In the nurse coaching relationship, how is client autonomy characterized?

• A. The nurse coach remains the primary authority on the client's health.
• B. Acknowledges, respects, and affirms the client as the authority on his/her own health and wellbeing.
• C. The coach dictates the client's goals.
• D. Client input is considered only after goals are set.

Answer: (B)

Autonomy in nurse coaching means recognizing the client as the expert on their own health and wellbeing and partnering with them rather than directing them. The best answer reflects that the nurse coach acknowledges, respects, and affirms the client’s authority to set goals, choose actions, and decide what matters most in their care. This empowers the client, supports self-determination, and fosters meaningful, sustainable change through collaborative decision making. If the coach were the primary authority, dictated goals, or treated client input as a afterthought, autonomy would be undermined.