---
title: Why should I become an Integrative Nurse Coach® with INCA?
description: INCA sets the gold standard and is the global leader in advancing the specialty of nurse coaching and assimilating nurse coaching core values into nursing practice.
---
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1. [Integrative Nurse Coach Academy Knowledge Base](https://questions.inursecoach.com/?hsLang=en)
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# Why should I become an Integrative Nurse Coach® with INCA?
## INCA sets the gold standard and is the global leader in advancing the specialty of nurse coaching and assimilating nurse coaching core values into nursing practice.
### Reasons to Become a Nurse Coach with INCA:
- Our **award-winning textbook,** *Nurse Coaching: Integrative Approaches for Lifestyle Health and Wellbeing*, is being used across the globe.
- Our **validated assessment tool**, the *Integrative Health & Wellness Assessment™,* assesses the whole person and provides reflective opportunities for growth.
- Our** published mid-range Theory of Integrative Nurse Coaching**guides professional nurse coaching practice.
- Our advanced degree **board certified nurse coach scholars & visionaries** are at the forefront of the health and wellness movement, and have spearheaded critical initiatives, such as petitioning and gaining approval from the American Medical Association for the use of coaching **CPT® codes.**
**In a nutshell:**
INCA’s [founders](https://inursecoach.com/team/) are the pioneers of Nurse Coaching and conceptualized and actualized the model (not to mention wrote the award-winning textbook!).
We provide Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners with a powerful, holistic, innovative, and in-depth Integrative Nurse Coaching education that fully embraces the richness of what they bring to this role.
Our faculty members are Integrative Nurse Coach experts, leaders and pioneers in the growing integrative health and wellness field of nurse coaching. They have been instrumental in moving Nurse Coach [Board Certification](https://ahncc.org/) forward, and lecture worldwide on environmental health, nutrition, and global nursing.
At the completion of [Part 1: Foundations](https://inursecoach.com/nurse-coach-programs/#foundations) AND [Part 2: Practicum](https://inursecoach.com/nurse-coach-programs/#practicum), you will join our graduate Integrative Nurse Coaches with the option to sit for two board certification exams (Holistic Nursing and Nurse Coaching) through the [American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation.](https://www.ahncc.org/) **Note: if you do not wish to take the full program, you can take either part as a standalone!**
### Why Choose INCA as your Nurse Coach program of choice?
INCA was founded by nursing legends Barbara Dossey and Susan Luck. Both these women are visionaries in why and how nurses are the ultimate health care provider to help transform healthcare into a focus on health and wellness, not just a disease orientation. Karen Avino joined INCA and brought decades of higher education experience teaching and practicing Holistic Nursing and Coaching. INCA programs are continually being updated with the latest information to meet the needs of Nurse Coaches globally.
INCA was created with the vision of educating, preparing and supporting Nurse Coaches to assist individuals, groups and communities in realizing their greatest health goals by creating change in lifestyle behaviors for health promotion and chronic disease management. The Integrative Nurse Coach views people as integrated whole beings, honoring and emphasizing each person’s unique history, culture, beliefs, and story as influenced by internal and external environments. Nurse Coaches use holistic principles and integrative modalities while respecting all beliefs and cultural practices that are an essential component of healing, health, and well-being.
INCA is the REAL DEAL
**Do not be fooled by copycat programs that have not earned any validity.**
### **The Integrative Nurse Coach Academy | International Nurse Coach Association is recognized for the evolution of Nurse Coaching by authoring the most recognized:**
**Textbook:** INCA developed the premier textbook being used worldwide, in universities and any quality Nurse Coach program. [*Nurse Coaching: Integrative Approaches for Health and Wellbeing*](https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B01GULFBW4&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_eZdVFbXDAJ05W&tag=inursecoach01-20)*,* is the American Journal of Nursing’s [Book of the Year](https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2016/01000/Book_of_the_Year_Awards_2015.23.aspx) in three categories, Community-Public Health Nursing, Nursing Management and Leadership, and Nursing Education/Continuing Education.
Dossey, B.M., Luck, S., & Schaub, B. G. (2015). *Nurse Coaching: Integrative Approaches for Health and Wellbeing.* International Nurse Coach Association: North Miami, FL.
**Theory:** The [Theory of Integrative Nurse Coaching](https://nursology.net/nurse-theorists-and-their-work/theory-of-integrative-nurse-coaching/)(TINC)is an organizing framework mid-range theorythatguides the practice, education, research, and healthcare policy of Integrative Nurse Coaches.
**Assessment Tool:** The [Integrative Health & Wellness Assessment](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29251530/) is a self-assessment to create awareness of 8 vital components of self that are interwoven and constantly interacting. INCA provides access and use of the tool to its graduates.
**Nurse Coach Scope and Competencies**: INCA was an initiator in the development of these.
Southard, M.E., Dossey, B., Bark, L., & Schaub, B. G. (2020). *The Art and Science of Nurse Coaching: The Provider’s Guide to Coaching Scope and Competencies,* (2nd Ed). Nursesbooks.org: Silver Springs: MD. Available
**Textbook on Holistic Nursing** is the focus of the philosophy of Nurse Coach practice. Barbara Dossey began and wrote the book on Holistic Nursing with others for the past 25 years! Our Director of Education, Karen Avino is now an editor and author of the past 2 editions continuing the tradition of INCA involvement in the development and direction of the profession.
Helming, M., Shields, D., Avino, K., & Rosa, W. (2022). *Dossey and Keegan’s Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice.* Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning
INCA is recognized for its premier program providing supervision by practicing board-certified, Integrative Nurse Coach experts.
The [Integrative Nurse Coach Certificate Program (INCCP)](https://inursecoach.com/course/integrative-nurse-coach/) has **graduated and provides connection to over 1,400 Integrative Nurse Coaches across 15 countries**. This seven-month, 96 contact hour program online provides all the content and clinical coaching hours required to **sit for [Nurse Coach (NC-BC) and Holistic Nurse (HN-BC) board certification](https://inursecoach.com/board-certification/)** through the [American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC)](https://ahncc.org/) and provides:
- Small group supervision groups to establish deep guidance and lasting relationships
- Peer to Peer Coaching practice in a safe space before you begin coaching actual clients
- Business Planning to begin your Integrative Nurse Coach practice
- FREE Certification exam review program
- Enrollment into a FREE Alumni Connection Course for up-to-date resources
- FREE Integrative Nurse Coaching Interventions Course
### Our Industry Leading Programs Include:
- ***Integrative Nurse Coach™*** *Certificate Program -* [inursecoach.com/inccp](https://inursecoach.com/course/integrative-nurse-coach/)
- *The **Business** of Nurse Coaching -* [inursecoach.com/biz](https://inursecoach.com/course/business-of-nurse-coaching/)
- ***Cannabis*** *Nurse Certificate Program -* [inursecoach.com/cncp](https://inursecoach.com/course/cannabis-nursing/)
- ***End Of Life*** **Coaching** ***-*** [inursecoach.com/eol](https://inursecoach.com/course/end-of-life-coaching/)
- ***Functional Medicine*** *for Nurses -* [inursecoach.com/fm4n](https://inursecoach.com/course/functional-medicine-for-nurses/)
- ***Mindfulness Meditation & Stillness Practices*** *for Nurses -* [inursecoach.com/stillness](https://inursecoach.com/course/mindfulness/)
- ***Yoga** for Nurses -* [inursecoach.com/yoga](https://inursecoach.com/course/yoga-for-nurses/)
- [Prospective Students - Admissions](https://questions.inursecoach.com/prospective-students-admissions?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Enrollment Process](https://questions.inursecoach.com/prospective-students-admissions?hsLang=en#enrollment-process)
- [Tuition & Payment](https://questions.inursecoach.com/prospective-students-admissions?hsLang=en#tuition-payment)
- [Eligibility & Requirements](https://questions.inursecoach.com/prospective-students-admissions?hsLang=en#eligibility-requirements)
- [Accreditation & Certification](https://questions.inursecoach.com/prospective-students-admissions?hsLang=en#accreditation-certification)
- [Admissions Support & Next Steps](https://questions.inursecoach.com/prospective-students-admissions?hsLang=en#admissions-support-next-steps)
- [Scholarships & Discounts](https://questions.inursecoach.com/prospective-students-admissions?hsLang=en#scholarships-discounts)
- [Getting Started & Programs](https://questions.inursecoach.com/prospective-students-admissions?hsLang=en#getting-started-programs)
- [Policies & Administration](https://questions.inursecoach.com/policies-administration?hsLang=en)
- [Program Experience](https://questions.inursecoach.com/program-experience?hsLang=en#main-content)
- [Integrative Nurse Coach® Certificate Program](https://questions.inursecoach.com/program-experience?hsLang=en#integrative-nurse-coach-certificate-program)
- [End Of Life Coaching](https://questions.inursecoach.com/program-experience?hsLang=en#end-of-life-coaching)
- [Nursing Pathways in Psychedelic Care](https://questions.inursecoach.com/program-experience?hsLang=en#nursing-pathways-in-psychedelic-care)
- [Homeopathy for Nurses: Acute Care](https://questions.inursecoach.com/program-experience?hsLang=en#homeopathy-for-nurses-acute-care)
- [Cannabis Nursing — CannyNurse® Certificate Program](https://questions.inursecoach.com/program-experience?hsLang=en#cannabis-nursing-cannynurse-certificate-program)
- [Functional Nursing: A Functional Medicine Framework for Nurses](https://questions.inursecoach.com/program-experience?hsLang=en#functional-nursing-a-functional-medicine-framework-for-nurses)
- [Functional Nursing + Lifestyle Nursing Dual Certificate Pathway](https://questions.inursecoach.com/program-experience?hsLang=en#functional-nursing-lifestyle-nursing-dual-certificate-pathway)
- [End-of-Life Coaching for Nurses](https://questions.inursecoach.com/program-experience?hsLang=en#end-of-life-coaching-for-nurses)
- [Lifestyle Nursing: A Lifestyle Medicine Framework for Nurses](https://questions.inursecoach.com/program-experience?hsLang=en#lifestyle-nursing-a-lifestyle-medicine-framework-for-nurses)
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