What Actually Happens in a Nurse Coaching Session?

This month, we're continuing our two-part series about nurse coaching.

Last month, we looked at what nurse coaching is conceptually and why the combination of nursing and coaching creates a different kind of conversation about health.

Today, I want to take you inside a nurse coaching session.

Understanding what nurse coaching is is one thing.

But you might still be wondering:

What actually happens when you sit down with a nurse coach?

Let's start with something most of us already know

The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity—or 75 minutes of vigorous activity—each week, along with strength training at least two days per week.

Those recommendations are helpful. But knowing what the guidelines say doesn't necessarily tell you what movement should look like in your life.

So let's say you come to me because you want to incorporate more movement.

I could tell you the recommendations.

We could look at your schedule, choose a few days to work out, and create a plan.

And sometimes we do all of those things. We’ll end the session with a clear, practical next step—or even a plan for making it happen.

But that usually isn't where we start.

Because sometimes the information is exactly what you need. And sometimes, there's something else underneath the goal that's worth exploring first.

Instead, I usually start by getting curious.

What makes movement important to you?

What would movement look like for you in a perfect world?

When you zoom out and look at the bigger picture, what has your relationship with movement been like?

And as we start talking, the conversation might go somewhere neither of us expected.

Maybe you tell me you don't actually care about hitting a certain number of workouts each week.

What you really want is enough energy to keep up with your kids.

Maybe you miss feeling strong and connected to your body.

Maybe you're preparing for a hiking trip you've always wanted to take.

Or maybe movement represents something even bigger: making time for yourself after years of feeling like your health always comes last.

And suddenly, we're not just talking about exercise.

We're talking about why movement matters to you. 

Then we look at what gets in the way

Knowing why you want something doesn't automatically make it easy to do.

So then we start looking at real life.

Where could movement realistically fit into your day?

What have you tried before?

What worked—and what didn't?

What barriers tend to come up for you? 

Maybe you think you need to wake up at 5 a.m. to go to the gym.

But when we talk about it, you realize you've tried that before—and hated it.

Maybe a walk during your lunch break feels more realistic.

Maybe you discover you enjoy strength training at home while your kids play nearby.

Or maybe the real barrier isn't your schedule at all.

Maybe it's the belief that if you can't do a full workout, there's no point.

That a 20-minute walk doesn't really "count."

And that might be the place where we pause.

Because sometimes what gets in the way isn't a lack of knowledge or motivation.

There could be a  pattern or belief you hadn't realized was shaping the way you approach your health.

There isn't one right answer or one perfect plan.

We're looking for something that fits you.

And I know this from my own life, too.

Since becoming a mom, what movement looks like for me has changed every few months.

When my little one was leaving the newborn stage, movement looked like short Pilates videos at home and short walks that felt manageable. 

As my little one has grown and changed, I've been able to take longer walks and have more energy and capacity for strength workouts.

And now, I'm hoping to add running back into the mix this fall.

None of those seasons meant I was "doing it wrong" before or that I had finally found the perfect routine.

They were simply different seasons of life that called for different things.

That's part of what I mean when I say we're looking for an approach that fits you.

Not the version of you with unlimited time and energy.

Not the routine that works for someone else.

But what works for you, in this season of your life.

Sometimes what supports you will change.

And that's okay.

This is where the partnership comes in

As a nurse coach, I bring my nursing knowledge and understanding of health, illness, and evidence-based practice into the conversation.

But I also recognize that you are the expert on your own life.

You know your routines, your challenges, and what matters most to you.

As a nurse coach I can bring health knowledge and evidence into the conversation when it's useful. But the conversation doesn't stop there.

My role isn't to hand you a plan and expect you to follow it.
It's to create a partnership where we can bring those different pieces together.

That might mean sharing information or education when it's useful.
It could mean helping you notice a pattern.
Or the conversation might take us somewhere unexpected.

The topic we start with isn't always where we end up.
And together, we follow the thread.

So what is the lasting impact?

You might leave a session with a practical next step, along with the support and accountability to keep exploring it as you move forward.

Maybe it's taking a walk after lunch three days a week.

Maybe it's pulling the dumbbells out of the closet.

Or maybe it's simply noticing the moments when you think, "If I can't do it perfectly, why bother?"

But the goal isn't just to leave with another list of things to do.

It's to better understand what matters to you, recognize what's getting in the way, and find an approach that works within the life you're actually living.

Because life changes.

What works for you right now might not work six months from now. Your schedule may shift. Your priorities may shift. Something that once felt easy might suddenly feel harder.

And that's okay.

The goal isn't to find the one perfect plan you'll follow forever.

It's to learn how to pause, get curious, and ask:

What matters to me?

What's getting in the way?

What would support me here?

Those are questions you can keep coming back to—even as your life changes.

And that, to me, is the deeper impact of nurse coaching.

We're not just asking:

What should I be doing?

We're creating space to explore what matters, what's possible, and what comes next.

Together.

If you’ve been feeling stuck between knowing what you should do for your health and figuring out what actually works for you, nurse coaching might be a good place to start.

You don’t have to have it all figured out before you begin. We can start with where you are, get curious about what matters to you, and take it from there.

If you’re curious about what nurse coaching could look like for you, I’d love to connect. Click to learn more about working with me or schedule a complimentary discovery call.