Collaborating with a Nurse Health Coach Can Improve Patient Outcomes
What Studies Say
A meta-analysis study of fifteen randomized trials utilizing health coaching for people with cardiovascular disease risk factors showed small, but significant improvement on physical activity, dietary behaviors, health responsibility, and stress management. (1)
Health coaching is associated with larger improvements in (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) GAD-7 scores showing reductions in anxiety. (2)
Diabetes health coaching supports improvements in glycemic control and quality of life. (3)
I am a nurse educator and wellness coach specializing in mindset and behavior change. I seek to improve the health of my community one person at a time. The primary goal of my services is equipping people with simple steps for life-changing wellness and helping them feel better.
What I Do in Health Coaching
- Collaborate with the client’s health care team, with an emphasis on communication, to improve outcomes
- Assess client strengths and build on those inherent strengths
- Discuss client’s mindset and use motivational interviewing and appreciative inquiry to set appropriate goals
- Listen closely to the client and conduct a thorough history of environmental exposures, childhood adverse events, and behavior patterns
- Help the client achieve the outcomes their doctor and dietician have prescribed
- Use my diabetes training through the Association of Diabetes Care and Education to lead the client with the 7 Self-Care Behavior model
- Assess client’s support system
- Implement L.E.A.N. (Lifestyle/Exercise/Attitude/Nutrition) expectations principles from the Dr. Sears Health Wellness Program for obese clients and families
- Provide prayer and spiritual encouragement for individuals when indicated and accepted
- Implement activities and written exercises to help the client see benefits and rewards of healthier habits
- Approach obstacles and challenges one step at a time by changing one thing at a time
- Educate client on disease processes and changes in signs and symptoms
- Educate client on nutrient dense foods (no meal planning, but offer ideas for recipe makeovers and healthy ideas) as recommended by the client’s dietician
- Educate client on detrimental effects of processed foods
- Individualized teaching about gut health, building the immune system, and lowering cardiac risk factors
Mysty Pfeffer RN BSN NBHWC
Certified Health Coach
MA Psychology/Life Coaching
Email Contact: mystypfefferwellness@gmail.com
Is Your Patient Not Ready for Coaching?
- Maybe they would be more comfortable joining a group.
- MetS Busters is a 12-week metabolic rehabilitation program that focuses on education and lifestyle change.
- Participants will learn simple recipes, and how stress, sleep, lack of activity, and food play a role in chronic disease.
- It is affordable, meets twice a month, and provides tools for lasting life change.
- It can be offered at your office for up to 10 people at a time.
- Contact mystypfefferwellness@gmail.com to discuss times and dates available.
We Can Work Together to Help People Make Lasting Change!
References:
(1) An S, Song R. Effects of health coaching on behavioral modification among adults with cardiovascular risk factors: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Patient Educ Couns. 2020 Oct;103(10):2029-2038. Doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2020.04.029. Epub 2020 May 5. PMID: 32448627.
(2) Mohr DC, Schueller SM, Tomasino KN, Kaiser SM, Alam N, Karr C, Vergara JL, Gray EL, Kwasny MJ, Lattie EG. Comparison of the Effects of Coaching and Receipt of App Recommendations on Depression, Anxiety, and Engagement in the IntelliCare Platform: Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2019 Aug 28;21(8):e13609. doi: 10.2196/13609. PMID: 31464192; PMCID: PMC6737883.
(3) Sherifali D, Brozic A, Agema P, Punthakee Z, McInnes N, O’Reilly D, Usman Ali RM, Ibrahim S, Gerstein HC. Effect of Diabetes Health Coaching on Glycemic Control and Quality of Life in Adults Living With Type 2 Diabetes: A Community-Based, Randomized, Controlled Trial. Can J Diabetes. 2021 Oct;45(7):594-600. Doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2020.11.012. Epub 2020 Dec 5. PMID: 33582039.