4. What is a Coaching Model in Practice Learning

Coaching is the practice of helping someone to learn rather than teaching them. In coaching, the coach is helping the individual to improve their own performance. Coaching unlocks a person’s potential to maximise their performance. Involves a purposeful conversation, focused on one or more challenges or outcomes- stimulated by probing questions- rather than by directly offering answers and solutions.

The coaching approach is based on a concept of ‘coaching’ small groups of students working and learning together where the focus is developing confidence and performance using facilitation and coaching skills. Coaching approach to learning is a move away from the traditional 1:1 mentorship model. The coaching model allows the learner to take more responsibility for their learning, identifying their own goals and objectives with guidance from a coach rather than direction from their practice assessor/supervisor.

Evidence suggests that this model of learning improves confidence and competence, developing skills such as leadership, delegation and enhanced communication. This approach can have a positive impact for practice, student and patient experience (Williamson, et al 2020).

Reference

Williamson, G.R. et al. (2020) Collaborative learning in practice: A systematic review and narrative synthesis of the research evidence in nurse education’, Nurse education in practice, 43, pp. 102706–102706. doi:10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102706.