For most people, nursing is a calling rather than a career decision. You'll thrive off helping others, making a difference, and caring for those in need. It's this that motivates many people to pursue a career in the field, but the reality can be a real shock.
Bedside nursing - the typical image of a nurse that most people will imagine - can be incredibly draining. Both physically and emotionally. After a few years in the field, some people may find that this type of work isn't exactly what they want to do. They'll start to wonder if nursing is right for them and what other jobs are available.
If you find yourself having these thoughts, remember that you're not alone: Nurses across the globe have those days that really make them reconsider their choices.
The good news is that nursing is a hugely varied industry, and there are plenty of roles that don't revolve around bedside work. One alternative you might have heard about is health coaching.
What is a Health Coach?
A health coach works with clients and patients to improve their overall health.
There are different types of health coaches, but the focus is to focus on wellness by making positive diet or lifestyle changes.
Health coaches act as a mentor and create wellness plans for clients either outside or within the healthcare setting.
They will base a client's individual plan on their history, goals, triggers, and barriers to find the best solutions for each person.
In nursing, a lot of your work will involve treating symptoms or injuries. Health coaches instead work with preventing illness from developing in the first place and improving a person's health.
What does a health coach do?
You can think of health coaches as lifestyle therapists. They offer counseling regarding health, work with clients to set goals and actionable steps, and focus on the social and emotional aspects of health and wellness.
You'll be a cheerleader and a motivator, and no two days will be the same.
How much do health coaches earn?
Health coaches can be self-employed or employed by a company. Depending on your employer, or how much you charge will determine how much you can earn as a health coach.
Glassdoor reports that health coaches can typically make around $16-20 an hour. That's around $45,000 a year.
Different types of health coaches
As mentioned above, there are different types of health coaches. As a nurse, you will have all the core skills you need to follow this career path - either as an employee or self-employed.
Below is a brief overview of the several types of health coaching on offer.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle health coaches typically work with clients to improve their mind and body for optimal help. These coaches often focus on weight loss but encompass much more than diet and exercise into their teaching.
Online Health Coach
The health coach profession traditional was based online - making this an excellent choice for nurses that want to work from home. These coaches will communicate with their clients via video, email, and phone. WebMD employs online health coaches, or you might want to create your own website.
Holistic Health Coach
Holistic nursing is becoming increasingly popular, and it is the same for health coaching. Holistic health coaches work with both the body and mind to create positive change. It could be through yoga and meditation, and other non-medical alternatives.
Wellness Health Coach
These coaches are not so goal-orientated and more focused on creating a balance between spiritual, physical, emotional, and social wellness.
Nutrition Health Coach
Nutrition health coaches are, obviously, more focused on nutrition, diet, and healthy eating. These coaches require slightly higher qualifications than other health coaches, so you will need to be a registered dietician nutritionist.
How to Become a Health Coach
So how do you become a health coach if you have already enjoyed a career as a nurse?
The good news is you will not need to head back to school. The transition to health coaching can be quite easy for those already in the health world.
There are additional credentials available to take if you would like to feel more confident when trying to find work as a health coach. Some traditional employers will require you to have certification.
Even with your nursing experience, it is good to take a training program when becoming a health coach. Training will provide you with the knowledge and tools to create useful goals for nutrition and emotional health for your clients.
Here are a few places you can train to be a health coach:
Once you've gotten yourself certified, look at NutritionED, a job site that lists careers with reputable employers by state.
Can I be self-employed as a health coach?
Absolutely! There are plenty of self-employed health coaches across the globe. Working for yourself means you can set your own rates and work as much or as little as you would like.
While finding your feet, you could look at 'remote health coach' jobs on either Indeed, LinkedIn or Vida. There is also plenty of information on the site that can help you market your new business and find your first client.
Many health coaches who want to work for themselves find their own mentor to get a feel for the role. From here, you can see what you like, what you would do differently, and how you can create your own business like theirs.
Then, the fun can begin. You will need to set up social media channels and your website so that you have somewhere to flaunt all the progress your clients are making. You can also write up content and tips to show your knowledge and attract potential clients.
Hopefully, this guide has given you a little insight into how you can transition from becoming a nurse to a health coach. There are plenty of non-nursing roles for nurses that still allow you to care for others.
