NC-BC key terms

A registered nurse who blends professional nursing knowledge with coaching skills to partner with clients in making lasting health-promoting changes, addressing the whole person rather than a single diagnosis.

A structured, collaborative conversation in which the coach uses questions and reflection to help a client discover their own answers and design their own actions, rather than giving advice or treating illness.

An approach that combines conventional nursing practice with mind-body-spirit, lifestyle, and complementary strategies, guided by the client's own values, to support healing and wellbeing.

Intentionally using the nurse coach's own awareness, presence, words, and behavior as a therapeutic tool to build trust and support a client's growth, while keeping the focus on the client's needs.

Regular, deliberate examination of one's own thoughts, feelings, and actions during coaching, used to build self-awareness, improve judgment, and maintain professional growth.

Fully attending to a client in the moment, physically, emotionally, and mentally, so the person feels seen and heard, which supports trust and opens the way for meaningful conversation.

Fully concentrating on what a client says and does, then confirming understanding through paraphrasing, questioning, and appropriate body language, so the client feels heard and valued.

Repeating back the essence or feeling of what a client said, in the coach's own words, so the client can hear their own thoughts clarified and feel understood.

Understanding a client's experience from inside their frame of reference and communicating that understanding, without merging with or taking on the client's emotions.

Accepting and respecting a client as a worthwhile person regardless of their choices or struggles, which creates safety for honest disclosure and change.

Open, purposeful questions that invite a client to reflect more deeply, see a situation differently, or discover their own answers, rather than questions that seek information for the coach.

A set of core communication skills, namely Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, and Summaries, used to guide conversations in a way that strengthens a client's own motivation and confidence.

A lifelong practice of self-reflection, openness, and learning about others' cultures, recognizing power differences and treating each client as the expert on their own identity and experience.

A collaborative, goal-oriented conversation style that draws out a client's own reasons for change, using empathy, affirmation, and attention to change talk while avoiding argument and confrontation.

Statements in which a client expresses reasons, need, ability, or commitment to change; coaches listen for and gently strengthen these statements because they predict actual behavior change.

Client statements that favor not changing or that defend the status quo; recognizing them without arguing helps coaches avoid pushing and keeps the relationship collaborative.

Holding two conflicting feelings about a change at the same time, such as wanting better health while not wanting to give up a habit; it is a normal stage, not resistance.

A framework describing behavior change as a series of stages, precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination, each calling for a different coaching response.

A client's belief in their own ability to carry out a specific action or cope with a challenge; higher self-efficacy is linked to greater effort and persistence in health behavior change.

Goals written to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, which makes progress visible and gives the client clear direction and a way to judge success.

A concrete, client-authored statement of what the client will do, when, how often, and with what support, developed at the end of a coaching session to turn intention into behavior.

Exploring the pros and cons of changing versus staying the same, which helps a client see both sides clearly and resolve ambivalence without the coach pushing a direction.

Planning ahead for lapses by identifying high-risk situations, building coping strategies, and framing setbacks as learning opportunities rather than failures.

The shared agreement that the client will report back on agreed actions, and the coach will follow up with curiosity and support rather than judgment or pressure.

Focusing on a client's existing abilities, values, resources, and past successes as the foundation for change, rather than concentrating primarily on deficits or problems.

A nursing practice that considers the whole person, including body, mind, emotion, spirit, culture, and environment, and integrates conventional care with complementary and self-care approaches.

An active, ongoing process of making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life, encompassing physical, emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, and environmental dimensions.

An approach that asks what creates and supports health rather than what causes disease, emphasizing resources, a sense of coherence, and movement toward wellbeing.

The understanding that thoughts, emotions, physical health, and spiritual beliefs interact, so that coaching one area can influence the others.

Deliberate practices the nurse coach uses to maintain their own physical, emotional, and spiritual health, which protects against burnout and models healthy behavior for clients.

Actions and education aimed at helping people increase control over and improve their health, such as lifestyle change, prevention, and creating supportive environments.

The conditions where people live, work, learn, and play, such as income, housing, food access, and discrimination, that shape health outcomes and must be considered in coaching plans.

The legally and professionally defined boundaries of what a nurse coach may do, which includes coaching for health and wellbeing but excludes diagnosing, treating, or practicing psychotherapy.

Explaining the coaching process, its benefits, limits, confidentiality rules, fees, and the client's right to stop, then obtaining the client's voluntary agreement before starting.

The ethical and legal duty to protect client information from unauthorized disclosure, with limited exceptions such as imminent harm or legal requirements that must be explained in advance.

When a coach has another significant role with a client, such as friend, employer, or family member, which can cloud judgment and harm the coaching relationship and should be avoided or managed.

Directing a client to another qualified professional when their needs fall outside the coach's competence or scope, which is an ethical obligation rather than a failure of coaching.

Ongoing guidance from an experienced coach who reviews the coach's practice and skills, supporting growth, ethical practice, and quality that benefits clients.

A clear written or verbal understanding of the coaching relationship, covering goals, logistics, fees, confidentiality, and roles, that sets expectations and protects both client and coach.