Gen X,Gen Y,baby boomers in the work place

Nurses General Nursing

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What are your experiences at work with your co-workers from different generations? As a Gen Xer I try very ,very hard to remain energetic and flexible. I really don't want to be labeled "the old fart that needs to quit" I think it's funny that the Gen Yer's expect the work place to bend completely to their will (IMHO) and don't want to do anything that they don't think they should have to do. I have to be very careful offering guidance or I run the risk of being accused of "eating my young" . I do find Gen Y very tech savy but almost dependent and pre-occupied with computer to the exclusion of doing any hands on pt. care.It's too much fun to sit and create documents-not as much fun to actually run around and do treatments or pass meds. My big clash last week was being told that it is now the oncoming nurse's responsibilty to stock the med cart.The rationale is that you may not do it in a way that pleases the on-coming nurse. Really? Isn't it courtesy to clean it up,empty the trash and stock it after you are done? I really want to spend 20 mins scrubbing the dried crud of of the cart that you left -NOT. I guess my getting ticked off at that labels me firmly as an Old Fart nurse.....

Well I have to say that it doesn't matter your age. I have been told time and time again that I am much more mature than someone twice my age. It is all about attitude and what a person's beliefs are. I have a strong work ethic. I am here every day ready to work. I hate calling off because I know someone else is going to have to do my job for me.. or it just won't get done. I have others that I work with who are old enough to be my mother who call off every time they get a sniffle. They drag their feet to get here. They expect everyone to do everything for them. I just think in general there are A LOT of lazy a** people out there who just want a paycheck, but don't want to do anything for it. Please don't get me started on the cellphone thing!

Specializes in ob.

I guess it depends on your unit. I think some people do a few years of nursing and the schedule gets to them. I had a forty something co-worker who became a nurse in her late 30's. She would constantly whine about how she had a life with her husband and her kids and her church and she did not see why she had to work weekends and evenings and on and on and on. She was a frequent visitor to the ED and dr's offices and would also whine about the service she and her clan received. It was ALWAYS substandard. One evening, I, who have been an RN since age 21, told her that I was amazed that with all of her visits to the ED and hospital that she did not realize why she did not get her "dream" schedule. Didn't she expect to have her or family needs addressed ASAP when she was there for care? How could that be if we only let people work when they wanted? We would have 2 people on nights and 10 on weekdays? I flat out told her that I had been a nurse for 20+ years at the time and was able to work the off-shifts, she should be too. In fact, if anyone should work more, it should be her because I had already done so many weekends, holidays, etc. We are too polite and listen to way too much fussing. No one is so very special or above others that they should be exempt from taking their turn at the schedule. Don't just sit there and take it. This shut this woman up for the time being because it was said matter of factly and it was true. Now she works flex at another hospital, and apparently has to do many weekends because that is what is available. Whining knows no age. I think it depends on how spoiled you are and how much people are willing to listen to your complaints without countering them with fact. True many younger nurses are spoiled. They were spoiled by their parents who are my age. There are also 35, 45, 55, 65 year olds who are spooled rotten and need a dose of reality.

Specializes in Ortho/Peds/MedSURG/LTC.

So funny a co-workers "message received BONG de la BING" went off at work today and the Nurse Manager got on to her pretty heavy reminding her (again) about the cell phone rules (and here we are talking about it). Rules are rules - follow the rules, don't try to bend them to suit yourself. Our cell phones must be turned off. That coworker looked at me as the NM was venting and said "hey, that might have been...was that your phone?". I frowned at her projection and said "you know I don't even bring my phone in the building - if my teens have a problem as in "emergency only" they can call me at work only then. Ages of those involved: Nurse Manager 38, guilty party 62. lol Its the person. The problem I have with being older, as in 55, is listening to the younger nurses talk about how old their parents are *I cringe* esp. when they are younger than myself. Somewhere around the age of 48 I've started becoming invisible the Paula Dean look doesn't work for me. I don't care for the younger nurses calling me "Mom" because it's an insult, when I'm not their mom. Patients whatever ails them bring em on. I have not a preference usually. But I am highly allergic to mean people..I break out in a chapping rash. luv my job.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Hey Camo, there's one thing worse than being called "Mom" by younger staff, and that's being called "Dear" and "Sweetie" by store clerks in their 20s and 30s! :lol2: I'm 53 and this has recently started happening to me. I am not the least bit fond of it! It's OK for someone in their 70s and up to use those terms of endearment, but someone young enough to be my kid.......not so much.

Next thing I know, they'll start saying things like "Oh, you're just so CUTE!" and then I'll know I really am old. :uhoh21:

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
Hey Camo, there's one thing worse than being called "Mom" by younger staff, and that's being called "Dear" and "Sweetie" by store clerks in their 20s and 30s! :lol2: I'm 53 and this has recently started happening to me. I am not the least bit fond of it! It's OK for someone in their 70s and up to use those terms of endearment, but someone young enough to be my kid.......not so much.

Next thing I know, they'll start saying things like "Oh, you're just so CUTE!" and then I'll know I really am old. :uhoh21:

I feel the same way. It feels odd when teenagers and 20-something clerks in stores call me "sweetie."

Specializes in critical care, PACU.

Ugh. On the flip side, I bought a twelve pack of beer today and the clerk made a big to do about where my mom was and if that really was my id.

If I'm 31 does that make me Gen X or Gen Y? Gen X.2?

At any rate, I agree with those who say they see personalities. I work with a wide range of ages and experience and most everyone is hardworking and supportive. There are a couple of folks who I do cringe to see as my partners or signing off to me (and they span multiple generations) but they are in the minority. As a new nurse, my more experienced coworkers have been nothing but supportive and on my side.

Well, I'm a Gen Y'er. And I have a B.A. in Sociology. I'll try not to get on too much of a soapbox here...

I don't consider myself lazy or want others to bend to my needs. I work with another Gen Y'er that I graudated with and she is the same way. I think far too much is put into generational lines in the workplace. It all comes down to personality and work ethic, especially in nursing. I consider myself a hard worker and I pride myself on taking care of my patients. I see older nurses who do the same, yet I also see older nurses who are lazy and feel completely bothered whenever they have to do anything for their patients. I think it's unfair to label someone based on their generation, no matter if it's a positive or negative stereotype.

These generalizations that get thrown on generations are just delusion; a complete distortion of reality that is placed by the culture in which we live. Each generation, in it's adolescent stage, is labeled as independent, technologically adept, fun loving, etc, by the previous generation. It was said about the Baby Boomers, they said it about Gen X, Gen X said it about Gen Y, and now my Gen Y's are saying it about Gen Z.

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