University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
The Relational Generation
Expectations of Millennial Student Nurses
Preparing to Transition into Practice
Diane R. Andrews, PhD, RN
Assistant Professor
UCF College of Nursing
The 2012 National State of the Science Congress
on Nursing Research
September 14, 2012
Washington, DC
This study was supported through
intramural funding provided by
UCF College of Nursing
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Why Study New Grads?

Shortages and Retention

New Generation/New Values

Turnover

Expectations Unknown
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Purpose: Identify Expectations
What do new graduate nurses expect as
they transition into the workforce and what
might be the impact?
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Method
Qualitative descriptive design
BSN students
Semi-structured, open-ended questions
Interviews, recorded, transcribed
Data analyzed and coded
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Findings

Expect transition will be stressful

Expect a safety-net of support

Expect respect and
acknowledgement
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Stressful



Self-doubt regarding knowledge and
competency
Worried about independent
decision-making
Worried about “Being Judged”
•
•
Patients and Families
Physicians
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
“I’m so used to having a preceptor or
having an instructor there that the thought
of me doing it on my own kind of scares me
a bit.”
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Safety-net
Expect safety-net of support …

Orientation and preceptor support
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
“I expect to be in the role of graduate
nurse. And I expect to have a preceptor.
And I expect not to be put in positions that I
am not supposed to be put into.”
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Safety-net
Expect safety-net of support …


Orientation and preceptor support
Colleague support
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
“I would just hope they would view me as a
peer from the beginning.”
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Safety-net
Expect safety-net of support …




Orientation and preceptor support
Colleague support
Supervisor support
Family support
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Respect & Acknowledgement

Collegiality

Teamwork
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
“I would hope they would view me as a
peer from the beginning. I mean even
though I’m just beginning it’s “I’m doing the
same work you know. Just learning as I
go.” So I’d hope to be viewed maybe as a
peer, or like a younger peer, from the
beginning.”
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Expectation vs. Reality
Anticipatory stress related to confidence
and competence …


Anticipatory stress well documented
Residency programs lead to improved skill
with delegation, prioritization, managing
patient care delivery, autonomous decisionmaking, collaboration, conflict resolution and
constructive use of feedback.
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Expectation vs. Reality
Supportive relationships ….



Multiple reports of incivility in the workplace
Age/generational differences precipitate.
misunderstanding and affect unit culture.
Inappropriate use of power in assessment of
new graduates is a source of conflict.
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Expectation vs. Reality
Collaborative teamwork …


The expectations of Millennials for
collaboration and teamwork is inconsistent
with the work values of previous
generations.
Nurse/Physician collaboration remains a
challenge.
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Implications

There is evidence that residency and preceptor
programs address the known stressors.
associated with competence and confidence.

Participation in such programs has been
demonstrated to improve short-term retention.

Programmatic intervention.
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Implications




The expectations of transitioning nurses
related to supportive relationships and
collaborative teamwork are associated with unit
culture.
Unit culture is associated with job satisfaction
and stated intent to leave.
Organizational interventions to meet the
expectations of new graduates need to be
addressed.
Healthy work environment critical.
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
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University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
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University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
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University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
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University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
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University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
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University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
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University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
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University of Central Florida
College of Nursing
Thank-you
Questions ….
University of Central Florida
College of Nursing