Generational Differences: kindly share your opinion/experience

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Feb 14, 2007

4. Can you cite an experience/incident when you were in conflict with a co-worker mainly because of generational difference? How did you solve the conflict?

Thank you so much in advance! :specs:

I am a gen-Xer (born 1979).

I've been a nurse almost 6 years.

Strong points: We do tend to embrace change quite readily, and perhaps are open to diversity in every sense of the word. We are for the most part not afraid to speak up when we see injustice, unfairness, or something that we just don't agree with.

Weak points: I do think that for the most part we have had things spoonfed to us and sometimes are less willing to work for things. I think that we are less willing to sacrifice and work hard sometimes. Generations before us perhaps had to work harder to get what they have and we tend to think that we can have it all without working.

This is not necessarily a conflict but something that I think reflects generational differences nonetheless:

I used to work in a community health center where the clinic coordinator was (still is) 50-something. She used to bend over backward to keep our doctor happy, whether it meant fixing his coffee, stopping whatever she was doing -- even if she was with another provider's patient -- to jump right on whatever it was he asked her to do. She called him "sir" all the time and once went so far as to ask us staff nurses to keep their (his and the dentists') scrubs clean & folded.

I never disrespected this doctor unless it was break time and we were obviously joking (we had that kind of relationship). However, I sure didn't ever make him coffee. (for one, I don't even know how to make coffee.) If he asked me to do something non-emergent and I was with another patient, I would tell him so and that I would do said thing when finished with my current task. And you can bet your sweet September that I wasn't going to be doing his laundry. I don't know if that was generational or not. But I know that a generation back, nurses were largely expected to act that way.

On a patient care note, if a man came in with a GU problem, she didn't care to go into any detail. This I know was generational as she freely said so. If he came in with any sort of "down there" complaint, she would say, "The doctor will talk with you about it when he comes in here." The staff nurses (we were all younger) would try to get a clear idea of what was going on, as well as elicit a sexual history. It just didn't bother us to do that, whereas it did bother this other nurse tremendously.

Hope this helps.

weesyanne · Feb 14, 2007

i hope you guys can help me. i'm doing a research paper for my management class and i need your [rns] input.
i will try to answer as best as i can:
generational differences
1. what generation do you belong to?
traditionalist (born between 1925-1945)
baby boomers (born between 1946-1960)
generation x (born between 1961-1980)
millenials (born between 1981-present)
baby boomers (1958)
2. how long have you been a nurse?
almost 22 years
3. in your opinion what is your generation's strongest & weakest points (in terms of work ethics, problem-solving strategies, etc.)
i think that most people from my generation are loyal to their employers and feel a responsibility for occurences on the unit that maybe other generations don't feel as strongly. this sometimes can be to their detriment. you have to take care of yourself and sometimes we baby boomers don't.
4. can you cite an experience/incident when you were in conflict with a co-worker mainly because of generational difference? how did you solve the conflict?
not so much a conflict as a difference in how to handle negative emotions that may arise when dealing with difficult patients. i just let the angry patient/family member have their say and they usually calm down, but i have sometimes noticed that other generations (it may not have anything to do with age or generation, however) will try to argue the person out of their feelings, which only enrages them more. there seems to be a difference in how people are approached when they are acting out. if someone is abusive, however, that is where i draw the line and call them out on their behavior. i think younger nurses are better at handling that type of situation sometimes, maybe quicker to react.
thanks for the opportunity to respond!
thank you so much in advance!

i keep getting an error message that my message isn't long enough. i hope by typing this sentence that it will go through!

kidznurse · Feb 14, 2007

1. Gen x born in 1962. But I trained the old apprentice style hospital system which started phasing to tertiary ed institutions just before i started so in terms of nursing generation I'm a baby boomer

2.Started nursing in 1980 in the hospital system so 27 years

3. Because my generation started at the bottem rung as student employees we were weeded out early if we couldn't handle the hours and the work. We were also still expected to do menial tasks like scrubbing bedpans so were very grounded in practical stuff and possibly less egotistical.I was a kid when I started, and learned about life as I went along. I travelled and nursed in many countries through my 20s and learned to be very flexible . In my 30's I returned to the workforce within weeks after having children, so juggled shift work, breastfeeding, and ongoing study. I agree with some of the others that have posted maybe my generation were too self sacrificing and a little frustrated by new grads who couldn't hack the pace.

4. Recently I've been frustrated by the young team I with .I feel a bit like an under appreciated mother hen . I find myself cleaning up after them sorting out the non nursing tasks that also fall on us covering for them when they take time off yet I make my arrangements outside work hours . Putting up with the early starts because they complain about them despite having to organise my family before I go to work. They seem inordinately interested in their needs being met. Analysng payslips to check they have every entitlement, not visiting a client because its too near finishing time( we work community),complaining about the number of visits they have not noticing that I have more .They also seem to want promotion as an entitlement after being on the job a year. I think my generation just put up with more . But maybe they are right to be so self serving but I can't change my basic habitual instinct to " care ' and "do ' for people.... Martyrdom? I also have ound them quicker to judge and make ultimatums with clients but perhaps thats just experience an not a generational thing.

EmerNurse, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2007

i hope you guys can help me. i'm doing a research paper for my management class and i need your [rns] input.
generational differences
1. what generation do you belong to?
traditionalist (born between 1925-1945)
baby boomers (born between 1946-1960)
generation x (born between 1961-1980) 1964 - but i always thought that was the last of the baby boomers, not gen x. i identify with the bb's.
millenials (born between 1981-present)
2. how long have you been a nurse? 3 years - second career for me!
3. in your opinion what is your generation's strongest & weakest points (in terms of work ethics, problem-solving strategies, etc.)
i think our weakest area is imho is the mentality of doing doing doing without always demanding what we need (staff, supplies, respect, etc).
one of our strong points is that we are always doing doing doing. meaning that if our patient needs it, we do it. butt wiping, bedpan emptying, whatever. patient care comes first. so i guess our strength and weakness come from the same heart lol.
4. can you cite an experience/incident when you were in conflict with a co-worker mainly because of generational difference? how did you solve the conflict?
i can't say it was a conflict, but i've spent many a moment in the med room comforting a new grad or new er nurse who's overwhelmed with the workload and expectations. i agree with the work ethic comments above. i don't know that it comes from laziness so much as from a "why would anyone want to kill themselves, you have got to be kidding!" type of thought process. the younger generations seem to expect respect, reasonable working conditions, etc. (as they should).
i get confounded by newer nurses who will spend 20 minutes chasing down a tech for something they could do in 3 minutes. had one new nurse tell me she didn't get a heart rate on a person yet because they weren't yet hooked up to the monitor! whatever happened to just counting a pulse?
thank you so much in advance!

lengthening message...12345

PANurseRN1 · Feb 14, 2007

You're correct, EmerNurse. Most sources (including the US Census Bureau and the General Accounting Office) define the "Baby Boom" generation as the years from 1946-1964.

dream'n, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2007

originally posted by yuuki

i hope you guys can help me. i'm doing a research paper for my management class and i need your [rns] input.

generational differences

1. what generation do you belong to?

traditionalist (born between 1925-1945)

baby boomers (born between 1946-1960)

generation x (born between 1961-1980) total gen xer-1970

millenials (born between 1981-present)

2. how long have you been a nurse? 14 years

3. in your opinion what is your generation's strongest & weakest points (in terms of work ethics, problem-solving strategies, etc.)

i agree with many of the above posters that gen xers seem to have a better home-life balance, although i'm sure some would call it less job commentment. i see this not only with nurses, but with the drs too. the younger drs. do not seem as willing to work the longer hours that their older counterparts do. gen xers also don't seem to have as strong of a commitment to their employers, they feel that if things become difficult/unfair/etc. at their place of employment, they will much more quickly cut their losses and find another job. (although that may also be due to the fact that they are not as close to retirement.) gen xers seem to embrace computer technology much more quickly, even though many including myself, grew up before the great computer revolution.

4. can you cite an experience/incident when you were in conflict with a co-worker mainly because of generational difference? how did you solve the conflict?

not a conflict but an observation. the bbs seem to keep their feelings/emotions much more in check. sometimes it's difficult to know what they are thinking about a situation or exactly where they are coming from, as they tend to keep their thoughts to themselves.

nuangel1, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2007

I hope you guys can help me. I'm doing a research paper for my management class and I need your [RNs] input.
Generational Differences
1. What generation do you belong to?
Traditionalist (born between 1925-1945)
Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1960)
Generation X (born between 1961-1980)genxer 1964
Millenials (born between 1981-present)
2. How long have you been a nurse?20 yrs
3. In your opinion what is your generation's strongest & weakest points (in terms of work ethics, problem-solving strategies, etc.)i agree with the others i think we balance life and work better.we see work as a job a means to the end ie to have house family friends or travel whatever we enjoy.we embrace technology.we are more open .but we are more likely to leave a job if it doesn't suit us .ie there is another maybe better job out there .i also do believe we have better relaionships with drs because we don't treat them like gods.ie women before us have paved the way for us to be fellow professionals.
4. Can you cite an experience/incident when you were in conflict with a co-worker mainly because of generational difference? How did you solve the conflict?
not so much a conflict but an observation while i am not into wearing all white and a cap .i love my scrubs in variuos colors and designs some of the younger generation don't seem to know how to dress or act professionally.ie short short t shirts rolling down the tops of pants like low riders deep v shirts.etc just don't look right.
Thank you so much in advance!

this is interesting please let us know how your paper comes out.

zenman · Feb 15, 2007

1. What generation do you belong to?

Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1960)

2. How long have you been a nurse?

33 years

3. In your opinion what is your generation's strongest & weakest points (in terms of work ethics, problem-solving strategies, etc.)

Us older guys probably have a different work ethics...just do it versus a younger nurse spending time trying to find someone else to do it. My teacher wife says today's kids are not as bright coming out of high school as they were earlier so that translates to.... I've also noticed a lack of common sense, problem solving ability but it may just be a lack of experience.

Younger nurses are probably more into technology and doing things with it versus the more hand-holding aspects.

4. Can you cite an experience/incident when you were in conflict with a co-worker mainly because of generational difference? How did you solve the conflict?

As a supervisor in my last work place, I went up to the floor because the nurses were mad at a CNA who was running behind getting patients cleaned up in her "poop and pee" rounds. All the nurses were sitting at the desk charting so after explaining that patient care and teamwork came before charting, I went and "role modeled" with the CNA.

yuuki · Feb 16, 2007

this is interesting please let us know how your paper comes out.

it's not yet due til 3/27 so i have more than a month to gather your replies. i hope you guys don't mind if i quote your replies (i might have to ask for your real names so i can cite you properly) if you can pm me your first initial and last name (e.g. J. Smith) i guess that'll do... thanks again to all those who replied, i 'm super grateful that you took the time to answer my questions as in-depth-ly as you guys did :)

Jennifer, RN · Feb 16, 2007

Generational Differences

1. What generation do you belong to?

Gen X- born 1972

2. How long have you been a nurse?

6.5 years

3. In your opinion what is your generation's strongest & weakest points (in terms of work ethics, problem-solving strategies, etc.)

Strongest: we balance work/family, we are more flexible to change

Weakest: we more likely to quit a job suddenly

4. Can you cite an experience/incident when you were in conflict with a co-worker mainly because of generational difference? How did you solve the conflict?

Older nurses are more rigid in their theory, less likely to adapt to new ideas. Wehn I worked on the floor, some of the older charge nurses would find doctors their charts and get coffee for them, etc, and expected the younger charge nurses to do the same. I said, let the docs get their own stuff, I'm too busy to be a nurse and their waitress at the same time.

kate1114 · Feb 16, 2007

Generational Differences

1. What generation do you belong to?

Traditionalist (born between 1925-1945)

Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1960)

Generation X (born between 1961-1980) 1971

Millenials (born between 1981-present)

2. How long have you been a nurse? 11 years

3. In your opinion what is your generation's strongest & weakest points (in terms of work ethics, problem-solving strategies, etc.)

Strongest: appreciation of diversity, hard-working (yes this goes against what half of the boomer nurses have said), willing to work together to solve a problem, good at balancing work and home - making family a priority.

Weakest: Willing to change jobs if conditions are poor (but I see that as a positive - sort of like voting with our feet), probably more likely to leave nursing than the earlier generations due to more opportunities or desire to leave a poor environment.

4. Can you cite an experience/incident when you were in conflict with a co-worker mainly because of generational difference? How did you solve the conflict?

I had an older nurse (either boomer or traditionalist - kind of on the cusp) who always seemed to be in attack mode. She was rude and tried to "set me up" several times. One time in particular, she had information about a patient of mine that she did not share with me until it was time for rounds and she told the docs about it, implying that I should have known. It was about a baby who was apneic when I was out of the room, and she declined to tell me about it when I returned (I had been doing patient care in a different pod). I had a one on one discussion with her, in which I discovered that she thought I didn't "respect" her as an older, more experienced nurse. I lied, told her I "respected" her but that she needed to tell me things that were pertinent for my patient. As soon as the "respect" issue was settled, she behaved much better. I think that she just needed to test me in some perverse way and I guess I passed :confused:

Good luck - please pm me if you need personal info as I don't share that on the boards.