Perceptions of Ontological Coaching Among Nurses (OCN): A Descriptive Qualitative Study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Nurses face significant challenges impacting psychological well-being, especially early-to mid-career nurses.
• High turnover rates and reduced quality of life are linked to these challenges.
• Coaching interventions can provide valuable support resources for nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine nurses' perceptions of the Ontological Coaching among Nurses (OCN) intervention in Singapore.
• To understand the benefits and challenges associated with OCN for nurses.
• To gather recommendations for improving coaching interventions in nursing.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive qualitative study design.
• Convenience sampling of 34 nurses and 3 coaches who received/provided OCN.
• Semi-structured, one-on-one interviews analyzed using thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Three main themes emerged: 'Outlet to Confide' (enhanced fulfillment), 'Mindset Readiness and Openness' (for successful coaching), and 'Future Endeavors' (for sustainable practices).
• Nurses experienced personal and professional benefits from the coaching intervention.
• Key recommendations included enhancing coaching awareness and program flexibility.

Conclusions:

• Ontological Coaching interventions offer significant personal and professional benefits for nurses.
• Further evaluation is needed to explore the potential of coaching for novice nurses.
• Study findings provide a foundation for future research on ontological coaching in nursing.