Coaching in nursing: An integrative literature review

Aim: To understand the current application and benefits of coaching practice in nursing and identify potential areas for future research. Design: An integrative literature review was conducted using Whittemore and Knalf integrative review methods. Data sources: A search of the literature from Medline (PubMed) and CINHAL platform for abstracts and/or full-text articles from 2012 to 2022. Methods: A systematic approach was used to screen and analyse the literature. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, a quality appraisal of the literature was undertaken and summarised into themes. Eighteen articles were selected, two articles were different aspects of the same studies. Coaching was found to have benefits to the individual related to performance, role effectiveness, role transitions and confidence in performing in the role. The outcomes for individuals add to the overall organisational benefits with performance, support, teamwork, communication and culture. Results: This literature review sought to understand the current use of coaching in nursing and identify any gaps in the application of coaching within the discipline. Supporting, developing staff knowledge and skills and nurturing nursing staff into the profession has occurred in several ways and evolved to include coaching. Coaching provides capabilities to enhance nursing leadership, performance improvement and to provide support to staff. The findings from this literature review found a need to conceptually define coaching in nursing and the opportunity to explore the use of coaching to support both the clinical and managerial workforce (job satisfaction, intention to stay and building resilience). The benefits of coaching in nursing extend beyond the leadership level and there is opportunity to extend the operationalisation of coaching practice and coaching training within the discipline of nursing. This integrative review explains how coaching has been utilised in nursing to be a valuable tool in developing nurse leaders and clinical staff.