Even Nurses Deserve a Coach

By: Curry Bordelon, DNP, MBA, CRNP, ANEF, FNAP

How many times have we heard this..."Nursing is more than a profession—it’s a calling."  Although it is true for so many of us, we need guidance to overcome the daily challenges and become the best leaders in nursing we can be. The pace of healthcare is relentless, the challenges keep changing, and leadership often feels like something “other people” do. Leadership isn’t defined by a title...it’s defined by impact.  The truth? Many nurses already have the potential to lead. They just need the right tools and support to bring it forward. 

For nurses with leadership aspirations, coaching can be a turning point. It helps you find your voice in meetings, navigate difficult conversations, and motivate your team in a way that inspires real results. You learn to think strategically while staying grounded in the empathy and compassion that make nursing unique. That’s where professional coaching comes in. 

Coaching isn’t a lecture or a one-time workshop. It’s an ongoing, personal conversation that’s all about you...your strengths, your goals, and the obstacles standing in your way. A good coach won’t hand you all the answers or "fix the issue for you". Instead, they’ll help you see opportunities you might be overlooking, build confidence in your decision-making, and develop strategies that actually fit your work style and values.Coaching helps nurses bring that impact forward with purpose. Coaching gives nurses the skills, clarity, and confidence to step into that impact and lead with purpose.

Why Coaching Matters for Nurses

1. Coaching builds confidence – You’ll gain clarity in your abilities and decision-making.   Effective coaching empowers you to reflect on your own emotions, abilities, and opportunities.

2. Coaching strengthens leadership skills – You’ll learn how to influence, inspire, and guide others effectively by building a deeper understanding of yourself.

3. Coaching creates lasting impact – Your growth benefits not just you, but your team, your patients, and the profession. Your coach will inspire you to reach a new potential in personal and professional growth. 

   
   

Real-World Impact

Think of the charge nurse who turns staffing frustrations into advocacy, or the new nurse manager who shifts from overwhelmed to confident through coaching. Even bedside nurses can use coaching to launch quality improvement projects that change patient outcomes. Coaching gives nurses the clarity and courage to move from surviving to leading.

Where to Start

If you’re curious about coaching, here are some places to explore:

• American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL): Leadership and mentorship programs.

• American Nurses Association (ANA): Leadership development resources with coaching elements.

• Integrative Nurse Coach Academy: Programs designed specifically for nurse coaching.

• Books: Co-Active Coaching (Kimsey-House et al.) and The Nurse Coach Model (Dossey & Luck).

  
  

Many organizations also offer group coaching or workshops—an accessible way to see the benefits before committing to one-on-one coaching.

The Bottom Line

Nursing is a calling, yes—but it’s also a career that demands support. Coaching isn’t about fixing what’s broken. It’s about unlocking what’s already inside you. Whether you’re just starting out, leading a unit, or looking to grow into your next role, coaching can help you find your voice, sharpen your leadership, and make the impact nursing desperately needs.

Because even nurses deserve a coach.

---

Curry Bordelon, DNP, MBA, CRNP is an accomplished nursing leader, educator, and mentor with a career spanning clinical practice, academic leadership, and national service. As the Interim Department Chair at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, he has led initiatives advancing faculty growth, innovative curriculum design, and competency-based education. Dr. Bordelon has developed and coordinated graduate programs, championed interprofessional education, and authored numerous publications on leadership, simulation, and evidence-based practice. A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and multiple professional organizations, he is recognized internationally for mentoring emerging nurse leaders and guiding doctoral nursing students. His work in leadership development, faculty mentoring, and curriculum innovation has strengthened nursing education, expanded professional opportunities, and prepared the next generation of nurses to lead with vision, equity, and excellence.