How to Approach a Generational Gap with your Fellow Nurses A nurse is a “caregiver” who is qualified according to the norms of statutory regulations of all the different countries. Nursing represents a diversified stream of healthcare sciences that coordinate with physicians, therapists and other professionals of public health. Although it is good to have more nurses in every hospital to serve ailments, this has marked the issue of the generational gap amongst nurses. Generational Gap is a conspicuous frame of disagreement between people of different ages, and increases when amongst employees in same field of work. Mainly, the four generations have been observed all over the world – Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y. The Generation X and Y are nurses that are highly independent and globally aware, comprised of entrepreneurship traits. Older nurses who are characterised by their experiences, are shifted to mentor positions for new nurses. Younger nurses are versed in advanced learning and technology, and they either work as junior fellows or general helpers to physicians. This has caused a setback for young nurses to get the appropriate opportunity for growth in their careers. The beginners continue to work under senior nurses with the expectation of gaining experience and earning money, but this generates the difference in their attitudes, beliefs and working habits. The goal of the young nurses is primarily to grow in their field of work, but fails to proceed further due to the already reserved higher positions. The new generation of nurse practitioners are millennial and techsavvy. It is very important for the workforce of multigenerational nurses to serve their purpose with intact satisfaction. Older nurses continue their work through system administrations that shift them to higher authorities like managers, nursing leaders, and directors. The glory of their positions makes them to continue their work, despite their age and infirmity. The struggling nurses get fitful due to the thwarting of the old ones who tends to make them work as per their state of knowledge. However, the old medical attendant faces disparaging comments and often gets disrespected. This widens the gap amongst nurses working in the same place. What creates a Generational Gap? Research has been focusing on and around organizational attributes in the work atmosphere. The work environment is adversely affected due the competition of skills amongst different age groups of nurses. “Experience rich pro-nurses versus combination of advanced learning and its implementation by the young and focused
nurses.� The nurses who pass their retirement age continue to work due to high earnings, and do not take the risk to leave their jobs. On the contrary, the modern nurses expect the opportunities to attain a position, according to their dexterity and dedication towards their work, but fail to practice them. This extends the breach amongst fellow nurses.
How can we approach it? Resolve conflicts amongst nurses by increasing communication, focusing on widespread technologies and their utilization in healthcare services. Leadership strategies should be improved for lead nurses, so that the upcoming nurses learn and work from the experienced ones, with a positive frame of mind. The coaching of modern nurses should be taken with care, to respect older nurses who also acquired their positions through struggle and hard work. A bright outlook in their work as well as their lives, should be encouraged.
Where is it heading? The objective is same for both categories of healthcare practitioners, which is to serve, care for, and create solutions to acute or chronic illness in patients. The only thing that separates them is their work method. Eventually, the amalgamation of experience and advanced skills can allow for perplexing achievements in the field of healthcare sciences.
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