Coaching in nursing: An integrative literature review.
Corianne Richardson, Kristin Wicking, Narelle Biedermann and 1 others
PMID 37365717WHAT IT FOUND
Coaching for nurses mostly improved confidence, communication and leadership skills, but one study found coaching conversations hurt job satisfaction.
Most evidence came from small studies of managers, not bedside care, so it does not prove coaching improves patient outcomes.
Key findings
01Coaching interventions for nursing staff were associated with improved performance, communication and support, though the evidence base was small and varied.
02One review study reported that one-to-one coaching conversations negatively impacted job satisfaction, particularly when feedback was unfamiliar or delivered poorly.
03The majority of participants in the reviewed studies were nurse managers, limiting how far the findings apply to bedside nursing practice.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most participants in the reviewed studies were nurse managers, so the findings may not apply to all bedside nursing staff. The studies were mostly short-term, so long-term effects of coaching are unknown. There was no consistent definition of coaching across the studies, making it hard to compare results. One pilot randomised controlled trial had data contamination because control group staff talked to the experimental group about the intervention. The quality of coach training varied, and most studies did not describe the content of the training programmes.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that coaching improves patient care. The evidence is about staff development and leadership skills, not clinical outcomes for patients.