Question about Nurse Coaching

[aship, BSN]

Hey everyone,

I'm interested in nurse coaching. I've researched a few different certification programs (mostly ones recommended on the AHNA website), but wondering if someone can give me a recommendation based on personal experience? Have you been able to successfully start your own business?

Thanks!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

In my experience, nurse coaching and legal nurse consultant 'certifications' are a money maker for the certification body only.

[Sour Lemon]

I just spent 20 minutes or so reading about this "coaching" garbage and still don't have a clear idea what it's about. Anytime it's discussed, the discussion seems to be full of doublespeak. I would say it sounds like something everyone should avoid, but what is "it"?

[aship, BSN]

Nurse Coach - American Holistic Nurses

Here's some information from the main credentialing body I found. Can I ask you both what has made you so skeptical?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Nurse Coach - American Holistic Nurses

Here's some information from the main credentialing body I found. Can I ask you both what has made you so skeptical?

I don't know a single nurse who uses a nurse coach. And I know hundreds of nurses. Maybe thousands.

[aship, BSN]

From my understanding nurse coaches aren't for nurses they're for patients. Primarily, to help promote health and wellness.

[klone, MSN, RN]

From my understanding nurse coaches aren't for nurses they're for patients. Primarily, to help promote health and wellness.

And that's why people are skeptical. We clearly have no idea what it even is.

So it's like a "wellness coach"?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

From my understanding nurse coaches aren't for nurses they're for patients. Primarily, to help promote health and wellness.

Ah- completely different animal.

[aship, BSN]

Yeah more similar to a wellness coach. I'm still learning about it too because I think it's something that nurses have started pursuing more only within the past few years.

But when I think about it, it makes a good deal of sense to me. When you think about all the MLM companies that have wellness coaches who have not been trained other then a 3 month certification or what have you and they are the primary market for helping people live healthy lives then it seems like nurses have a huge opportunity to step in. We're the ones who see first hand the effects of chronic disease and lifestyle choices so it makes sense for us to be in the front lines of teaching healthy lifestyles. Yet, the opportunities to do this seem relegated to 5 minutes at the bedside until inevitably the patient will be back in a few months.

I just have a strong desire to help people thrive and not exist in the revolving door of the hospital so looking for a way to make this happen.

[TriciaJ, RN]

Nurse Coach - American Holistic Nurses

Here's some information from the main credentialing body I found. Can I ask you both what has made you so skeptical?

My first question is: who exactly is going to pay you to do what? You jump through the hoops to get their certification, now what? Are any employers advertising for nurses with this certification? If you set up your own business, who will be your clients?

[aship, BSN]

That's all of what I'm trying to figure out as well so looking for any feedback from people have perhaps already gotten their feet wet!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

You might want to contact some nurse coaches to ask how they do it. I'm not really sure what a nurse coach does either:

1. Helps nurses stay healthy?

2. Help nurses with career decision?

3. Help patients navigate the healthcare system?

4. Help reduce hospital readmissions?

So - there may be multiple types of health coaches. One of our writers, Lane Therrell is a health coach:

Orientation to Nurse Coaching