Socializing Millennials in a Baby Boomer World: The Influence of NPD Practitioners

Abstract

Whether we “blame” the Millennials for being insecure and job hopping; or the Boomers for being technology resistant, frozen to the old ways and parents of the coddled Millennials; or the complacent Xers smashed in the middle, the truth is “It is what it is!” No amount of fault finding will help our crippled work places rise to the challenge of the Quadruple Aim: 1) Improved Outcomes; 2) Lower costs; 3) Better Patient Experience; and 4) Improved Healthcare Worker Experience. As NPD Practitioners, authority to make significant change is often not part of our job descriptions; however the span of our influence on the practice environment is nearly endless. We coach the preceptors to be role models in civility and providing feedback. We encourage the new graduate to reflect on clinical experiences and interpersonal relationships as they ride the rollercoaster of emotions for the first time. We buffer the new employee from the barrage of communications by filtering and explaining to ease their transition. We create a structure that dispels ambiguity of expectations for the new nurse. This session will describe socializing strategies that the NPD Practitioner can thread throughout centralized orientation, unit-based preceptor orientation and transition to practice residency programs. Some of these strategies include: 1) receiving and giving feedback; 2) reflective practice exercises; 3) how to be assertive AND civil; 4) resilience with morally distressful situations; 5) interpersonal relationship skill development; and 6) collaboration and “making a difference” through EBP project work. Conscientious NPD Practitioners can influence the culture that socializes the next generation of nurses.