A friend of mine is a manager who recently went to a management seminar. It was the same old thing until they asked what peoples' biggest problems are. One person said "employees under 30," and everyone in the room agreed. They find this demographic to be needy and entitled (I'm sure this does not apply to everyone, but is a much bigger trend than in past years).
My department recently hired MANY new nurses, and all but one is under 30. They call in when they are hung over, go home early, and they're lazy at work. The only thing I can depend on them to do is get their coffee break. I'm sure these nurses have many fine qualities, and maybe the rest of us are just martyrs (put in the full 46ish hours a week, mop our own ORs, etc), but it's just a whole different attitude. People in other departments note a similar trend. Radiology techs will refuse to go to certain cases because it will interfere with their lunch.
I'm sure I will get a bunch of posts from 20-somethings about how hard they work, and I'm sure there are some out there who really do work their tails off. But managers (and coworkers) are starting to take note of "generation me."
Very good points. When I first read the post I was somewhat offended. I'm a 26 y.o. male. However, after reading the replies I have to agree that I feel many people my age feel entitled. This is the "all about me" generation. If people think these 20 somethings are bad, just wait until the people under 20 grow up...they will be even worse.
I also have to agree that many many people 40+ think they are entitled to something. I cant remember the times I was in clinical and my nurse said something along the lines "I've been doing this for XX years, I think it's time for me to take a break." As was stated, it's all about the personality of the person.
I grew up with what everyone calls a good "work ethic." Having parents who were a poor example I relied on my grandfather for most of my moral lessons. He taught me two very good things: 1.) Always work to be a servant to the people. 2.) Never feel less than anyone in any situation.
Taking those to heart I graduated #1 in high school, joined the military for 6 years and went to war, finished #1 in WLC (Sergeant school), obtained my associates in criminal justice, got married and have two children, joined nursing school and just last week I made the Honor Society for nursing with a 3.66 GPA, accepted a job offer as a nurse circulator (now just need to pass boards), and I'm providing for my family while my wife stays at home with the kiddos.
This is not meant to be a self-righteous pat on the back, but a strong example that you need to do a personal gut-check before you go off and label an age group. Have you ever asked any of these
Seriously? Would knowing the answers make a difference? I'm not their mother and I'm not a therapist. I have lives in my hands when I'm at work and don't have time for therapy sessions or to retrain adults who should already know better. And I fail to see how it makes me bitter because I refuse to assume responsibility for the actions of other adults.
I'm on the hiring committee for the CCU and ED at my hospital. We absolutely would never hire a new grad into either of these areas (yes, I am aware that some facilities do, but we have decided it is inappropriate for us); in the last 8 years since I've been on the committee, we have not hired anyone w/o strong CCU and/or ED experience, so the under 30 issue really hasn't been an issue. I think the youngest nurse in our unit is about 40, and she's been with us about a year and a half. I suspect the average age, including her, is 50, give or take. I cannot say that we would never hire a nurse under 30 if s/he had the right qualifications, but I really really doubt it, unless s/he was one of our staff members kids.
Even as far as hiring ward clerks, etc, we sift through applications and throw out anyone who graduated highschool after 1995. We simply want mature adults. Yes, this selection process means we probably miss some great candidates, but the truth is, a 20something would be bored with us old battle axes, so they are better off going someplace where they are going to have more peers their own age.
This under 30 thing should probably also GENERALLY apply to people ready to retire. At my place of work, generally speaking....people who are close to retirement want an easier assignment, and mostly get them because of seniority. I once had an older nurse say she couldn't take a trach patient because she doesn't know how to do trach care...like seriously, and she wanted to exchange for my independent patient who didn't use the call light.
I gotta admit there's some truth to this. Senority does rule when it comes to job preference, but it shouldn't when it comes to patient assignments like the one in your example.
I'm on the hiring committee for the CCU and ED at my hospital. We absolutely would never hire a new grad into either of these areas (yes, I am aware that some facilities do, but we have decided it is inappropriate for us); in the last 8 years since I've been on the committee, we have not hired anyone w/o strong CCU and/or ED experience, so the under 30 issue really hasn't been an issue. I think the youngest nurse in our unit is about 40, and she's been with us about a year and a half. I suspect the average age, including her, is 50, give or take. I cannot say that we would never hire a nurse under 30 if s/he had the right qualifications, but I really really doubt it, unless s/he was one of our staff members kids.
Even as far as hiring ward clerks, etc, we sift through applications and throw out anyone who graduated highschool after 1995. We simply want mature adults. Yes, this selection process means we probably miss some great candidates, but the truth is, a 20something would be bored with us old battle axes, so they are better off going someplace where they are going to have more peers their own age.
Wow... so much for finding a job in my preferred department of choice after school... -_-
lol... I haven't read all the posts yet, but I wanted to say I had a conversation just like this over the weekend. Friends of mine work in a factory and they were saying how the majority of 50+ workers think they are entitled to taking it easy on the job, calling in sick, being late etc. because the union will protect them. For very simple, meanial tasks, some workers would rather wait for someone else to come do it (because it's not in their job description) than do it themselves. It's the young guys/gals starting out that have to bust their tails and if a lay off were to happen they are the still the first ones gone.
Anyway... now I'm going to get back to reading these posts!!
I'm on the hiring committee for the CCU and ED at my hospital. We absolutely would never hire a new grad into either of these areas (yes, I am aware that some facilities do, but we have decided it is inappropriate for us); in the last 8 years since I've been on the committee, we have not hired anyone w/o strong CCU and/or ED experience, so the under 30 issue really hasn't been an issue. I think the youngest nurse in our unit is about 40, and she's been with us about a year and a half. I suspect the average age, including her, is 50, give or take. I cannot say that we would never hire a nurse under 30 if s/he had the right qualifications, but I really really doubt it, unless s/he was one of our staff members kids.
Even as far as hiring ward clerks, etc, we sift through applications and throw out anyone who graduated highschool after 1995. We simply want mature adults. Yes, this selection process means we probably miss some great candidates, but the truth is, a 20something would be bored with us old battle axes, so they are better off going someplace where they are going to have more peers their own age.
That is too bad. Should we not jude people on their experience, personality and qualifications?
i do think that you are lucky, but i also bet that if you take off your rose colored glasses for a second, you'll find that some of those "great nurses" aren't as great at you'd like us to believe.
why so negative... maybe i really do work with a great group of nurses, of all ages. and, if those rose colored glasses are tainting my view of my colleagues, i think i'll just keep them. it's nice to have a positive outlook, not to be discriminated against, nor discriminate those around me. i think the nurses are great, our patients do as well, so i'm content.
my post wasn't an attempt at self righteousness, just standing up for the nurses that are affected by the op.:)
I'm on the hiring committee for the CCU and ED at my hospital. We absolutely would never hire a new grad into either of these areas (yes, I am aware that some facilities do, but we have decided it is inappropriate for us); in the last 8 years since I've been on the committee, we have not hired anyone w/o strong CCU and/or ED experience, so the under 30 issue really hasn't been an issue. I think the youngest nurse in our unit is about 40, and she's been with us about a year and a half. I suspect the average age, including her, is 50, give or take. I cannot say that we would never hire a nurse under 30 if s/he had the right qualifications, but I really really doubt it, unless s/he was one of our staff members kids.
Even as far as hiring ward clerks, etc, we sift through applications and throw out anyone who graduated highschool after 1995. We simply want mature adults. Yes, this selection process means we probably miss some great candidates, but the truth is, a 20something would be bored with us old battle axes, so they are better off going someplace where they are going to have more peers their own age.
Not really related to the thread in general, but rather your post in specific.
You don't hire new grads in those areas and don't hire grads without specific experience in those areas, right? I would then contend your input is irrelevant, since your hospital does not want to engage in providing these type of experiences to ANY nurse, new grad or otherwise.
It is a good thing every hospital does not follow the same line of thinking (see what I did there ) as, if they did, you would have no nurses to hire.
Another thing to think about: You came on a public forum and admitted making a conscious decision to violate Title VII. You might think those "kids" don't have what it takes, but they aren't the ones throwing these potentially detrimental things out there on the interwebs.
I don't see how anyone that is a nurse can be considered lazy. Young, old, or inbetween. It is just way too busy to be able to sit on your behind. I do see some instances of nurses not getting up to get a bed alarm; but this is all ages, not just under 30. I consider this negligent and lazy when a patient falls and breaks a hip because people are too "busy" charting, talking, or getting report to get it. The aides may be tied up somewhere and not able to get there. I have seen this time and again.
A friend of mine is a manager who recently went to a management seminar. It was the same old thing until they asked what peoples' biggest problems are. One person said "employees under 30," and everyone in the room agreed. They find this demographic to be needy and entitled (I'm sure this does not apply to everyone, but is a much bigger trend than in past years).
My department recently hired MANY new nurses, and all but one is under 30. They call in when they are hung over, go home early, and they're lazy at work. The only thing I can depend on them to do is get their coffee break. I'm sure these nurses have many fine qualities, and maybe the rest of us are just martyrs (put in the full 46ish hours a week, mop our own ORs, etc), but it's just a whole different attitude. People in other departments note a similar trend. Radiology techs will refuse to go to certain cases because it will interfere with their lunch.
I'm sure I will get a bunch of posts from 20-somethings about how hard they work, and I'm sure there are some out there who really do work their tails off. But managers (and coworkers) are starting to take note of "generation me."
I actually agree. I am 29 years old and have been a nurse for 8 years now.... I work hard, I don't call in to work, I don't job hop. BUT I certainly cannot say the same for people my age who I have worked with in the past. The lack of work ethics just amazes me. It seems some *not all* people my age want things handed to them. They don't want to work for it.
Maybe it was the way I was raised. Both of my parents have been at the same job for 20+ years. They never call in unless they just absolutely have to.
So yes, I do agree, even though I fit into that age group :)
At my facility it is often the older nurses who are the laziest and least reliable and least willing to do anything 'extra'. There is an even mix of twenty-something's and the more middle aged crowd and I was just thinking the other day that us twenty-somethings are doing a pretty decent job of representing our age group...
GM2RN
1,850 Posts
Seriously? Would knowing the answers make a difference? I'm not their mother and I'm not a therapist. I have lives in my hands when I'm at work and don't have time for therapy sessions or to retrain adults who should already know better. And I fail to see how it makes me bitter because I refuse to assume responsibility for the actions of other adults.