Professional Nurse Coach Supervision: Relationships, Responsibilities, and Requirements

The evolution of the role of the Professional Nurse Coach (NC) in recent years has been an empowering and innovative model for health and wellness for individuals, groups, communities, and populations. The relationships, requirements, and responsibilities of NC supervision to date, however, have not been fully examined. The aim of NC supervision is to provide feedback on the coaching process, and confidently guide the new NC to utilize creative problem-solving techniques and interventions. Themes emerge in supervision that can help expand competence and skills of coaching. Additionally, knowledge gaps may become apparent that would require further exploration or education. Articles on clinical supervision within the confines of nursing and other related disciplines do not highlight the challenges, responsibilities, or contractual obligations of the NC-Supervisor relationship. Without clear guidelines and identifiable themes within the supervisory experience, there are inconsistent parameters and confusion around supervision. This article will address the need for a consensus of a competency framework for NC clinical supervision and recommend a baseline strategy for guideline development. The article is relevant to the competencies associated with the ANA Standards of Professional Performance required for certification as an NC.