nurse coaches are responding to the mandate of florence nightingale ( 1820 - 1910)the foundational philosopher of modern nursing  to advocate , identify , and focus on factors that promote health , healthy people , and healthy communities that are recognized today as environmental and social determinants of health . the institute of medicine report and other health initiatives suggest the need for increased education and leadership from nurses to address the healthcare needs of our nation and world . nurse coaches are strategically pos - i tioned and equipped to implement health - promoting and evidence - based strategies with clients and support behavioral and lifestyle changes to enhance growth , overall health , and well - being . with possibilities not yet imagined , employment opportunities for nurses who incorporate coaching into professional practice are developing across the entire spectrum of health , well - ness , and healing . nurse coaches will play an essential role in efforts to assist people toward sustained health as the health - care system shifts from a disease - focused and reactive system to one proactively focused on culturally sensitive wellness , health promotion , and disease preven - tion . nurse coaches are aware of the guidelines of the patient protection and affordable care act , the healthy people 2020 initiative , and the national prevention and health promotion strategy for improving the health of the nation . nurse coaches are in interprofessional collaboration and conversations with the national summit on standards and credentialing of professional coaches in healthcare and wellness ( ncchwc ) leaders to explore the future of health and wellness coaches . the professional nurse coach is a registered nurse who integrates coaching competencies into any setting or specialty area of practice to facilitate a process of change or development that helps individuals or groups realize their potential . the change process is grounded in an awareness that effective change must evolve from within before it can be manifested and maintained externally . the professional nurse coach works with the whole person using principles and modalities that integrate body , mind , emotion , spirit , and environment . professional nurse coaching is a skilled , purposeful , results - oriented , and structured relationship - centered interaction with clients provided by registered nurses for the purpose of promoting achievement of client goals , first establishing a co - creative partnership with the client where the client is the expert and then by identifying the client 's priorities and areas for change to accomplish achievement of client goals . nurse coaches are addressing the bio - psycho - social - spiritual - cultural - environmental dimensions of health . effective nurse coaching interactions involve the ability to develop a coaching partnership , to create a safe space , and to be sensitive to client issues of trust and vulnerability as a basis for further exploration , self - discovery , and action planning related to desired outcomes . it builds on the client 's strengths rather than attempting to  fix  weaknesses . nurse coaching interactions are based on research findings related to positive psychology and flow theory and learned optimism as it relates to transformational change ) . the table provides an overview of the nurse coaching literature supporting the role of nurses in health coaching . professional nurse coaches are part of the 3.1 . million nurses in the united states and of the 19.6 million nurses and midwives of the world . they are aware of the need for an increased awareness of the united nations millennium development goals ( mdgs ) for the 21st century to progress toward a sustainable quality of life for all of humanity . health  is the common thread that runs through all eight mdgs that are as follows : mdg # 1 eradicate extreme poverty and hunger mdg # 2 achieve universal primary education mdg # 3 promote gender equality and empower women mdg # 4 reduce child mortality mdg # 5 improve maternal health mdg # 6 combat hiv / aids mdg # 7 ensure environmental sustainability mdg # 8 develop global partnerships table overview of the nurse coaching literature supporting the role of nurses in health coaching the growth of coaching can be seen in multiple fields across healthcare , and in particular nursing , carrying forth florence nightingale 's legacy into the 21st century and beyond . professional nurse coaches can initiate new approaches to improved national and global health by empowering individuals and groups to make and sustain the changes that lead to healthy life - styles and healthy communities . nurse coaches are addressing the bio - psycho - social - spiritual - cultural - environmental dimensions of health . collaboratively , they are creating and implementing strategies to achieve a healthy and fit world . the art and science of nurse coaching : the provider 's guide to coaching scope and competencies ( pp 27 - 47 ) contains information on nurse coach competencies . the professional nurse coach practice competencies include the international coaching federation ( icf ) competencies . the professional nurse coach certification process is available on the american holistic nurses credentialing corporation ( ahncc ) website at www.ahncc.org or http://www.ahncc.org/certification/nursecoachnchwnc.html . the professional nurse coach is a registered nurse who integrates coaching competencies into any setting or specialty area of practice to facilitate a process of change or development that helps individuals or groups realize their potential . the change process is grounded in an awareness that effective change must evolve from within before it can be manifested and maintained externally . the professional nurse coach works with the whole person using principles and modalities that integrate body , mind , emotion , spirit , and environment . professional nurse coaching is a skilled , purposeful , results - oriented , and structured relationship - centered interaction with clients provided by registered nurses for the purpose of promoting achievement of client goals , first establishing a co - creative partnership with the client where the client is the expert and then by identifying the client 's priorities and areas for change to accomplish achievement of client goals . nurse coaches are addressing the bio - psycho - social - spiritual - cultural - environmental dimensions of health . effective nurse coaching interactions involve the ability to develop a coaching partnership , to create a safe space , and to be sensitive to client issues of trust and vulnerability as a basis for further exploration , self - discovery , and action planning related to desired outcomes . it builds on the client 's strengths rather than attempting to  fix  weaknesses . nurse coaching interactions are based on research findings related to positive psychology and flow theory and learned optimism as it relates to transformational change ) . the table provides an overview of the nurse coaching literature supporting the role of nurses in health coaching . professional nurse coaches are part of the 3.1 . million nurses in the united states and of the 19.6 million nurses and midwives of the world . they are aware of the need for an increased awareness of the united nations millennium development goals ( mdgs ) for the 21st century to progress toward a sustainable quality of life for all of humanity . health  is the common thread that runs through all eight mdgs that are as follows : mdg # 1 eradicate extreme poverty and hunger mdg # 2 achieve universal primary education mdg # 3 promote gender equality and empower women mdg # 4 reduce child mortality mdg # 5 improve maternal health mdg # 6 combat hiv / aids mdg # 7 ensure environmental sustainability mdg # 8 develop global partnerships table overview of the nurse coaching literature supporting the role of nurses in health coaching the growth of coaching can be seen in multiple fields across healthcare , and in particular nursing , carrying forth florence nightingale 's legacy into the 21st century and beyond . professional nurse coaches can initiate new approaches to improved national and global health by empowering individuals and groups to make and sustain the changes that lead to healthy life - styles and healthy communities . nurse coaches are addressing the bio - psycho - social - spiritual - cultural - environmental dimensions of health . collaboratively , they are creating and implementing strategies to achieve a healthy and fit world . the art and science of nurse coaching : the provider 's guide to coaching scope and competencies ( pp 27 - 47 ) contains information on nurse coach competencies . the professional nurse coach practice competencies include the international coaching federation ( icf ) competencies . the professional nurse coach certification process is available on the american holistic nurses credentialing corporation ( ahncc ) website at www.ahncc.org or http://www.ahncc.org/certification/nursecoachnchwnc.html .
nurse coaches are responding to the mandate of florence nightingale ( 1820 - 1910)the foundational philosopher of modern nursing  to advocate , identify , and focus on factors that promote health , healthy people , and healthy communities that are recognized today as environmental and social determinants of health.1,2the institute of medicine report3 and other health initiatives suggest the need for increased education and leadership from nurses to address the healthcare needs of our nation and world . 
 nurse coaches are strategically pos - i tioned and equipped to implement health - promoting and evidence - based strategies with clients and support behavioral and lifestyle changes to enhance growth , overall health , and well - being . with possibilities not yet imagined , employment opportunities for nurses who incorporate coaching into professional practice are developing across the entire spectrum of health , well - ness , and healing .