Generational Differences in the Nursing Workforce

Abstract

The nursing workforce consists of individuals from multiple generational cohorts and includes a dynamic mix of nurses who reflect the cultural and historical events that shaped their generation. As the Baby Boomer generation retires and younger generational cohorts fill their positions, Generation X and Millennials are a growing majority in the workforce, and the number of Generation Z nurses is steadily increasing. To recruit, retain, and lead teams with multigenerational members, nurse leaders need to understand the differences in attitudes toward work life and professional identity among generations and how to leverage their strengths to develop high performing teams.