With five generations of professionals working together today, helping the youngest nurses develop their clinical skills requires more creative teaching approaches that consider their view of the world.
“Every generation is a bit different – it’s about perspective,” says Michele Deck, MEd, RN, BSN, LCCE, FACCE, an educator and trainer from Metairie, LA, who presented Reaching and Teaching Millennials, Gen Z Learners during Virtual AORN Expo on Saturday.
Unlike Baby Boomers, Gen X or Gen Y workers, the youngest generations entering facilities today (born after 1980) were raised with technology and instant access to information.
Millennials and Gen Z professionals tend to be multi-taskers and kinesthetic learners – they prefer training through the latest apps and technology, coupled with hands-on involvement.
Younger nurses also want direct communication, Deck says. It may be as simple as using text to communicate things like shift changes.
She offered several concrete examples of ways managers can apply a new twist to traditional teaching, and stressed how important it is to be flexible in adopting new styles.
In covering the 7 things Millennials and Gen Z want from their managers and educators, Deck offered hand signals as a trick to remember them all:
- Appreciate & validate them (pat the back).
- Be flexible (mimic stretching a rubber band).
- Use technology and connectivity (like antennae on your head)
- Develop them (wave an old Polaroid picture)
- Involve them (fist bump)
- Lighten up (smile)
- Walk your talk (finger walk)
Don’t miss her session on-demand in Virtual AORN Expo starting Aug. 10 – Sept. 24.
