What Is a Telephonic RN Health Coach and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A telephonic registered nurse (RN) health coach provides support, guidance, and counseling for patients over the phone, through email, or with video conferencing. In this role, you cultivate relationships with your patients to determine factors in their lives that may be harmful to their health or that may prevent them from following through with the treatment or lifestyle changes recommended by their medical professionals. You connect with patients remotely and find ways to motivate them to follow their treatment plans and make healthy changes to their behavior. Telephonic RN health coaches may work in different specialties. For example, some may be assigned to ensure patients care for themselves properly at home after they've had surgery, while others may work with patients dealing with chronic illness or addiction.

Telephonic RN health coaches must follow the same educational path as in-house registered nurses. To become an RN, you must earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing program. Once you have completed your schooling, you need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to become licensed to practice. Most employers prefer candidates for this position who have several years of work experience in nursing, and some expect the RNs they hire to have a background in a relevant specialty. Other qualifications include effective communication and motivational skills and the ability to work independently. You also need up-to-date phone and computer equipment and a reliable internet connection.