The Coach/Player Relationship: Coaching New Nursing Faculty on Their Journey to Success in Higher Education

Aim: To describe and propose the implementation of a 1:1 coaching model. Background: The nursing faculty shortage has become a significant factor in maintaining qualified educators, but little is known about specific strategies to retain them. A Coach/Player model can this relationship, creating zones where the experienced and novice faculty can share in each other's successes equally. Innovation: The coach and player worked together, assigned to teach multiple sections of a nursing course. The coach and player met 1-2 times per week virtually to prepare material and debrief on the previous week's course lecture, promoting confidence and ensuring continuity between the course sections. Implications: The player reported high satisfaction with their work environment and felt supported and valued, while the coach perceived satisfaction in passing their knowledge on to the player. Conclusion: Implementing the coach/player model is a promising strategy to promote retention, confidence, and success in novice nurse educators.