Coaching Strategies Used to Support Interprofessional Teams in 3 Primary Care Centers.

PURPOSE/AIMS: Clinical nurse specialists and other advanced practice registered nurses use healthcare team coaching to foster interprofessional practice and enhance healthcare quality. Although coaching has been shown to support positive changes in healthcare, little is known about how coaching strategies are used in practice. The purpose of this study was to describe the strategies used by an experienced healthcare team coach tasked with advancing interprofessional care and teamwork in primary care clinics.

METHODS

This qualitative description study was part of a larger project that included an objective to increase interprofessional practice in 3 primary care clinics in the midwestern United States. Data drawn from 35 audio-recorded and transcribed coaching telephone calls were analyzed using content analysis.

RESULTS

Twelve coaching strategies were identified and divided into the following groups: (a) enhancing team development, (b) affirming the work of the team, (c) facilitating progress, (d) providing resources, and (e) connecting work to theoretical frameworks.

CONCLUSIONS

The coaching strategies described in this study can inform the work of clinical nurse specialists and other advanced practice registered nurses charged with advancing interprofessional collaborative practice. Future research is recommended to examine the efficacy of strategies and develop a comprehensive model of healthcare team coaching.