Generational Differences: kindly share your opinion/experience

Trauma Columnist · Feb 13, 2007

traditionalist (born between 1925-1945)

baby boomers (born between 1946-1960) born 1958

generation x (born between 1961-1980)

millenials (born between 1981-present)

2. how long have you been a nurse? since 1992 so 15 years

3. in your opinion what is your generation's strongest & weakest points (in terms of work ethics, problem-solving strategies, etc.)baby boomers are traditionally worker-bees. i know the older baby boomers plan to retire much sooner than i do as nursing is a second career for me and i just recently finished my grad degree

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 laugh over this one. i worked for 10 years in the er where it was very, very busy and stressful. my general feeling is that you either loved it or hated it. i precepted often and was told several times by the gen x'ers that we work too hard and they just didn't think it was worth it. i just shrugged it off and said if they wanted to work elsewhere, they knew where the door was. however, i always added the caveat that few places that required nurses, didn't want them working - lol.

caliotter3 · Feb 13, 2007

1. Baby boomer.

2. 1994 (second career)

3. Worker bee. When I see something that needs to be done, I do it. Especially if it involves the well being of my pts.

4. Most of any probs that have encountered on the job have been conflicts concerning younger workers who do not have high work ethic, or in some cases any work ethic. Usu not resolved favorably. Will advocate for pt care whether or not I end up on the short end of the employment stick. Too bad for me!

Interesting assignment, have fun!

jamonit · Feb 13, 2007

Generational Differences

1. What generation do you belong to?

Generation X (born between 1961-1980)

2. How long have you been a nurse? 2 days

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

strongest--critical thinking, grasp on evidence-based theory/concepts.

weakest--lack of clinical experience and diversity, as i am a new graduate.

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?

at one clinical site, there was a nurse of a different, more traditional generation. she only would wear white and had many complaints about new nurses and student nurses that didn't respect the profession. although i am very strong clinically and very respectful, she complained to my clinical instructor because i was chewing gum after my coffee. (not like a cow, mind you, and i didn't realize it was against the rules). anyway, she seemed to have a problem with new nurses on her med/surg turf. after the incident, i was very mindful of how my behavior (the gum-chewing) could have been offensive and did my best to not crack the eggshells i had to walk on around her.

MedSurgeNewbie · Feb 14, 2007

. what generation do you belong to?

genxer

how long have you been a nurse?

six whole months

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

i think we have a better work-life balance, we are not our jobs we change career tracks better and more often, because or fore-sisters opened doors we shouldn’t ever for get the ones that laid the road we get to travel

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

once i ran up against a more traditionalist nurse, she was not happy that i would call my family in the am. she felt it was my job to make sure it was taken care of before work – i explained that a 5 min phone call was all i did to keep in contact with my kiddletts and i was a mom before a nurse. then i started using her as my “goto” gal on the unit and lo and behold i learned a ton – and she was more ok with me. some of the old school nurses can do much more with pillows than i can with syringes of morphine so i tap into it – sometimes your hardest teachers have your best interests at heart

very cool assigment can you post some of your results

ertravelrn · Feb 14, 2007

Generational Differences: kindly share your opinion/experience

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? I am a Gen X

Traditionalist (born between 1925-1945)

Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1960)

Generation X (born between 1961-1980)

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 believe we are more balanced in work/family time.

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 worked with an older nurse, at my first job, that was very much against mingling among rns/lpns/techs. I continued to visit with everyone......regardless. These wonderful people were full of a wealth of info.

Thank you so much in advance!

BabyNurse513 · Feb 14, 2007

Generational Differences

1. What generation do you belong to?

Generation X (born between 1961-1980)

2. How long have you been a nurse?

5 years

3. In your opinion what is your generation's strongest & weakest points (in terms of work ethics, problem-solving strategies, etc.) Strong point - I think a lot more nurses in my generation are going for advanced degrees than previous generations. Weak point - Some can become very cocky about it

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?

In my experience, some of the older more traditional nurses have been more resistant to change. There have been amazing advances in neonatal nursing over the years but some of the traditional nurses are very set in their ways. I have been met with resistance on such topics like kangaroo care, developmental care, and bubble cpap. What I found works is education, education, education (with plenty of research articles to back you up!)

nurse4theplanet, 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)
Millenials (born between 1981-present)

Millenial...wow, didn't even know I belonged to that category

2. How long have you been a nurse?

I'm a new graduate

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

Strong Points:

I think my generation tends to be very liberal/less traditional. We are usually accepting of cultural diversity and alternative lifestyles. We quickly embrace advances in new technology. We tend to place a higher focus on reaching individual professional goals above settling down and starting a family early in life.

Weak Points:

We can be too reliant on technology. We also tend to be focused on ourselves, rather than focusing on teamwork. We tend to live fast paced lifestyles and can be quickly overwhelmed or become bored with our current position. We sometimes lack patience.

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 professionally. Personally, I have felt like I have been treated differently simply because I was younger. However, I tend not to dwell on things like that.

Thank you so much in advance!

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 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)

millenials (born between 1981-present)

baby boomer 1957

2. how long have you been a nurse?

15 years

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

strong work ethics, open minded-can empathize easily, after living through the 60's and 70's i figure can do just about anything.

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?

icu orientation with a very arrogant and kinda mean traditional nurse. i just bit my tongue and dealt with it. at the end of 2 weeks i went to the unit manager and told her i had survived 2 weeks of "name with held", may i stay in icu? i was given a new precepter.

yuuki · Feb 14, 2007

thanks to everyone who posted :) i hope a few more will post their replies :) thanks again!

burn out · Feb 14, 2007

Generational Differences
1. What generation do you belong to?
Traditionalist (born between 1925-1945)
Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1960) 1957
Generation X (born between 1961-1980)
Millenials (born between 1981-present)
2. How long have you been a nurse? 22 years
3. In your opinion what is your generation's strongest & weakest points (in terms of work ethics, problem-solving strategies, etc.)
Strongest points were when we were young and everyone older loved us paying into medicare and social security. Weakest point as we get older no one is eager to pay for our social security or medicare beacause of the sheer number of us. We are the new Sandwich generation having to take care of our aging parents while trying to raise our children and grandchildren.
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?
Most of them are occurring now with many new young grads coming in thinking they now it all and when you try to offer advice to keep them out of trouble they turn red on you but in the end they will come back and say "How did you know that" Experience is the name of the game.
Thank you so much in advance!

Cmariehart · 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?
Millenials (born between 1981-present)
2. How long have you been a nurse?
1.5 years
3. In your opinion what is your generation's strongest & weakest points (in terms of work ethics, problem-solving strategies, etc.)
Strongest: more flexible, more accepting of alternative life styles, more up to date with the newest things out there. (sorry I'm obsessive, I get all nurse magazines and tech magazines) Able to balance work/life better
More schooling and more opportunities were available to us.
Weakest: Cocky and arrogant about degrees. Lack of work ethic (if they even have a work ethic) Less patience with people. There's something else but I forgot what it was.
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 work in a LTCF and I work the 3-11 shift. When I come in between 2-2:30 the more traditionalist day shift looks at me like I'm crazy, I'm amped up and ready to get rolling. I'm also a caffeine addict. So I usually have a pepsi or 4 with me. We have 1 extreme traditionalist nurse who cannot stand to look at me most of the time. she's been a nurse for 40+ years, I respect the heck out of her, But no matter to no failing she just seems to look down upon me. The charge nurse on our unit said something to me about a month or so ago and I just kinda smilied and said I come in for my shift, I do the best I can with what I got, I'm not an angel I'm a human and I make mistakes, but I take the best care of my residents as I can, that includes making them laugh, and that means every night at dinner I do the chicken dance.
We try our best to take care of all pts. physical/emotional needs. Well I think laughter is up there in the emotional part and I can make anyone laugh!!! So maybe that's why traditionalists hate me who cares!!!!!!