From Burnout to Balance: My Nurse Coaching Journey

From Burnout to Balance: My Nurse Coaching Journey

Hi friends,

I wanted to take a moment to share something close to my heart—my journey into nurse coaching. This path wasn't something I planned from the start. Like many life-changing adventures, it unfolded after a series of hard truths, deep soul work, and—honestly—some tough life lessons.

As a nurse, I’ve always been passionate about caring for people, but over the years, I began to notice a shift. Healthcare has been changing, and not always in ways that support whole-person healing. Providers are busier than ever. Appointment times are shorter, and the pressure is relentless. What often gets lost in the shuffle? Time.

Time to talk. Time to teach. Time to understand what "healthy" actually means for each unique person sitting in that exam room. I started to feel more like a traffic controller than a caregiver. Deep down, I knew there had to be another way.

A Wake-Up Call from Within

What I didn't expect was how much my environment was affecting me. I was working in what I now recognize as a toxic setting—emotionally draining, professionally stifling, and misaligned with my values. It wasn’t just burnout. It was a full-body cry for help.

During this time, I was diagnosed with cancer—twice. I battled through treatment, all while trying to keep up with the demands of a career that no longer nourished me. On top of that, my mental health began to suffer. I was experiencing anxiety and depression that I could no longer push aside.

I had reached my breaking point. But as they say, breakdowns often lead to breakthroughs.

🌱 The Road Back to Myself

Through a lot of inner work—therapy, spiritual practice, lifestyle changes, and the hard (but healing) act of leaving that toxic environment—I began to reclaim myself. I took a good, hard look at my life and asked, “What do I really want? What do I need to heal?”

And what I needed… was alignment.

I returned to my beliefs and values. I reconnected with why I became a nurse in the first place. And I discovered nurse coaching—a calling that blends my clinical experience with everything I’ve learned about healing, wholeness, and empowerment.

Bringing Leadership into the Healing Space

Before stepping fully into coaching, I spent years in healthcare leadership as a Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML). That experience gave me a firsthand view of the daily pressures frontline staff face, from staffing shortages to compassion fatigue. I wasn’t just managing a unit—I was supporting a team that was trying to do it all while pouring from an empty cup.

I understand what it means to lead with empathy and still feel like you're running on fumes. My time as a CNML shaped how I coach today. I bring a systems-thinking lens, a deep respect for the realities of clinical life, and the belief that leaders need healing, too.

Nurse coaching isn't just for patients—it's for nurses, healthcare workers, and caregivers who are craving something more sustainable, meaningful, and soul-aligned.

Why Nurse Coaching Matters

Nurse coaching is about more than just goal setting or accountability (although we do that too!). It's about walking alongside people as they reconnect with what truly matters to them.

It’s about asking the right questions, not just giving the right answers.

It’s about creating space to explore what health looks like for each person—not according to a lab value, BMI chart, or Instagram post, but by honoring their life, culture, dreams, stressors, and strengths.

As a nurse coach, I get to help others do the work I had to do for myself:

• Discover what matters most

• Understand their personal definition of wellness

• Make intentional, sustainable changes

• And most importantly, feel seen and supported along the way.

A New Way Forward—for All of Us

Here’s the truth: we are in a healthcare shift. People are waking up to the idea that wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all. And they’re hungry for guidance that blends clinical know-how with real-life support, emotional intelligence, and heart.

That’s why I do what I do. Because I’ve been on the other side of the hospital bed. I’ve been the burnt-out nurse, nurse leader and the scared patient. I’ve felt the pain of being unheard and the power of being seen.

And now, I use everything I’ve learned—personally and professionally—to guide others toward healing, balance, and self-trust.

What Working with Me Looks Like

In our work together, I won’t hand you a to-do list or a guilt trip.

Instead, we’ll take a compassionate, non-judgmental approach to explore what you want for your life, health, and career. I’ll help you navigate overwhelm, clarify your goals, and create a plan that honors your values and reality.

Whether you’re recovering from burnout, navigating a life change, or just feeling stuck, nurse coaching is a space to breathe, realign, and start fresh.

🧡 Let’s Connect – Book Your Free Discovery Call

If any part of my story resonates with you, I’d love to chat. I'm offering a free 45-minute discovery call so you can learn more about nurse coaching and whether it’s right for you.

There’s no pressure—just a chance to connect, be heard, and explore a new path forward.

Send me an email at [email protected] and let’s schedule your time to talk. I’d be honored to hear your story and support your journey toward balance, health, and wholeness.

Thank you for being part of this community and for giving me the space to share from the heart.

With warmth and gratitude,
Sandra Evangelista
RN, CNML, Nurse Coach, Cancer Survivor, Life Realigner
💌 [email protected]
📍 Follow me on [Instagram/Facebook/Bluesky]