I'm seeing numerous articles regarding the challenges of millennials in the workplace and our LTC is having the common issues managing them. We have talked for YEARS about "nurses eating their young" and "seasoned nurses vs inexperienced nurses " and now we are faced with another challenge. Many companies are catering to the demands of millennials. They enter the workforce and begin making demands for things that those of us have still not received after 20 years or more such as more flexible work hours. I see that every day -young nurses demanding vacations, schedule changes,refusing to work certain units.They never go "above and beyond" but squeak by with meeting the minimum requirements of the job because, after all-it's a 24 hour facility. They are NOT team players, they are self centered, truly believe the world revolves around them, it's the "Me " show...all "Me" all the time.
I continue to try to remain as flexible and adaptable as possible. I have learned all of the computer programs without complaint and continue to teach myself daily so I can be "tech savy",too. I try to be patient and tell myself I don't "own" the nurse's station and can't control the unprofessional behavior of these co-workers.
I fail to understand why these studies I 'm reading are telling me we must adapt of workplace to accommodate them because in a few short years they will be the majority. What happens then when everyone is making these demands? No-one will work weekends, holidays, certain units, etc. I read an article in Forbes that actually recommends "gamify" tasks for this generation who has never know the world without computers and Facebook. Isn't it time they GROW UP and stop playing games? learn how to get along with others?
Before the flaming starts let me first say that NOT ALL millennials have these issues.Just as all baby boomers are not old inflexible farts. needs,too.
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
There is a lack of respect, because I believe that a number of younger people are brought up to believe they are equals to adults. Therefore, in the workplace respect, teamwork, and working for what one desires are often something that needs to be taught.
>>>>It would be awesome if in fact in orientation, newer, younger nurses are taught that the facility is not their living room, that work and personal are seperate, and they need to create what kind of a nurse in practice they are going to be>>>>--with mentoring and support from a nurse who has the experience. And that said experience does not equate cannibalism. That we are more than happy that they are participating, however, trophys for just showing up are not given. And the power of their degree needs to be put to good use--what you have learned, not what you think is wrong with the profession, but what you think is going to make your patient functional. And that self scheduling is not a competative race to get the good grade, but we all take turns.
And all of this needs to be supported by management--who in some facilities are much more interested in the number of warm bodies with the right credentials, as opposed to the culture of the unit.
Fantastic post-and you hit squarely on one of my pet peeves. You are NOT in a club, in the living room, at the pool. Sit up, straighten up,take the flipping hoodie OFF and speak like an adult. Spit out that big wad of gum,use complete sentences and words like "yes and No" instead of "ahh,yeah and nah" and shut the heck up about your date night, some stupid show on TV, etc while you are kicked back in the middle of the nurse's station,oblivious to everyone else running around WORKING.We have work to do-the residents are not here for your amusement .And that crying crap you pull every time you don't get your way or you receive constructive criticism from your supervisor? It is not attractive No one is "picking on you" You screw up just like the rest of us, you learn from it...
We "Millenials" are living in a different world. There is no job security, no stability, no company that considers itself loyal to us, benefits are disappearing, pensions are a thing of myth and legend, and the "put your twenty years in and get rewarded" simply doesn't exist for us anymore. I entered the nursing profession knowing I could only rely on myself, and while the staffing department has me on speed-dial because I am psychologically incapable of turning down shifts or filling in for call-offs, I respect the right of others my age for taking control of their professional lives.
I think this is definitely a situational thing. My company would never stand for whiny, entitled nurses (regardless of age), and older nurses would nip that kind of behavior in the bud. Any histrionics get you knocked off the schedule.
Another serious issue is nursing school. All throughout school I was warned "nurses eat their young" and "you'll be a doormat as a new grad." Rather than teach interpersonal communication strategies and empower students with practical skills to work alongside others, there has been a culture a victimization created and perpetuated in classrooms. People have knee-jerk, reactionary responses to criticism, are incapable of taking ownership for their emotions, and tag any and every uncomfortable instance as "bullying." And while bullying certainly does happen, fresh students need to understand how to manage conflict and work with others. However, until nursing schools start integrating interpersonal communications and teamwork into the curriculum, I don't see things as improving.
I am at the very end of Generation X and most of the ones I work with are millenials. Guess what, I would much rather work with them than any of the boomers that typically work day shift. Guess which ones are the ones who are willing to work the overtime. Guess which ones are willing to swap shifts with each other more readily. Sure there are times I say no to a shift, because I work to live, not live to work, which is how some of the older generation expects us to be.
I'm near the beginning of Gen X and I agree wholeheartedly.
No stereotype fits any generation, but I switched shifts to spend more time with the millennials. Fortunately, the ones the OP describes are simply not cut out to work on my floor and rarely try.
I am one of my generation that never had, or lost, the "Company Man" ethic. I also saw the wonton layoffs and leadership abuses and understand that no corporation is going to be loyal to workers (hence my current "Union Man" status!).
My drives originate internally. Corporate recognition is meaningless to me. I want to succeed at my job and will expend great effort doing so - not for my company, hell, not even primarily for my patients. I do it because it is what I want to do.
I'm a first year Gen-Xer. I started working at my facility straight out of high school, so I was groomed by those tough-as-nails boomers famous for eating their young. It made me a more accountable nurse. Some could be unnecessarily mean, and I don't want to model that form of mentoring. I now work with several millennials. They run the gamut of nurses who constantly sit at the nurses station texting (I mean constantly), to nurses who quietly work frequent OT, are there for everybody, and I'm sure will one day take over the universe. I try to lead by example, just as others (including some millennials) lead me, and over time I've learned the actions of another nurse are none of my business (but if something affects patient safety I'll speak up immediately). I'm not the manager, and if he doesn't like the behavior or attitudes of one of his employees, he gets paid to deal with it. As an aside, the PCTs we work with are over-taxed by many of our millennials because they delegate so much, and it affects the turnover. I think a much greater emphasis is put on delegating in nursing school than when I was there.
Kids these days, I'm telling you. Back in my day I had to walk uphill in the snow, both ways, just to get an ibuprofen from the pyxis.
Every generation says the exact same thing about the upcoming generation. If Adam and Eve were real, I am sure they would have bemoaned the terrible work ethic of their spoiled kids.
Complaining about the younger generation is a time honored tradition, as old as humanity itself. I mean, maybe millenials really are the worst generation ever of all time. But probably not.
I've worked with amazing and not so amazing people, based off of my own preconceived standards, with all of the characteristics described on this thread and they all span the generations.
I'm seeing numerous articles regarding the challenges of millennials in the workplace and our LTC is having the common issues managing them. We have talked for YEARS about "nurses eating their young" and "seasoned nurses vs inexperienced nurses " and now we are faced with another challenge. Many companies are catering to the demands of millennials. They enter the workforce and begin making demands for things that those of us have still not received after 20 years or more such as more flexible work hours. I see that every day -young nurses demanding vacations, schedule changes,refusing to work certain units.They never go "above and beyond" but squeak by with meeting the minimum requirements of the job because, after all-it's a 24 hour facility. They are NOT team players, they are self centered, truly believe the world revolves around them, it's the "Me " show...all "Me" all the time.
What's stopping you from making the "demands" regarding weekend, holidays, etc that your millennial coworkers are making? What they negotiate with their employers is their business. If it bothers you that these millennials are demanding certain concessions from their employers, and are successfully getting them, then maybe you should do the same. Otherwise you just sound jealous of their youth.
Not you. It's them. It's everywhere. And I'm getting danged tired of turning myself inside out to criticize only in the most constructive way (rather than just LETTING them go ahead and push KCl or something equally intelligent) only to be accused of "picking on them" or "berating" them. Yesterday, after such an incident, the doc at the bedside turned to the Millennial in question and said "She's not picking on you. She's trying to save your skin -- and your patient's. Clearly you have NO idea what "picking on' looks like." Cue the tears -- and the trip to the manager's office.
Ruby Vee: you have posted a highly inordinate amount of threads criticizing new nurses, orientees, and "job hoppers" year after year after year. It's starting to come off as somewhat obsessional. Chip on your shoulder much? Just looking at your signature suggests you have a bit of a complex here...
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Ruby Vee: you have posted a highly inordinate amount of threads criticizing new nurses, orientees, and "job hoppers" year after year after year. It's starting to come off as somewhat obsessional. Chip on your shoulder much? Just looking at your signature suggests you have a bit of a complex here...
Thank you for you input into my mental health status.
ktwlpn, LPN
3,844 Posts
Fantastic post-and you hit squarely on one of my pet peeves. You are NOT in a club, in the living room, at the pool. Sit up, straighten up,take the flipping hoodie OFF and speak like an adult. Spit out that big wad of gum,use complete sentences and words like "yes and No" instead of "ahh,yeah and nah" and shut the heck up about your date night, some stupid show on TV, etc while you are kicked back in the middle of the nurse's station,oblivious to everyone else running around WORKING.We have work to do-the residents are not here for your amusement .And that crying crap you pull every time you don't get your way or you receive constructive criticism from your supervisor? It is not attractive No one is "picking on you" You screw up just like the rest of us, you learn from it...