Nurse Coaching is a Relatively New Nursing Specialty

An explanation of what nurse coaching is including training, board certification, and the practice itself.

Published

Nurse Coaching is a Relatively New Nursing Specialty

I first saw the words "Nurse Coach" in a brochure of courses offered at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. I was intrigued and signed up to take the 4-day course. Unfortunately, my mother had an urgent health issue, and I was unable to attend. However, the seed had been planted, and when an ad for a Nurse Coaching course popped on my facebook feed, I clicked on it, and I am now so glad that I did!

Nurse Coaching is a relatively new specialty in the field of nursing. While the concept has been in formulation really since the foundation of nursing was laid by Florence Nightingale, Nurse Coaching as a formal title didn't come into being until the 2000s. In 2013, the American Nurses Association (ANA), the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA), as well as 19 other nursing organizations officially recognized the role of a Nurse Coach. A Nurse Coach is a Registered Nurse who has obtained additional training in the field of coaching, psychology, lifestyle medicine, and the science of human change. Nurse Coaching has a board certification offered by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation. A candidate for the exam must have proof of going through an accredited 120-hour course as well as the requisite number of hours of coaching practice. Nurse Coach training places a lot of emphasis on the nurse learning integrative health methods such as healthy eating, breathing techniques, meditation, and yoga for themselves as well as starting or continuing their own journey of personal growth.

Nurses are uniquely qualified to be coaches as they have probably already done a lot of coaching to patients in the course of being a nurse. Plus, they have the perspective of being in healthcare and can help clients navigate the healthcare system. Nurse Coaches go on to start their own practices working with clients 1:1 and/or with groups, collaborating with other health care practitioners, creating programs within hospitals for staff, patients, or both, and many other things. Some have created wellness centers; others have linked things like adventure trips to their coaching business – there are lots of creative ways that nurses have used their unique talents and training. Since there is not yet a national nursing license, Nurse Coaches can only practice as a Nurse Coach in the state(s) that they have a current nursing license. Nurse Coaches can have a virtual practice as long as they are licensed in the same state as where their clients reside.

When I talk about being a Nurse Coach, I am often asked, "so you coach nurses?” to which I answer, "I can, but I am qualified to coach anyone who desires to make a change in their life.”

What is the nurse coaching experience? It can be dynamic, fluid, spiritual, intuitive, heart-opening, self-discovering, enlightening, joyous, and sometimes painful as one faces their fears and blocks. Most of all, though, it is a transformative experience, and one is never the same after having it! Having someone with you as you go on your transformation journey to guide, support, listen, occasionally challenge, and ALWAYS have your back is invaluable towards creating lasting change and obtaining your goals.

Nurse Coaches are creating change in our current system of healthcare by moving away from a put-out fires, symptom management model and towards one focused on holistic wellness and healing the WHOLE person.

Sound interesting? There are now a few programs out there that offer courses. Check out the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation for more information.

If you are interested in experiencing nurse coaching yourself, there are quite a few coaches with an online presence. Try a search and see what comes up!

References/Resources

Nurse Coaching through a Nursing Lens: The Theory of Integrative Nurse Coaching

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Betsy Appleton

About Betsy Appleton, RN

Betsy Appleton, RN, NC-BC is a board certified Nurse Coach. She is currently building her own private practice while continuing to work per diem on a physical rehab unit at her local hospital. She is committed to helping her patients and clients get to a place of increased health, wellbeing and happiness.

2 Articles   2 Posts

Share this post

Share on other sites
Specializes in oncology.

New startup  (This would wow them on Shark Tank.) I sell used shoe laces..and I can give you certification for the intricates of selling shoe laces for the best bucks. . Sign up and I will tell you what increases the value... AGLETS.. Oops I gave it away.  Except did I tell you about steel aglet, or plastic ? You really need to know how to differentiate for billing. 

Once again: 

I can give you certification for the intricates of selling shoe laces for the best bucks. .

www..shoelaces.com

 

 

 

 

 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in oncology.
Betsy Appleton said:

I was intrigued and signed up to take the 4-day course. Unfortunately, my mother had an urgent health issue, and I was unable to attend.

You can still attend my Aglet course. 

 

Betsy Appleton said:

Nurse Coaching is a relatively new specialty in the field of nursing. While the concept has been in formulation really since the foundation of nursing was laid by Florence Nightingale

Florence had nothing do to with "wo-wo" sham nursing . Where does she cite this in "Notes on Nursing" "What it is, What it is not".  

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Great summary of what it means to be a nurse coach!

www.inursecoach.com

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment