mentors as a Candidate with Instructor Potential (IP).
- Co-Chair of the Topic Expert Group «Care Procedures» of European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI) in order to implement and promote the European Standards of Care for Newborn Health (ESCNH).
- Ambassador of European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI) in order to implement and promote the European Standards of Care for Newborn Health (ESCNH).

C. Professional Memberships

- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), 2015 - present
- Hellenic Regulatory Board of Nurses (HRBN), 2009 - present
- Member of the Lactation Consultants of Great Britain (LCGB)
- Member of the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR)
- Volunteer IBCLC for the online consultations of the Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support (OBS) group
- Member of the Exam Development Subcommittee for International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE)