I want to be a Health Coach, RN!

[seungk5]

Hi everyone!

I am a registered nurse in California and I want to start my own Health Coach business. I was wondering if any nurses out there are health coaches. There are some schools and training programs but most of them are weak and shady... esp in science. I feel like nursing school and my license as a nurse has prepared me to already become a health coach...

any thoughts on that? Should I get more schooling or do you think it's enough that we are nurses?

how would you go about becoming a health coach in helping people lose weight and change their lifestyle?

[okoraforn]

Hey, are you still interested in starting your own health coach business? I'm wanting to do the same.

[lrrescigno]

I work as an RN Chronic Care Coordinator now. And I was just starting to look into Duke's Integrative Health Coach curriculum. So here are a few questions I have for you, if you don't mind :)

1) Now that it's been some time since you went to Duke....do you think it was worth it? What are you currently doing as a health coach?

2) I know it would be beneficial to our company...any suggestions on how to pitch this to my boss in a meaningful way so that he is on board with helping me/letting me take the time to go through this program?

Thanks in advance for any advice or guidance! It all just seems a bit abstract and vague to me right now but its something that has been drawing me in for years. I feel like I'm getting ever closer to the goal!

[doctorbrs]

@tlancio, how is your health and wellness program ?

[bendyprissy]

Your Nursing Practice Act and BON will tell/ let you sift through the massive amounts of information to help you determine everything you can and cannot do as a nurse, in an entrepreneur endeavor. Then your individual state agencies will also have the massive amounts of information for you to sift through to determine what you can and cannot do legally for the business you are wanting to open, as well as what certifications, licenses, etcetera that it entails. For instance, in Texas as a nurse entrepreneur, I can legally provide all nutritional information without having a Dietician certification; however, I cannot offer any exercise information without having a Personal Trainer certification or PT/OT degree. Then don't forget about all of the HIPPA regulations you have to acquire and follow which is just a drop in the bucket. It is definitely much more than one day thinking hey, I want to be a Wellness Coach as an RN!

Not trying to discourage but want to be an eye opener as I myself have already put in quite a bit of time into that very thought myself. Funny how finding out the reality is much farther off from what you thought in your mind!

I think that would be awesome... at least in theory! I have NO idea how you'd start that up. I am also interested in Holistic Nursing as well. I don't know if you'd have to get into other things like yoga/pilates/fitness instruction.

The big problem I see, and like I said I have NO CLUE how it would work, but using your nursing license to care for people when you aren't under a physician, or working for a clinic etc. I don't know if there are legal issues with that, but possibly something to think about.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

I think that would be awesome... at least in theory! I have NO idea how you'd start that up. I am also interested in Holistic Nursing as well. I don't know if you'd have to get into other things like yoga/pilates/fitness instruction.

The big problem I see, and like I said I have NO CLUE how it would work, but using your nursing license to care for people when you aren't under a physician, or working for a clinic etc. I don't know if there are legal issues with that, but possibly something to think about.

An RN doesn't have to have a physician's permission to practice as an RN (not in my state). You open your own business as a licensed RN. You need to know what you're doing and comply with state laws regarding what field of practice you decide to hang your shield in. Know your nurse practice act and take business management...lot of stuff to learn.

It's a good idea to nurture relationships with all types of health and other types of professionals. As a health coach having a resource guide to services and businesses that you can personally vouch for to assist clients is a good practice (with their permissions). I am developing mine as we speak. Finding the right people to recommend to clients like nutritionists, PT, PCPs, mental health, etc...: networking is one of the backbones of business. Yes, as a health coach you wear many hats, but you can't wear them all. Bendyprissy has got it right...know your stuff.

Good luck to you :)

[Providence60, MSN, PhD, RN]

If you are a nurse wanting to increase your income and/or helping others with health and wellness, it's important to understand the difference between coaching programs vs programs which deliver credentials. The only nationally accredited program I have found which delivers credentials-even allowing you to bill your services through your own NPI number- is the NIWH (Whole Health Training and Education - Accredited | Holistic Health Programs). They are credentialed by the Institute of Credentialing Excellence and give ANCC nurse CE contact hours as well. The program provides you your own NPI number and billing manual, training you to work in a medical facility or on your own. It's 400 hours, has a long list of credentials and recognitions, has been in business for over 40 years, and has a program exclusively for nurses. I think it's worth checking out this program out and seems like it would be worth a call to check out if it matches what you are looking for. Good luck!