Generational diversity within the nursing workforce is a unique situation for health care organizations today. Having three distinct generations working together to provide safe and effective patient care presents many challenges. Each generation possesses their own characteristics, values, beliefs, communication styles, and commitment to team work (American Hospital Association [AHA], 2014). The three generations were influenced by the collective experiences of their generation, both socially and culturally. This has shaped the way each generation views the work they do, their attitudes towards team work, and communicating with others (Hendricks & Cope, 2012). This paper will discuss the multigenerational workforce in nursing today, the conflicts
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Nurses are the largest component of the health care work force, with approximately 2.7 million registered nurses (RN) in the United States (Murray, 2013, p. 38). Of those nurses, there are three distinct generations: the baby boomers, generation X, and generation Y or the millennials. Generation X represents thirty-nine percent of the RN workforce, baby boomers thirty-two percent, and millennials twenty-six percent. It is estimated by 2020, the millennials will be fifty percent of the nursing work force (Douglas, Howell, Nelson, Pilkington, & Salinas, 2015, p. 11). Although each generation brings a specific skill set to team work in nursing, there is often conflicts between the generations due to misunderstandings and communication breakdowns that leads to poor patient outcomes, staff dissatisfaction, and increased staff turnover rates (Murray, 2013). Understanding each generation and effectively managing each groups expectations can lead to highly functional teams that can benefit and organization (AHA, …show more content…
It is estimated that by the year 2020, millennials will represent fifty percent of all nurses working in the United States (Douglas et al., 2015, p. 11). The Millennials range in age from 18 to 34, and are considered the first digital generation. Many had their hands on technology before the learned how to write. They are a generation that had their parent’s full attention and were encouraged to be part of team and groups at an early age (Balda & Mora, 2011). Because of this thy are goal oriented, but may need immediate feedback on their performance (Douglas et al., 2015). The millennials were exposed through constant access to media: world crisis, terrorism, and violence. Despite this they are optimistic, confident, and adaptable generation (Mokoka, 2015). As a generation they are the ultimate multitaskers, who put a high value team work and collaboration. On nursing team’s millennials defines what it means to be a knowledge worker. They have the ability to use technology and synthesize large amount to information quickly. They know where to get information and use every available resource. In turn, millennials know how to return their knowledge in the form of collaboration (Balda & Mora, 2011). These skills are key to forming high functioning teams in
Nurses are the largest component of the health care work force, with approximately 2.7 million registered nurses (RN) in the United States (Murray, 2013, p. 38). Of those nurses, there are three distinct generations: the baby boomers, generation X, and generation Y or the millennials. Generation X represents thirty-nine percent of the RN workforce, baby boomers thirty-two percent, and millennials twenty-six percent. It is estimated by 2020, the millennials will be fifty percent of the nursing work force (Douglas, Howell, Nelson, Pilkington, & Salinas, 2015, p. 11). Although each generation brings a specific skill set to team work in nursing, there is often conflicts between the generations due to misunderstandings and communication breakdowns that leads to poor patient outcomes, staff dissatisfaction, and increased staff turnover rates (Murray, 2013). Understanding each generation and effectively managing each groups expectations can lead to highly functional teams that can benefit and organization (AHA, …show more content…
It is estimated that by the year 2020, millennials will represent fifty percent of all nurses working in the United States (Douglas et al., 2015, p. 11). The Millennials range in age from 18 to 34, and are considered the first digital generation. Many had their hands on technology before the learned how to write. They are a generation that had their parent’s full attention and were encouraged to be part of team and groups at an early age (Balda & Mora, 2011). Because of this thy are goal oriented, but may need immediate feedback on their performance (Douglas et al., 2015). The millennials were exposed through constant access to media: world crisis, terrorism, and violence. Despite this they are optimistic, confident, and adaptable generation (Mokoka, 2015). As a generation they are the ultimate multitaskers, who put a high value team work and collaboration. On nursing team’s millennials defines what it means to be a knowledge worker. They have the ability to use technology and synthesize large amount to information quickly. They know where to get information and use every available resource. In turn, millennials know how to return their knowledge in the form of collaboration (Balda & Mora, 2011). These skills are key to forming high functioning teams in