I first came to hear of the word nurse coach when I went on vacation in Hawaii. I had only ever heard of terms like “life coaches” and “wellness coaches” so I was surprised when I met a lovely lady who introduced herself as a Nurse Coach.
I jokingly asked if she was able to get some time off from a busy nursing schedule and she let me know she no longer worked in hospital nursing but was now helping individuals live healthy and satisfying lives. She explained how a typical day in a nurse’s life was hectic, long hours, working overtime and experiencing burnout, especially during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic. But as a nurse coach, everything was different – She had the freedom to do what she loved under her own terms, and she truly felt she was making a difference in her clients’ lives.
Well, I think it’s safe to say that from that moment, I was hooked. I sought to find out more about Nurse Health Coaches, their qualifications and the role they play in our society.
Nurse Health Coaches are registered nurses who help clients improve their well-being by adopting healthy lifestyles. They assist clients to set goals, create an action plan, overcome barriers, and remain accountable. Nurse Coaches work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, wellness centers, insurance companies, home health, corporate wellness, and private practice, too. Not only are they helping their patients and clients on a deeper level, but they are also able to earn a salary that is higher than an average nurse. Being a Nurse Health Coach allows you to have a flexible schedule, and many even choose to work remotely.
If you are interested in becoming a nurse coach, then you are in luck because the American Holistic Nursing Credentialing Corporation is offering two types of nationally accredited board certifications which are: (1) Nurse Coach Board Certification and (2) Holistic Nurse Board Certification. When you pass both exams, you earn the title and credentials of a Health and Wellness Nurse Coach Board Certified.
To sit for these certification exams, you need to apply through the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC). But first, you must ensure that you have the proper training and have met all of the educational and practice requirements.
The best way to prepare for the Nurse Coach Board Certification is to enroll at the Nurse Coach Collective to complete the Transformative Nurse Coach Certificate Program.
Now, let’s look at how to become a Nurse Health Coach:
First of all, you must have obtained your degree from an accredited institution and possess an active license as a Registered Nurse.. Second, the AHNCC will ensure that you have completed the required number of hours as an RN and that your license is not restricted.
Next, the AHNCC will ensure that you have met the required number of educational and practice hours. You need at least 60 hours of didactic education specifically on the modality of Nurse Coaching, and you also need at least 60 hours of supervised practice as a Nurse Coach. In other words, you need to go through a solid training program in order to be eligible to become a Board Certified Nurse Coach..
As noted, certification as a Nurse Health Coach requires that you have both the educational background as well as the practice hours in place. This can feel like a lot, but it’s actually quite easy when you enroll with The Nurse Coach Collective to complete all of your requirements in one place. The Transformative Nurse Coach Certificate Program teaches a whole-person approach to health and healing. As a nurse, you get to learn the fundamentals of nursing but once enrolled in the Nurse Coach Collective program, you acquire skills that help you build deeper connections with patients. Another benefit of enrolling for the Transformative Nurse Coach Certificate is that it teaches you how to focus on the needs of a patient in totality without ignoring other aspects. As a nurse health coach, your skills will improve and you will live a satisfied life doing what you love.