Why are nurses turning to integrative health and health coaching?

Why are nurses turning to integrative health and health coaching?

In this blog we look at the growth area of nurse health coaching, where nurses are incorporating a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, and re-establishing a root-cause, preventive health focus. It’s healing at its best.

​At no other time have we seen such an influx of nurses joining us to expand their skill base by adding health coaching. It appears that this growing trend is down to the fact that health coaching is a highly satisfying modality to authentically connect with patients and clients in a time-rich, purposeful and meaningful way.

What is a health coach?

The International Coach Federation defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential."
 
Coaches honour the client as the expert in their life and work from the belief that every client is creative and resourceful. The coach’s responsibility is to:
 
•    Discover, clarify and align with what the client wants to achieve.
•    Encourage client self-discovery.
•    Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies.
•    Hold the client responsible and accountable.
 
Uniquely wellbeing coached clients find they can achieve, access, grow or express that which they might not have been able to on their own. The coach merely shines a light on the keys are to unlock the client’s potential and self-determination.

What does a nurse health coach do?

Nurses who have embraced health coaching are able to:

• Use their training to assist patients in achieving a healthful, holistic lifestyle
• Work together with patients to establish wellness objectives
• Empower patients to reach their wellness goals and stay on track
• Support patients in making informed choices and grow their health agency

Why are nurses turning to health coaching?

Not surprisingly, given the challenges in today’s health care systems, one of the main reason we hear is burn out. With exhaustion from long gruelling hours nurses come to us wanting to make a change to their lives so they can work the hours they choose and work from the comfort of their own home or an integrative health clinic in their area.
 
Coupled with burn out we hear “I want to be more connected to health and wellbeing again. I want to help and guide people toward finding their own solutions so we are actually reducing disease and illness and reliance on pharmaceuticals.” And we often hear nurses say “If I could just get to people BEFORE they get sick, they wouldn't end up in the system".
 
Here are a few reasons why nurses are suited to integrated health coaching:

1. Nurses have the unique ability to view health from a holistic perspective.
2. Nurses are able to develop trusting relationships with their clients.
3. Nurses have extensive knowledge about disease prevention and health promotion.
4. Nurses are excellent communicators and can provide education and support to clients in a way that motivates them to make positive changes in their lives.

Nurses have the skills and training necessary to help clients set realistic goals and make lasting behaviour changes.

Becoming a nurse health coach

​Qualified nurses will hold relevant health training and registration, and simply need to add on a qualification in health coaching from a recognised training provider.
 
At Well College Global we’re finding nurses are attracted to our Level 5 Diploma in Nutrition and Health Coaching as it has the perfect blend of wellness coaching, holistic health subjects, human nutrition and business training, it is also one of the few level 5 diplomas in nutrition and health coaching currently available.

How do I choose the right health coaching course?

It can be tricky deciding on the best health coach training course, there are a lot out there and almost all of them sound amazing. Of course, a lot of time and money will be invested and the only way to really know what the training is like is to take a sampler course, and not one that is just a marketing exercise, then compare ‘apples with apples’. Here’s a few tips to picking the best health coaching course:

• Decide how you want to study e.g. online, blended or face-to-face
• Set your budget
• Decide on how much time you have to commit to study without it becoming a stressor in your life
• Ask about the support you get after you graduate
• Check if you gain access to your course straight away or if it’s drip-fed
• Check out the supported learning extras such as speciality live webinars
• Ensure there is business training for just the parts you need and not a whole bunch of stuff you don’t
• Make sure the learning platform is user-friendly

 
However, as a general guide, we recommend you ask the following questions:

1. What will my qualification be at the end?
2. What are the peak accrediting bodies I can join with the qualification? Watch out for self-accrediting courses.
3. What is my scope of practice?
4. What roles can I apply for?
5. What are other nurses doing with their qualification?

​You should also check if your own country’s public health agency has a strategic direction or initiative in the modality of nursing and health coaching.

• For example: The National Health Care System United Kingdom (NHS) has a Long Term Plan that outlines the NHS’s aim to ensure that 2.5 million people are given personalised care by 2024. To bring this to life, the health and care workforce will be supported to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide personalised care. The Personalised Care Institute will offer the workforce a range of flexible ways to develop these skills. Well College Global’s Diploma’s are fully accredited by PCI.
• The New Zealand government is currently committed to the placement of hundreds of nurse health coaches within medical practices as an initiative around “boosting health workers” .

Checking your national government plan is important as you may find:

• Initiatives that can support your extended learning
• They direct you to educational providers that are approved under those plans and strategies
• Details of any requirements, for example, International Coaching Federation (ICF) accreditation

Where can nurse health coaching take me?

Many nurses with health coaching qualifications will work in hospitals or private practices You can also:

• Start your own wellness coaching business
• Work alongside a doctor within their practice
• Join an integrated medical hub provider or start your own
• Work within an insurance agency or private health care insurer
• Work within the corporate sector
• Work within schools and colleges, for example in Australia the government is investigating nurse resources into the public school setting

Where to now?

Check out our Level 5 Diploma in Nutrition and Health Coaching. A perfect blend of self-paced and on-line learning where you get to study at your pace and co-create your program with exciting electives in Women’s Health and Hormones, Gut Health and much more.
 
This diploma is accredited by:

• Personalised Care Institute UK (PCI)
• Health Coaches New Zealand and Australia (HCANZA)
• Accredited Counsellors, Coaches, Psychotherapists and Hypnotherapists (ACCPH)
• Qualifi UK
• International Institute of Complementary Therapists (IICT)

 
Give us a call or book a free career coaching session with us today.

Author

Leanne Cooper, Well College Global Founder and Director