coaching , did I have an opportunity to share and observe what other nurses were doing with their communication styles and leveraging their roles as facilitators in lifestyle change .
Engaging in ANA ’ s Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation TM Initiative The Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation TM Initiative ( HNHN ), vetted by the American Nurses Association , seeks to improve the health of nurses by establishing five pillars : rest , quality of life , physical activity , nutrition , and safety . Not only is it geared toward nurses , but anyone can join the HNHN , and membership is free ( ANA , 2022 ). Our esteemed Mother of Nursing , Florence Nightingale , showed us the power of improving our health with hygiene and nutrition . Nursing schools and health care organizations alike voluntarily apply to establish partnerships to be congruent with its mission . To address the burnout and stress created by virtual learning and the increasing rise in COVID rates among students and faculty , a taskforce was created to have our school listed as a collaborator with the HNHN Initiative . The role of a collaborator is to take action by making a commitment to the initiatives . Our nursing school has been approved early this year as we strive to work on the HNHN ’ s pillars as they provide us with the tools to optimize our health , decreasing the risk of both acute and chronic diseases .
Personally , my commitment at the university are at scholarly , teaching , and service levels . One of the courses I teach ( now in its second semester ) is about
Lifestyle Approaches and Well-Being in Nursing . Using the Lifestyle Medicine ( LM ) pillars , the course serves as the template for incorporating information in the hope that students will commit to advancing lifestyle behaviors . The six LM pillars are : sleep , positive social connections , cessation of risky substances , physical activity , plant-based nutrition , and stress management ( ACLM , 2019 ). As one can see , these pillars are similar to those of HNHN , and it is no wonder . The American College of Lifestyle Medicine is an established partner with the ANA Enterprise ; their six pillars derive from evidence-based research as it is in the science . I found that my professional identity became enhanced when I made a commitment to my own health and well-being .
Conclusion Since COVID-19 , there has been a pivot in nursing priorities , always striving to create a balance . Fostering professional identity in students by sharing our knowledge and expertise is inherent in discerning what students and patients ’ needs are . By sharing the experiences of nurses who have seen firsthand the benefits of health coaching , for instance , and discussing the challenges and benefits of adding something like health coaching to clinical practice , we can hope to forward the discussion on this issue in an actionable and meaningful way .
Believing that I need to leverage my profession , I am currently enrolled in the Integrative Nurse Coach Academy ,
36 NSNA IMPRINT • APRIL / MAY 2022 • www . nsna . org