The healthcare system can feel like a maze. Appointments are often rushed, complex diagnoses leave us reeling, and important questions about quality of life can get lost in the shuffle. Many of us, especially as we age or face significant health challenges, feel unheard, overwhelmed, or unsure how to advocate for ourselves.
Enter Lauren Jefferson, RN, BSN, NC-BC, and founder of Lauren Jefferson Health and Business Consulting. Lauren is a board-certified nurse coach serving clients virtually across Colorado (including the regions Vintage serves) and beyond. She acts as a guide, advocate, and compassionate listener, helping people navigate the complexities of their health journey with clarity and confidence.
From ICU Nurse to Personal Health Advocate: Lauren’s Journey
Lauren’s path to nurse coaching wasn’t instantaneous; it was forged through years of experience and a deep desire to reconnect with the core of nursing – being truly present for people in their most vulnerable moments.
Her initial spark came during a middle school shadowing experience. Amidst the chaos of an emergency room dealing with a scared, injured teenager, Lauren witnessed the nurse she shadowed bring calm, intention, and gentle care to the patient.
“In her worst moment, the nurse was there for her,” Lauren recalls. “And that’s where I was like, that’s what I want to do.”
Years spent working in ICUs and clinics revealed the frustrations many feel within the system – not enough time with patients, staring at screens instead of connecting, rushed interactions. These feelings intensified when her own father was diagnosed with cancer. Being on the “other side” highlighted the lack of deeper conversations, the missed details, and the immense challenge for patients and families without medical backgrounds to navigate the system effectively. “What do people who don’t have a nurse in the family do in these situations?” she wondered.
During the challenging times of the pandemic and processing her father’s illness, a serendipitous click on a Facebook ad for nurse coaching resonated deeply. The program spoke directly to her experiences – the desire for more time, deeper connections, and treating the whole person (mind, body, and spirit). Lauren realized nurse coaching could bridge the critical gap between evidence-based modern medicine and the holistic, patient-centered approach many seek. It was a way to use her medical background to truly empower patients, ensuring they felt heard while receiving informed guidance.
“It’s brought me full circle back to I get to be with people when they’re having their roughest moments and help them navigate it, which is why I got into nursing in the first place,” Lauren shares.
What Does a Nurse Coach Do?
Lauren Jefferson Health and Business Consulting isn’t about replacing your doctor; it’s about enhancing your care. Lauren works with you and your medical team. Her services include:
- Deep Listening & Goal Setting: Taking the time to truly understand your health concerns, values, fears, and what “quality of life” means to you.
- Navigating Diagnoses: Helping you understand complex medical information, treatment options, and potential side effects after a significant diagnosis (like cancer, chronic illness, or major injury).
- Doctor Appointment Support: Preparing you for appointments, ensuring your questions are ready, attending virtually to provide support and clarity, and debriefing afterward.
- Medication Management Discussion: Facilitating understanding of why a medication is prescribed, monitoring its effects, and helping you have informed conversations with your doctor about whether it aligns with your goals and lifestyle. (Remember Lauren’s example of the social woman hesitant about a diuretic!)
- Bridging Holistic & Traditional Care: Integrating discussions about lifestyle, emotional well-being, and spiritual health alongside medical treatments.
- Difficult Conversations: Providing a safe space to discuss challenging topics like aging, loss of independence, end-of-life planning (like filling out Five Wishes), and adjusting to a life different than expected.
- Connecting to Resources: Helping clients identify and overcome barriers to accessing valuable community resources (like those offered through Vintage, senior centers, or transportation services).
Who Can Benefit?
While anyone feeling lost in the healthcare system could benefit, Lauren often works with:
- Older adults, particularly single individuals, who may lack a partner for discussion and support regarding health decisions.
- Individuals facing major diagnoses or chronic conditions requiring ongoing medical care and navigation.
- People grappling with aging-related changes and decisions about future care.
- Caregivers feeling overwhelmed and needing support for themselves or their loved ones.
- Patients who feel anxious, confused, or unheard by their medical providers.
- Individuals struggling to follow through with medical advice or access necessary community support services.
- Even middle-aged men whose wives lovingly suggest they find someone else to talk through their chronic health issues with!
How It Works
Lauren offers a free initial consultation to understand your needs and see if her services are a good fit. From there, she offers flexible, customizable packages on a month-to-month basis, ranging from intensive support (weekly meetings, appointment attendance) to less frequent check-ins or hourly sessions as needed. All virtual services are conducted via a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform.
Benefits for Patients & Providers
- For Patients: Feel heard, empowered, and less alone. Gain clarity on your health situation and make informed decisions aligned with your values. Improve communication with your doctors and navigate the system more effectively. Receive emotional support and practical guidance.
- For Providers (Doctors, PTs, Case Managers): Patients come to appointments better prepared and informed, leading to more efficient and meaningful interactions. Lauren reinforces medical recommendations and helps improve patient understanding and follow-through. This ultimately supports better patient outcomes and can free up provider time.
Your Ally in Health
Lauren Jefferson offers a unique and invaluable service, acting as a knowledgeable guide and compassionate ally through the often-turbulent waters of healthcare. She helps clients find their voice, understand their choices, and navigate their health journey with greater peace of mind.
Want to learn more?
Visit Lauren Jefferson Health and Business Consulting to learn more and schedule a free consultation. Lauren serves clients throughout Colorado’s northwest region and beyond.