Vicki Cope

Generational diversity: what nurse managers need to know

Aim This article presents a discussion of generational differences and their impact on the nursing workforce and how this impact affects the work environment. Background The global nursing workforce represents four generations of nurses. This generational diversity frames attitudes, beliefs, work habits and expectations associated with the role of the nurse in the provision of care and in the way the nurse manages their day-to-day activities. Data sources An electronic search of MEDLINE, PubMed and Cinahl databases was performed using the words generational diversity, nurse managers and workforce. The search was limited to 2000–2012. Discussion Generational differences present challenges to contemporary nurse managers working in a healthcare environment which is complex and dynamic, in terms of managing nurses who think and behave in a different way because of disparate core personal and generational values, namely, the three Cs of communication, commitment and compensation. Implications for nursing An acceptance of generational diversity in the workplace allows a richer scope for practice as the experiences and knowledge of each generation in the nursing environment creates an environment of acceptance and harmony facilitating retention of nurses. Conclusion Acknowledgement of generational characteristics provides the nurse manager with strategies which focus on mentoring and motivation; communication, the increased use of technology and the ethics of nursing, to bridge the gap between generations of nurses and to increase nursing workforce cohesion.AIM This article presents a discussion of generational differences and their impact on the nursing workforce and how this impact affects the work environment. BACKGROUND The global nursing workforce represents four generations of nurses. This generational diversity frames attitudes, beliefs, work habits and expectations associated with the role of the nurse in the provision of care and in the way the nurse manages their day-to-day activities. DATA SOURCES An electronic search of MEDLINE, PubMed and Cinahl databases was performed using the words generational diversity, nurse managers and workforce. The search was limited to 2000-2012. DISCUSSION Generational differences present challenges to contemporary nurse managers working in a healthcare environment which is complex and dynamic, in terms of managing nurses who think and behave in a different way because of disparate core personal and generational values, namely, the three Cs of communication, commitment and compensation. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING An acceptance of generational diversity in the workplace allows a richer scope for practice as the experiences and knowledge of each generation in the nursing environment creates an environment of acceptance and harmony facilitating retention of nurses. CONCLUSION Acknowledgement of generational characteristics provides the nurse manager with strategies which focus on mentoring and motivation; communication, the increased use of technology and the ethics of nursing, to bridge the gap between generations of nurses and to increase nursing workforce cohesion.

Research is not a ‘scary’ word: Registered nurses and the barriers to research utilisation:

The aim of this study was to find out whether registered nurses read research articles, understand them and translate the research to practice. There is a problem with research knowledge translation in the clinical setting. Despite exposure to research, registered nurses often distance themselves from reading nursing research. A point-prevalence survey was conducted on a sample of registered nurses in a peripheral hospital in Western Australia. The survey was distributed to all wards of the hospital (n = 7). One-hundred and five (n = 105) registered nurses were eligible to participate. Ninety-five (n = 95) completed and the survey. The survey consisted of 11 general questions and an open-ended question. The majority of registered nurses in clinical practice found research articles difficult to understand because of research jargon. Most indicated that they sometimes or never understood what they are reading. Almost all nurses revealed that if research articles were in a ‘simpler’ language they would read them more and apply what they had learned. Promoting a common, user-friendly language in a research abstract or summary which is targeted to the registered nurse audience may assist in finding a common knowledge exchange between researchers and nurses and so help bridge the gap between research and practice.

Toward an Understanding of Caring in the Context of Telenursing

The aim of this study was to explore the dimensions of caring in the telenursing environment. A literature search was performed to identify the body of research related to telenursing and caring using the CINHAL, MEDLINE, and PsychINFO databases. Results indicated that caring is essential to the nurse-patient/relationship. The telenursing setting adds a dimension to care due to the non-visibility of those in the telenursing relationship context. An understanding of caring in the telephone triage environment has synthesized traditionally learned and modelled caring practices into this nursing specialty.

Use of professional portfolios in nursing

Nurses are increasingly using professional portfolios as a way to maintain evidence of their learning and reflection, and to demonstrate that they have met their professional requirements. A portfolio can assist nurses to store and manage their revalidation or reregistration documents in one place, so that these can be easily updated and produced when required, for example in performance reviews and job applications. All nurses are required to undertake continuing professional development activities to maintain, update and improve their knowledge and practice, and they can use their portfolio to document these activities. Creating and maintaining a portfolio can also enable nurses to identify their strengths and learning needs, and to develop a learning plan to address these needs.

The Specialist Breast Care Nurse's Role in the Identification and Minimisation of Distress in a Members' Only, Breast Cancer Focused Online Support Community

To show how a specialist breast care nurse (SBCN) can use the distress thermometer to determine an online community member’s distress level and then use the information in their posts and blogs to identify the cause(s) and deal with them appropriately. To highlight the use of a structured written emotional expression (SWEE) format online, as a way of minimising distress.

Munchausen by Internet and Nursing Practice: An Ethnonetnographic Case Study

This paper used Feldman’s clues to factitious illness behavior on the Internet (FIBI), to determine whether the online behaviour of one member of an online breast cancer support community www.breastcancerclick.com , moderated by a specialist breast cancer nurse (SBCN), could be Munchausen by Internet (MBI) and why identification of this behaviour is important for online nursing practice. This was a focused ethnonetnographic and qualitative research study whereby the online behaviour of one member was observed and compared with Feldman’s clues to factitious behaviour on the Internet. The online data showed that nine out of ten of Feldman’s clues were applicable to the member’s behavior in the Click online community. The relevance of these findings are discussed in relation to the effects this behaviour can have on other community members, the attendant legal ramifications and the necessity for nurses and other health professionals, who are employed or who participate in online support communities, to be aware of this behaviour and how to recognize it.

Factors influencing medical decision- Making for seriously ill patients in the Acute Care Hospital

Aim: To acquire a fuller understanding of the influences on decision-making in an acute care hospital for seriously ill patients. Background: Fromthe moment of a diagnosis of serious, potentially life-limiting illness, patients and their families are faced withmultiple, complex and significant decisions that will influence the entire illness trajectory, including their end-of-life care (EOLC). Compounding personal factors is the complexity of dying today with acute ward areas in tertiary hospitals use of technological interventions to prolong life, at all costs being the norm. If hospice care is initiated, in these areas, it is often at too late a stage to relieve distressing symptoms and to offer the person the best possible path of care for a dignified death. Design and methods: A retrospective cohort research design was used for this study. Results: Thirty nine (39) medical records that met the inclusion criteria were audited. While medical records are limited in terms of the quality of the information contained in them in terms of social, behavioural and other qualitative information, the audit obtained detailed clinical information on patient characteristics, clinical care, and family and clinician involvement in the care of these patients. Communication between health professionals and patient and or family were limited. Poor documentation in the medical record did not support shared decision-making with decisions to amend the care pathway to palliative not undertaken in most instances despite no improvement in response to care or deterioration in the patient’s condition. Conclusion: Communication between health care professions, patients and their family’s needs to be addressed. The management of patients who are seriously ill in acute ward areas should be altered to reflect the patient’s condition. Nurses, using a person-centred approach, have a role in advocating for the patient and the family in times of stress. Discussions concerning end-oflife of seriously ill patients need to be open, transparent and communicated as these discussions are critical to ensuring the patient’s wishes are realised.

Residential aged care nurses: portraits of resilience.

Aim: To explore residential aged care nurses working in interim, rehabilitation and residential aged care perceptions of resilience. Design: Qualitative Portraiture methodology. Inclusion criteria were that all participants were English speaking, registered with the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Authority and had more than five years’ experience working in an aged care environment. Three participants were interviewed and employed within a metropolitan interim, rehabilitation and aged care setting. Results: Eight themes were identified: valuing social support; leadership, managing ‘self’; ‘paying it forward’; passion for the profession; focusing on the positive and the taking on of challenge. Conclusions: This paper focuses on the impact of aged care nursing work on nurses and in particular how the nurses remain resilient in their work environment. Resilience can be developed through education and can sustain professional longevity. Workload stress can be alleviated through the provision of resilience training.

Developing the Synergy between University and Industry-based Nursing Courses: Lessons in Engagement

On the surface the process of engagement seems functional, however, if the engagement process does not take into account people dynamics and the effects of the wider social, organisational and cultural context, multiple tensions may occur. This paper shares the story of the tensions related to culture, relationships, communication and the impact of change in bringing a University-Community project to its completion. The scholarship of engagement revealed the nature of this complex process and uncovered the need for a richer understanding of the people involved and their mindset.

The Specialist Breast Care Nurse Within an Online Support Community: Adding the 16th Moment of Cancer Care

The presence and active participation of a specialist breast care nurse, as both a member and employed health professional in an online support community, can have positive effects on the knowledge, understanding, and supportive care of online community members who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and their supporters. The nurse in this instance is a SBCN; however, other specialist nurses could undertake a similar role within other disease-specific support websites.