Do you see a generational gap in nursing?

[egglady]

I don't know if it is just me, or just where I work, but I am seeing a major generational gap between nurses. The ones in their mid 20's just seem to be lacking a work ethic. I am not an old foggie, I am 43. the newer gals just dont get why they cant have day shift, or every holiday off, or why seniority in a union facility counts. They do not understand that it has taken many of us more than 10 years to get full time, or day shift, and that we all have to work holidays. I spent many Christmas at work instead of with my kids. I havent used sick time in 3 years. some of these new ones call in with the weirdest ailments, just to find out they were hung over!! I am not bashing young nurses, or "eating the young". I am just seeing a lack of work ethic with this generation. My friend who is in business sees the same. Did we as parents screw this generation up some how? Or will they eventually grow up? Again, not bashing anyone, just curious....

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I'm mid-way through a graduate program at 34. Its a second career for me. There are a lot of hard working people in my class in their mid-20s. However, I've been somewhat shocked the work ethic of some younger people. There seems to be a mentality of expecting to be spoon fed information rather than taking the intiative to learn anything or think on their own. Its almost funny to me how up in arms people get if something is on a exam that wasn't straight from the notes.

I have a different view of that. I've learned over the years to be wary of anyone who says " 'Nobody told me' won't cut it," because they will go out of their way to make sure you don't have the information you need.

My maternity/pedi semetser included a presentation day that was emphasized throughout the semester. The day before presentation day, one of the instructors said, offhand, "You know you're not getting credit for this, right?" She was serious. We were all very upset. The instructor was very surprised.

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

I believe it's due to the sign of our times meaning, there is more instant everything today. During our generation, there weren't very many instant anythings. Today's young people have remote controls to operate their TVs, we had "get up and change the channel yourself"

Most young people have AC. We had fans or just opened our windows that had screens on them.

Today's young people have access to computers of all kinds. I remember when we only had typewriters and if we wanted to make a copy of something, we used stencil paper.

Cell phones were unheard of back when I was young.

Etc, etc, etc.

We had to earn what we got. Many of the younger generation have had so much given to them they expect it, and no real work ethic has been created in their lives.

[reigh]

I am about 1,000% positive that your generation complained as much as the current 20 somethings to your preceding generation.

Every generation has said the same exact thing about the "younger generation" for the past 10,000 years or so.

Congratulations, you are officially old.

Not to mention I as a 20 somthing male nurse went to a hospital to work. Finaly getting my foot in the door despite the chalenges which are many and recognized by our own state health board for new nurses even getting a job. They poked at my expirience level and then once I got dumped on and managed well a heavier more acute load then the quote "expirienced" nurses on that unit. Those same nurses feared that it would be obviuos they were not working hard and were upset. I am all for balenced and safe work environment but certainly it is not a generational thing, more a person to person the work ethic. If they need a hard working nurse were you are let me at it cause I would love a full time job at your hospital.:redbeatheheart:nurse:of a nurse:redpinkhe

-reigh

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

In my experience, there is more of a problem with older nurses who complain, call out, can't handle their assignments, push work off for the next shift, but they've been around for so long that no one will say or do anything about it...

It's really just not fair to make generalizations either way.

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

It's really just not fair to make generalizations either way.

When you put it that way, you are correct. It is all about the personality. My apologies for being too general.

[Flying ICU RN]

Do you see a generational gap in nursing?

Apparently so, here's the new grad they have me orienting.

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

Apparently so, here's the new grad they have me orienting.

LOL! I'm pretty sure that's how our elderly patients see some of us!

[JamieLeeRN]

I am also a "twenty something" that, if you intended this to be rude or not, I find it very rude. As far as you saying you aren't eating your young, it is even worse that you are generalizing. I have been a nurse for two and a half years now, and I have worked third shift the whole time. I work with all women who have families, and have worked, and intend to keep working, Christmas shifts for people who have children since I do not. I know many "older" nurses that call out much more often than I do, and many "older" nurses who just don't do their job well, because quite honestly it seems to me they have been doing it so long they are either burned out, or just don't care anymore. I am surrounded by people that are not "twenty somethings" that will call a CNA instead of helping a patient to the bathroom, or that will put off starting blood transfusions or hanging chemo (I am an Oncology nurse) because "it just didn't come up" even though it was ordered at noon. Maybe instead of generalizing that all "twenty somethings" have poor work ethic, and don't do their jobs, you should look at the fact that there are nurses of all ages that do not do their jobs, and there are people who become nurses for the wrong reasons (job security and money) so they never care enough to do their jobs well. If you have a problem with the nurses that are younger than you, and are newer nurses, if you are a good nurse, I can say that odds are they look up to you and would respect what you had to say if you tell them they are behaving badly, so maybe you should try handling the situation in a respectful manner to try to fix the problem?

And as far as union seniority goes, I get it, you have been nurses for however many years, and missed however many holidays, blah blah blah...As far as I am concerned, it should be the most qualified gets the job, the one who works the hardest gets the shift they want...It shouldn't matter if you have been there for five years or fifteen. We all choose to work in a hospital, and nurses choose to stay in a hospital, so just because someone has been there for fifteen years, that shares the same holiday as someone who has been there for five, doesn't mean there shouldn't be a rotation for who gets to go home and be with their families. Remember when you had young children you wanted to be with on Christmas and the older nurse had "put in her time" so she went home to be with her husband or older kids who already know Santa isn't real, well maybe instead of feeling entitled people should start being respectful and realize these are their peers, less experienced or not, younger or not...it should be about team work and being fair and respectful of each other. Take a step in the right direction and stop being so bitter that there was so much eating of young when you were young, and start making it so it stops, then maybe the walls will come down, and then maybe the "twenty somethings" you work with won't want to call out so easily.

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

And as far as union seniority goes, I get it, you have been nurses for however many years, and missed however many holidays, blah blah blah...As far as I am concerned, it should be the most qualified gets the job, the one who works the hardest gets the shift they want...It shouldn't matter if you have been there for five years or fifteen. We all choose to work in a hospital, and nurses choose to stay in a hospital, so just because someone has been there for fifteen years, that shares the same holiday as someone who has been there for five, doesn't mean there shouldn't be a rotation for who gets to go home and be with their families. Remember when you had young children you wanted to be with on Christmas and the older nurse had "put in her time" so she went home to be with her husband or older kids who already know Santa isn't real, well maybe instead of feeling entitled people should start being respectful and realize these are their peers, less experienced or not, younger or not...it should be about team work and being fair and respectful of each other.

I'm actually OK with union seniority within reason. Partially it's 'cos unions are useful in protecting workers from evil corporate overlords, but partially because there is something to be said for putting in one's time. That being the case, I have to agree with other earlier posters who point out that everyone needs to pitch in and work some holidays and the like, since having all the experienced nurses off on vacation at the same time sounds like a recipe for disaster.

[Wishinonastar, BSN]

I think work has become recognized as a way to make a living, not a career. The world in general has begun to put work second, as it truly should be. These attitudes are more prevalent as time goes by and are shared by the parent to the child. Work ethic is not the same as it used to be, with good reason. Our parents lived in a time where you could work at the same company until retirement (which the company paid for you). Now we pay for our own retirement and the company does not give a hoot about employees- they are bodies, nothing more. We live with the threat of layoff, firing, closure, etc on a daily basis. You simply cannot invest the same amount of yourself in work now. You would end up going insane. I have always worked very hard to not complain. pay my dues, share the burden, etc. My parents had great work ethics, and I think I did too. I never expected to be off holidays or work all daylight. But after getting the shaft and being abused by employers over the years I now trust no one. I work only to live, I do not live to work. I have cut back a lot on how much of myself I invest in work. I don't blame anyone for doing the same, though I still don't call off unless it is absolutely necessary. I would never want to burden the other nurses because we are all in the same rocky boat.

[SHURN]

I am not offended by the OPs question. That is something she has seen. However, I do feel that a lot of responders hit the nail on the head when they say that younger generations view their job differently. Who ever mentioned the "company man" made an excellent point. I will work as hard for my employer as they do for me.

Im a 20-something with a strong work ethic. I call in only when Im sick (and I still feel so bad!). I help out while I'm at work, I'm never late (I'm almost compulsively early!) I started on nights, work my weekends, work my holidays without complaints. We are lucky that the majority of night RNs say they will never go to days, so when a day slot opens up, we can grab it, if we are interested. And, I think the senior nurses deserve MORE perks! I'm sorry, but when someone has dedicated 20 years to an organization, they deserve more than a celebratory dinner!!

Also, I wonder if some of this has to do with the younger ones not having families yet. For me, I would NEVER cash in my PTO for more money. I worked my butt off to earn it, and Im going on vacation (I hear a lot of - didn't you JUST go on vacation?). I also work extra once in a blue moon. I don't need to. But I don't have kids. I have a mortgage, put in my max to my 401, and budget adn a large saving, while saving for the wedding we will be paying for. My fiance and I live within our means, drive older cars, etc. We make more than enough for the two of us. So maybe this looks like I am less of a team player because I more than likely will not pick up on a day off. I feel that management needs to see how their cost cutting effects patient care and the morale of the unit. I work my schedule, and work HARD at that! I feel bad for my co-workers, but not bad enough to ruin my day off. So that is a more selfish mentality.

But when we have a family, taking care of them comes before vacation and just having a day off. That may mean more overtime, and cashing in PTO. But I also see the lifestyles that some nurses I work with want to keep their families in. Maybe working more and cashing out has more to do with living outside of their means, not more dedication. That is a reflection of how they are raising their families as well and how will that generation be viewed?

Luckily, I have not seen any of the behavior described here - calling off cause your hung-over, calling off holidays because they think it's not fair. We have a large amount of "young" single nurses. I would be very upset if this happened and people got away with it.

I guess my point is that yes, maybe there is a generation gap. How could there not be? We are in different points in our lives. But like most have said, it's the same with evey generation when they are young. As they get older, the next young generation acts the same!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think work has become recognized as a way to make a living, not a career. .

I agree with your basic premise up to a point -- but not 100%. I think there is a need to find a happy medium. People who have "careers" and not just a series of "jobs" are often happier in their lives overall. They see their work as a way of contributing to society and find joy in having a unified career that makes a significant contribution to the world. We spend a lot of time at work and most people are happier overall if their work time is meaningful and brings some satisfaction.

In other words, in a truly healthy and fulfilled life ... work is a part of the whole picture. Work is not just a way to get money to pay for the things in life that matter. Work matters too.

Yes, in the past (and today for some people) ... some people have placed so much emphasis on work that they have ignored the other important aspects of life. It's a good thing that people are starting to see that work should not be the only think that matters -- and that we should not allow ourselves to be abused to earn a few more dollars.

However, it's also wrong for the pendulum to swing too far in the opposite direction. And I see that happening with some people today -- be they old or young. Some people (old and/or young) feel entitled to the financial rewards of a job without being committed to do the work ... or to work the unpopular shifts ... or to take the classes and develop the skills .... etc.

We all need to learn to integrate a productive work ethic into a healthy lifestyle. It's not a matter of "either-or" -- it's a matter of learning to integrate both together. Sometimes, that means sacrificing a little on the work front for the benefit of family, friends, rest, leisure, etc. ... And sometimes, that means the family and leisure needs are compromised a bit to fulfill work responsibilities. It's a combination of "give and take" for all involved. The pendulum needs to swing back and forth: it should never be stuck in one extreme position forever.