The incredible resource you need to check out- my personal experience with Nurse Coaching

Nurse Coaches Sara Prech, RN, NC-BC & Anastasia Prech, RN, NC-BC

Founders of Well/Whole, Holistic Wellness Coaching

Nurse Coaches are an excellent resource for anyone, especially RNs. Nurse Coaches serve as “coaches” to help individuals optimize and attain their life/health goals. Interestingly enough, I was unfamiliar with Nurse Coaches and had only recently heard about these professionals and how they practice. I launched the Nurse Coach/Professional Resources page on The Supported Nurse site this past January after learning more about these experts through conversations with Nurse Coaches Sara Prech, RN, NC-BC & Anastasia Prech, RN, NC-BC. They are the founders of Well/Whole, Holistic Wellness Coaching. This past summer, I had the fantastic opportunity to do two personal Nurse Coaching sessions with Anastasia Prech. I cannot speak more highly of the empowering experience. It’s fun to note that Sara and Anastasia are twins (though not identical). On another note, Anastasia lives in Paris, France; I can now say I’ve officially done a Zoom with someone from “La Ville-Lumiere” or “The City of Lights.” 

It is important to note here that the word “coach” is a loose term that many individuals or professionals use to describe themselves. This “coach” term can be misleading as, often enough, such individuals did not complete any specific training or certifications to be granted such a title. On the other hand, Nurse Coaches are licensed RNs who complete an additional Certificate Program beyond Nursing School. It is essential to highlight that Nurse Coaches are required to complete 120 CNE contact hours in this program, and some opt to sit for an additional certification exam, though it’s not required. Many often wonder if a Nurse Coach is synonymous with a Therapist, but it is not. Both are important, but there are key differences. Training and education requirements, along with the area and method of practice, differ between the two professions. Nurse Coaches work from the mindset of the client being in the driver’s seat, and the perspective is forward-facing. Addressing health goals, mindset, empowerment, and goals for the future are just some of the areas Nurse Coaches work in. In addition, Nurse Coaches can have advanced training in areas such as holistic health and wellness, compassion fatigue (CCFP), and critical incident stress debriefing. Therapists, on the other hand, often address past events surrounding trauma, implementing therapeutic modalities that only they are specifically trained for to aid clients in healing. Insurance can pay for therapy sessions, though many practices work with clients on an out-of-pocket basis. Insurance does not currently cover Nurse Coach sessions. However, in this rapidly expanding field, insurance companies are predicted to recognize these coaches as Category I (where they would be reimbursed) as they are viewed as a health intervention modality. AHNA/AHNCC applied for this category change from the current Category III in 2019; the process takes about 5 years.

As mentioned above, I was new to Nurse Coaching and unsure what to expect, but I truly enjoyed the process. I met with Anastasia Prech, RN, NC-BC (remember she Zoom’ed me from Paris!) and did two 1 hour sessions with her. I highlighted some areas in my personal life that I wanted to improve. Anastasia was highly professional, engaged, and positive and offered great feedback and easy tools to implement to enact change. Some areas I sought to improve included prioritizing time (welcome to motherhood) and reducing anxiety. Anastasia has a calming presence, which makes addressing personal life challenges easy. In addition, I learned quite a bit about myself in self-reflection through the coaching conversation. Anastasia offered various ideas/techniques (yes, some deemed “woo woo”; we laughed over this), but almost all are scientifically backed. Most have been in practice for centuries, and standing the test of time is direct evidence that these practices work. We covered Box Breathing (this breathing technique is actually used by the Navy Seals; the profound effect of rhythmic breathing on the nervous system is quite interesting) and mindfulness. I incorporated both of these into my daily routine. We discussed other simple modifications in my schedule, such as waking up 10 minutes earlier to have extra time for myself in the morning. I was not perfectly consistent in implementing them, but I was consistent enough to notice positive differences. With all of the techniques/habits Anastasia reviewed with me, I was the one to decide whether or not they were a fit for me. Again, I was in the driver’s seat (this is how Nurse Coaches approach it). Anastasia was an incredible support to other life stresses I shared with her when we met, which factored into my attaining those goals. She helped me pivot goals/practices when I needed it and gave positive feedback. I scheduled my second session a month later and was happy with the results of the new practices I had initiated. I found myself calmer, had created more time for myself (still limited with kids but improved since our first session), and felt supported with tools I could use. I was excited about the changes I had seen. She also sent emails reviewing each of our sessions and reached out in between them to see how I was doing. 

Through Nurse Coaching, I could identify my goals more clearly and find the right tools that worked in my life. I became empowered to support myself better. I truly enjoyed my sessions with Anastasia and highly recommend others consider trying it. It’s up to each individual to recognize/highlight the goals you want to attain in your personal life. Nurse Coaches are a great place to start and support your journey.

Interested in learning more about Nurse Coaching? Check out The Supported Nurse Nurse Coach/Professional Resources page on the site, www.thesupportednurse.com

Want to connect with Sara Prech, RN, NC-BC & Anastasia Prech, RN, NC-BC, founders of Well/Whole, Holistic Wellness Coaching?  

Check out their website: livewellandwhole.com

Email: hello@livewellandwhole.com

Instagram: @saraandstacy

Brooke RN

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