Are you ready to take your nursing career to the next level and help patients like never before?
With the coaching industry booming at $2.85 billion globally with a 21% growth since 2015, this is what you need to know before it’s too late…
Nurse coaching is about to explode. It’s the fastest-growing specialty that will revolutionize the way you practice.
If you don’t have the right tools, you’ll be left behind, missing out on this career-defining opportunity to change the way patients manage their conditions and recover.
Here’s what you will learn:
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Why Nurse Coaching Is Exploding Right Now
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The Game-Changing Power of Evidence-Based Health Coaching
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Essential Skills That Separate Great Nurse Coaches
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How to Navigate Certification Like a Pro
Why Nurse Coaching Is Exploding Right Now
Wait for this …
Nursing employment is projected to grow 6% through 2032, but nurse coaching is growing much faster.
And there is a very simple reason why this is happening: The old healthcare model of “diagnose and prescribe” is not helping patients with chronic conditions.
They need advice, support, and someone who is going to understand their journey through their treatment. This is exactly what nurse coaches do.
And the best part?
As of July 2022, nurse coaching now has its own CPT Category III code. This is a BIG deal since insurance companies will start to pay attention and reimbursement is now a thing.
Think about this for a minute…
You already have the clinical background, you know better than anyone what care looks like. You have the education and experience that will make you a valuable asset by adding coaching skills to your toolkit.
The Game-Changing Power of Evidence-Based Health Coaching
Ok, here is the big secret that most nurses will never know…
Evidence-based health coaching is not just about holding positive pep-talks. The research is clear, and it shows that evidence-based health coaching delivers measurable and positive results that healthcare systems are dying to find.
Proof? Coaching patients with chronic health conditions to improve self-management has shown to help with better outcomes.
The question is why nurse coaches are different than regular health coaches…
You have the clinical background to:
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Spot potential problems before they become issues
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Understand medical conditions on a deep level
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Build rapport much faster with patients that trust your skills
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Navigate the medical systems like a boss
A Nurse Coach Certification Program will provide you with the tools to use your nursing background with the latest research-backed methodologies. That is why nurse coaches have a different impact.
The proof is in the pudding…
Health coaching delivered by registered nurses has shown to “optimize patients’ self-care agency and reduced mental distress and improved pain management and fatigue levels.”
Essential Skills That Separate Great Nurse Coaches
Ok, here is where most people make the mistake…
You can’t just get any coaching certification and call yourself a nurse coach. The truth is that…
Great nurse coaches have specific skills that go way beyond the typical communication tips you can read online.
Look at these…
Advanced Communication Strategies: This is more than basic therapeutic communication. If you are a great nurse coach, you have mastered techniques like motivational interviewing, active listening, and goal-setting.
Holistic Assessment Skills: Sure, medical assessments are about symptoms and diagnoses. In coaching, we focus on the whole person including their lifestyle, beliefs, and level of motivation.
Behavior Change Expertise: Know the psychology behind change resistance and guiding people through positive and sustainable transformations.
Cultural Competence: Noticing how different cultural backgrounds have different health beliefs and knowing how to address them.
Technology Integration: Today, coaching happens a lot via telehealth platforms, smartphone apps, and online tools.
The bottom line is…
These skills do not magically appear. Quality certification programs will give you the learning structure, supervised practice, and ongoing mentorship to get to mastery.
How to Navigate Certification Like a Pro
Choose wrong, and your career can get derailed.
Choose right, and you position yourself as a true expert and sought-after specialist.
There are two major certification bodies to know about.
American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC): Offers the NC-BC (Nurse Coach-Board Certified) credential. This is the gold standard when it comes to nurse coaching.
National Society of Health Coaches (NSHC): Offers evidence-based health coaching certification specifically geared towards clinical professionals.
Here is the reality…
The requirements depend on your education and level of experience. For BSN graduates, you must have 2 years of full-time nursing experience or 4,000 hours part-time and for ADN graduates, you need 4 years full-time or 8,000 hours part-time.
All of the above programs have these same requirements:
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Active, unrestricted RN license
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60 hours of coaching-specific continuing education
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60 hours of supervised coaching practice
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Passing a board certification exam
Don’t make the mistake of choosing based on cost alone. Look for programs with:
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ANCC accreditation for CE credit hours
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Experienced faculty that are currently working as nurse coaches
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Comprehensive curricula that cover both coaching theory and practice
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Ongoing support and mentorship opportunities
Building Your Coaching Practice Foundation
A certification is only the first step…
You must also be prepared where to start looking for positions and how to get ready to make the most money.
Here are the most common practice settings:
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Healthcare systems and hospitals
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Private wellness centers
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Corporate wellness programs
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Telehealth platforms
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Independent practice
The average health coach salary is $62,847 per year, and the range is between $54,908 to $70,631.
Don’t get left behind…
As the industry shifts to value-based care and preventive care models, nurse coaches that can show improved patient outcomes are going to be in high demand.
Wrapping It All Up
If you’re serious about changing your career and the lives of your patients in a big way, coaching is a big deal in the healthcare industry.
The coaching industry is already huge, and we are about to blow up.
Your combination of clinical knowledge and a specialized coaching skillset is a major force for transforming the lives of others for the better.
Get certified, build your business foundation and position yourself now to be the expert in your field, as the healthcare industry continues to shift to value-based care.
Keep in mind:
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Pick an accredited program that will offer a well-rounded curriculum
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Focus on evidence-based coaching methods and tools
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Build your technical skills AND cultural competence
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Start your practice foundation from day one with proper planning
The healthcare industry needs more nurse coaches who understand both the clinical and human sides of medicine. Take the next step to make a difference in patient care while growing your career in this rapidly expanding field.
Start now.
