RN Health Coaching

[lecavalier4]

I was wondering about health coaching. Do you have to have training in it? There are training websites, but of course they are expensive.

Also how would you start? Would you start by marketing online and in person?

If someone is in this field, and does not feel comfortable answering all these questions on the board, you can pm me.

Thanks,

Danielle (lecavalier4)

[tlancio]

If you want to get into health and wellness coaching and are looking for a company that "offers a real certification in wellness coaching" than you might want to think about joining the American Holistic Nurses Association.

All the coaching programs out there do have a certificate or some sort of certification for finishing a coaching program but remember that health and wellness coaching is not recognized by the State Board of Nursing nor the American Nurses Association as a nursing specialty.

So if you want an accredited certification that is recognized by the State Boards of Nursing, getting your certification in Holistic nursing may be what you are looking for, not those other programs.

They offer there members lots of resources, classes, CEUs, preparation to take the Holistic Nurse certification, starting your own practice and much more.

Holistic Nursing deals with preventative care, health and wellness, and combining alternative treatments with traditional care and much, much more.

Check out the website and let me know how you make out.

Good Luck!

[Yiggs]

Hi Tlancio, thank you for your insightful response. How long is the holistic course you mentioned, more than a year if one already has a Bachelors Degree and can one do this course on line? Yiggs

[tlancio]

In reply to yiggs, Did you check out their website, American Holistic Nurses Ass. for information? Go to the Education page and look under Endorsed Programs for a coaching program they recommend or join the Association to learn about Holistic Nursing to see if this is something you might be interested in.

[njoceangirl41]

any information regarding a nursing position in which one can get the training for health coaching while working? I'm a single mom who is waaay ready to get out of the acute care setting & am really interested in health coaching. I am also a yoga instructor & holistic health counselor.

[tlancio]

Just to update my post above from 2011, there is now certification for nurses who are coaches. The American Holistic Nurses’ Certification Corporation (AHNCC) which is the board that certifies nurses in Holistic Nursing, is now accepting applications for a new program called Professional Nurse Coaches Certification Program. This is for nurses who are working as health and wellness coaches, they can now become certified, recognized as a nursing specialty. You'll be able to put the initials NC-BC behind your name - Nurse Coach Board Certified. Here's a link to the certification program if anyone is interested AHNCC

To answer the question above from njoceangirl41 you could try looking at insurance companies, they hire health coaches or if there is an alternative health center in your area, they may hire health coaches also. You probably won't find these jobs listed, you'll have to go looking for them by calling the companies or going directly to their websites for info. It also helps if you know someone who works for these types of companies, they can help you get a foot in the door. Good luck!

[MshawSVS]

It may be a little late in replying to this thread but I am a coach and a nurse. I have been nursing for the past 15 years and have a Masters in Nursing Education, Profession certificate in Health Systems Management and also a Quality Improvement Advisor. If you are interested in coaching please let me know I've helped so many nurses who are new to their manager role and transitioning from a clinical to non-clinical role. A coach can make all the difference plus I love to support others.

[Steph0412]

MshawSVS I am interested in coaching and would appreciate some insight you may have!

[passionflower, BSN, MSN, RN]

I am not clear on the concept of health coaching because initially I thought we were all looked at as coaching the patient toward health through nurse care plans promoting diet, exercise and healthy living choices. Granted we treat the patient through a disease process but couldn't we change the model around and use the skills we already spent years studying and practicing? Is there anybody who knows enough about health coaching that can explain the difference? I feel with all my years as a nurse, teaching proper nutrition, etc I could already consider myself a health coach. Am I wrong in thinking this?

[tlancio]

To answer the question asked by passionflower "I feel with all my years as a nurse, teaching proper nutrition,etc. I could already consider myself a health coach. Am I wrong in thinking this?" Yes, you are wrong. Teaching is not coaching, that is the difference. In Coaching you don't provide the answers, instead you ask a series of skillful questions and provide techniques to help the client tap into their own feelings, wants and needs, not what you (the nurse) thinks they should be doing. There are no right answers in coaching, you are working in partnership with the client, not telling them what they should or should not be doing which is what is done in traditional nursing. And yes you can use you nursing knowledge to be an effective coach but teaching is not your focus as a coach. That's why nurses should take a course or educate yourself on what coaching is and how to do it effectively. Hope this clears things up.

[PresenceNow]

TheAvatarCourse.com is the best training I ever encountered!

[eflr]

I am just completing my certification form Duke Integrative Medicine. I believe the Duke program was one of the first coaching programs. They teach a "pure coaching" model. It's a wonderful program based in mindfulness. Health coaching focuses on self-sustaining behavior modification. It is different from the education we do as a nurse. It also is different than psychotherapy. It focuses on the present moving forward, not exploring past issues. It is a completely different set of skills. However, providing education and resources can be incorporated into this role, but not the focus. As someone mentioned previously, it is client/patient driven. The goal is to support them to make the lifestyle changes they want to make and sustain them for the long term. It is a process over time, not a quick fix to a goal.

AHNCC is another great resource as they have recently developed a nurse coach certification. I believe one of the main organizations of the training is inursecoach.com. I think they were greatly involved in creating the certification.

We, as nurses, know it is greatly needed. However it is still a challenge because most people don't know what coaching is. So I tend to do a lot of educating about what coaching is. I am also still reviewing liability issues. As nurses, we are held to our highest license, there are also legal issues that are unclear surrounding nutrition advice.

[saltysailors]

MshawSVS I have been interested in becoming a coach for a while, but had no idea where of how to start. I would be very interest if you could help me!