What is up with the level of entitlement?

[sofla98]

I’m a seasoned nurse with a lot of years of experience. I work hard to take care of my patients and their basic needs, and then some. But what is up with these newer grads, like in their younger 20’s? The ones who started 2019-2020, bc something is way different. 

We’re all wondering what it is. 

They expect the charge nurses and other nurses to do their tasks/work for them and I’ve seen some actually whine, roll their eyes, etc. when they don’t get their way or they’re a little bit busy. 

It’s really starting to aggravate those of us over the age of 30, especially because if they don’t get their way they go to the manager and say “so and so didn’t help me enough” or “so and so wasn’t available and I couldn’t find them for an hour.”

I think it’s time I leave the hospital, to be honest. They are also incredibly hard to train. They don’t listen, get offended if you try to explain to them why something didn’t go well, or go complain to the manager. 

Our management is tired of it too. Is it the same personalities? Are they really that easily offended? Someone ELI5. Thanx. 

Don’t believe this is an issue? Just wait for the responses! LOL! 

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

When I started as a nurse I got a reality check that nursing is not holding elderly people's hands and handing out meds while looking perfect in your Figs. I quickly learned that not all patients are pleasant and grateful, the work is hard, physical, and dirty. You get verbally and physically abused. You get an insurmountable workload and no support from management. 

BUT, I never expected other nurses to help me when they are suffering from the exact same huge workload. We all help each other, but I don't feel I deserve help and don't have to help in return. And this is coming from a white millennial from a privileged background LOL

Most of the new nurses I work with and train are wonderful, helpful, ask for help when needed, open to learning. One 40 year old nurse was appalled that he has to do incontinent care. He said "that's for CNAs, I shouldn't have to do that, it's disgusting." News flash, our hospital doesn't have CNAs. He also hates getting admits/transfers/dishcarges. Our ratio is 3 pts, but if he transfers a pt and gets a new one, discharges and gets a new one, he claims that's 5 patients because he has to chart on all of them, and complains the whole shift. sighhhh he is nice outside of work but it's annoying. Don't think it has to do with generation though, and he is a hard worker. just an anecdote LOL

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I'm a second career nurse, and I don't think that this is unique to nursing or healthcare. As with many vocations across the country, and really people, there's an attitude that certain aspects of jobs are "beneath people". But if you think about it, it's what people hear all the time. Fewer people are going into the trade fields because that's not considered important enough work. We're not encouraging our young people to become plumbers, carpenters, electricians, those jobs require hard work and manual labor. Our schools tell us everyone should want more education in order to gain more respect. Our nurses are told before they even have their first degree complete that they should start planning when they will move away from the bedside and attain their advanced degree. Every industry expects you to have a five year plan, and it does not involve becoming an expert at your current level, you're supposed to want to "move up". It's very sad to me that people aren't encouraged to just be proud of the work they do, and to work hard at that job. I think it's across all ages and demographics, but I don't think it's going to change any time soon. 

[Newishnurse1995]

I’ve seen the opposite at certain times. Older nurses complaining about an assignment that I had to deal with for 12+ hours with limited staff. Or older nurses refusing to be charge and forcing newer nurses with less than a year experience to take over. I also had the pleasure of working with older nurses who I absolutely adored. I realized I shouldn’t make judgements about an entire generation based on my experiences. 

I will say younger nurses do not tolerate bullying or BS anymore and are more likely to quit or speak up against unsafe practices. We like “self care,” and will not work tirelessly for a job that can easily replace us.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

7 hours ago, Davey Do said:

Never mind.

OK

[TriciaJ, RN]

11 hours ago, JBMmom said:

I'm a second career nurse, and I don't think that this is unique to nursing or healthcare. As with many vocations across the country, and really people, there's an attitude that certain aspects of jobs are "beneath people". But if you think about it, it's what people hear all the time. Fewer people are going into the trade fields because that's not considered important enough work. We're not encouraging our young people to become plumbers, carpenters, electricians, those jobs require hard work and manual labor. Our schools tell us everyone should want more education in order to gain more respect. Our nurses are told before they even have their first degree complete that they should start planning when they will move away from the bedside and attain their advanced degree. Every industry expects you to have a five year plan, and it does not involve becoming an expert at your current level, you're supposed to want to "move up". It's very sad to me that people aren't encouraged to just be proud of the work they do, and to work hard at that job. I think it's across all ages and demographics, but I don't think it's going to change any time soon. 

Exactly this.  Whatever happened to an honest day's work at something that is genuinely needed?  We all need plumbers and painters and nurses who actually nurse.  We don't have that much need for sociologists or clinical directors of paper shuffling.

[Davey Do]

19 hours ago, speedynurse said:

So I actually have seen this in all ages. 

Agreed.

It seems that people, and  especially patients, are more entitled than they were 40 years ago.

My first nursing position was in a Mom & Pop LTC facility and my last was in geriatric psych. Even the elderly nowadays seem to be brats where once they seemed to be more stoic.

The reason? Dealing with adversity.

My parents were born during the Great Depression and had to deal with, among other stressors, WWII and the Korean War.

Joseph Campbell believed a situation of deprivation can lead to a higher consciousness.

From my perspective, my generation is the beginning of the Brat Generation. I missed being drafted at the time of the Vietnam War by mere months, for which I am grateful. For I didn't have to deal with the tremendous stressors that it brought to so many.

Had it not been for the major life crises in which I have had to deal, I'd be a bigger brat than I now am.

 

[NurseBlaq]

22 hours ago, Davey Do said:

Never mind.

Davey just sit with me and eat the popcorn. ?

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

I am 37 but have only been a nurse for 2 years. There is one aspect that I really respect among the younger group— they will stand up for themselves and they are VERY aware that the organization we work for does not have our backs. Like, my default setting is: “Well I should just accept whatever assignment is given me and keep my head down and be a good little worker.”  Many of the younger employees are aware that: the organization doesn’t have our backs. They will throw us under the bus at the first opportunity!  We’ve seen it happen. So, therefore, the young nurses will go in and insist on the hours they want, insist on hazard pay, insist on time off, etc. They are not worried about rocking the boat because they see the relationship between us and the administration as adversarial. It’s unfortunate, and it probably shouldn’t be adversarial, but I think it’s a pretty reality-based perspective. 
 

So then, when “they” get their way, it’s easy for me to fall into a response of “Well why did she get XYZ and I didn’t?!”  She went in and insisted on it, and I didn’t, that’s why. 

[SmilingBluEyes]

On 12/25/2020 at 3:04 AM, EDNURSE20 said:

In my experience the worst new grads to work with are middle aged or older. They always seem entitled and unwilling to listen to younger nurses, even though they have years of experience. Whereas younger nurses have only ever worked in healthcare and are more receptive to what experience nurses say and are far more adaptable.

As an "older" and well-"seasoned" nurse, I feel you bring up an excellent point. I have witnessed older staff being very unwilling to listen to those who are younger. I have always had the attitude I can learn something new from EVERYone. I don't care if they are custodial staff or the CEO. I keep the notion that anyone can teach me anything no matter their age. It has served me well these 25 years I have been in nursing.

[NurseNelly24, BSN]

There are too many dynamics with the modern “new grad nurse” to paint such a generalization.

There are the traditional, straight from HS to college, 22 year old new graduate nurses with no experience in a health career outside of their program. Then there are the second career/nontraditional degree new grads anywhere between 25-50 years old who have experience working ina professional environment but are just new to nursing. Then you have the nurses who entered the field in nontraditional role (e.g. home care, Utilization management, clinic nursing) who are adjusting to working in a hospital setting.

Basically, it’s many variances to presume that nurses w/ 20+ years and over 30 do not contribute to a toxic work environment. I’ve worked with older nurses whom, yes have a wealth of knowledge & experience, but are also the ones to nitpick at you during report, have difficult w/ time management and often make gross errors or essential tasks unfinished. Not to mention some who complain about unit specific changes that don’t work in their favor (I.e. the charge nurse who refuses to have more than 2 patients while the rest of the unit is slammed, or the one who refuses to work weekends despite weekend requirements).

Granted the new generation of nurses are often super optimistic and naive to the reality of nursing (blame nursing programs, the idealized image of travel nursing and social media) but one thing I always notice is that they are VERY eager to learn and are self aware of their limitations. They take self care extremely seriously, they understand the biases and corruption of corporate health systems, and they aren’t afraid to say what we often have complained about behind closed doors.

While I do think there needs to be more guidance from older nurses’ end—-b/c come these are our future managers, educators, NPs, and administrators—I think we need to find a little more grace in our approach. Nursing wasn’t the same 50, 25, 15, 10 or even 5 years ago, it’s constantly evolving. So I think we have a responsibility as seasoned nurses to guide them in a way that’s effective and most importantly safe/competent for our patients. 

[sevensonnets]

TriciaJ, we have 5 DPS, CCN's (we call them coffee cup nurses).  Everybody has a little office with a name and title on the door but you never actually see them in their office. They're conveniently located near the elevator for easy access to the cafeteria. Only paper I've ever seen them shuffle is a napkin they bring back with their next cup of coffee or lunch. These are the nurses who plan the silly contests none of the floor nurses have time to enter so the CCN's win all the prizes.

[NurseNelly24, BSN]

10 hours ago, CommunityRNBSN said:

I am 37 but have only been a nurse for 2 years. There is one aspect that I really respect among the younger group— they will stand up for themselves and they are VERY aware that the organization we work for does not have our backs. Like, my default setting is: “Well I should just accept whatever assignment is given me and keep my head down and be a good little worker.”  Many of the younger employees are aware that: the organization doesn’t have our backs. They will throw us under the bus at the first opportunity!  We’ve seen it happen. So, therefore, the young nurses will go in and insist on the hours they want, insist on hazard pay, insist on time off, etc. They are not worried about rocking the boat because they see the relationship between us and the administration as adversarial. It’s unfortunate, and it probably shouldn’t be adversarial, but I think it’s a pretty reality-based perspective. 
 

So then, when “they” get their way, it’s easy for me to fall into a response of “Well why did she get XYZ and I didn’t?!”  She went in and insisted on it, and I didn’t, that’s why. 

I fully agree!