iNurseCoach

Our INCA Newsletter, News and Views, offers health information, research and insights, and explores a wide range of healthcare practices and cultural traditions of healing along with cutting-edge research.

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Update. American Holistic Nurse Certification Corporation (AHNCC) Nurse Coach Certification Process

The following provides the reader with a brief overview of the Nurse Coach Certification Process offered by the American Holistic Nurses Certification Corporation (AHNCC).

Over the last two years the American Holistic Nurses Certification Corporation (AHNCC) has followed the development of the health and wellness coaching movement and the increased interest in the nurse coach role as reported in the literature and in various healthcare areas. This also included a series of conversations with a cohort of holistic nurse leaders, including Linda Bark, Barbara Dossey, Darlene Hess, Susan Luck, Bonney Schaub, and Mary Elaine Southard.

After lengthy discussions, extensive reading, and consideration of the implications for nursing, the topic was added to the AHNCC Board Meeting Agenda in February 2010. The AHNCC Board decided that the role of Nurse Coaching was important to the Profession of Nursing, and should be proactively addressed. That is, Nursing should hold its space with this role so to ensure that Nursing is included in the consortium of healthcare providers that are supported in the delivery of care based on a health coach model.

AHNCC also determined to move forward with a needs assessment to determine if there was interest in a national certification program for nurses who wished to carryout the Nurse Coach Role. See details at www.ahncc.org.

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AHNCC Creates an Alliance

AHNCC contacted the cohort of nurse leaders described above, identified as the Professional Nurse Coach Workgroup (PNCW). AHNCC and the PNCW discussed options for moving forward with a Needs Assessment and a National Certification Program if indicated by the Needs Assessment. Together, an alliance was formed with the intent of holding and promoting the Role of Professional Nurse Coaching.

AHNCC needs assessment was launched in March 2011. For more details see www.ahcc.org. The findings indicated that there is an interest in a National Certification Program in the Role of Professional Nurse Coach.

The PNCW is in the final international review process on the draft Professional Nurse Coach Role: Defining the Scope of Practice and Competencies (2012).This document has identified competencies relevant to the role of Nurse Coach. The AHNCC is now having these competencies reviewed by expert panels that will be revised accordingly to the experts’ review. Following completion of the competencies, a Role-Delineation Study (RDS) will be undertaken, under the guidance of the Professional Testing Corporation.

Specifics regarding required AHNCC criteria, the certification process, related literature, and other factors will be provided in early 2012. Helen Erickson, AHNCC Board Chair welcomes questions and comments contact AHNCC at ahncc@flash.net.  BDossey

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Self Care for Nurses

During the past few decades, the nursing profession has undergone major changes and challenges. Today, many nurses are seeking new directions for their personal well-being and for expanding their clinical skills to promote wellness and self care with patients, families, and communities.

As nurses seek new tools to move beyond burnout, compassion fatigue, and frustration, many are seeking to develop their potential in both their personal wellness and in creating new models for health promotion in their clinical settings.

Through self care practices, nurses deepen their inner wisdom, compassion, caring and intuition, and find a renewed sense of meaning and purpose in their professional work and personal lives.

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CULTIVATING OUR GARDEN OF SELF CARE

Meditation and Well-Being

Two recent studies on meditation practice address its physical and emotional benefits. It may be easier to measure a change in pain perception or blood pressure, both of which are very important, but ultimately the motivation to continue with any practice may depend on the practitioner’s improved sense of well-being.

Recently a group of researchers at the University of California, Davis, completed a study where they examined the effect of intensive, concentrative meditation on various measures of psychological well-being, including increased mindfulness and purpose in life. http://mindbrain.ucdavis.edu/labs/Saron/pdf/Jacobs%20et%20al%202010%20Psychoneuroendocrinology.pdf

In addition to the resulting significant positive psychological changes reported, they also documented increased activity in immune-cell telomerase, which is associated with immune cell longevity. The mediators’ increased sense of well-being was seen as affecting this enhanced telomerase activity, both directly and indirectly.

Another study, conduced at the University of Minnesota, looked at the perceived effect of mindfulness meditation on living life in balance at midlife.

http://wjn.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/10/18/0193945911424171.abstract?rss=1

This qualitative study had nurses in midlife as the participants. The results reflected positive experiences such as increased personal awareness, being more mindful and reflective, more effectively dealing with stress, spiritual awakening, and other positive psychological and spiritual effects. BS Schaub