General practice nurses: Generational differences in satisfaction, intention to stay and pursuit of further education

General practice nurses (GPNs) work with a varied scope of practice alongside general medical practitioners. The aim of this study is to identify generational differences among GPNs in work satisfaction, intention to stay and the pursuit of further education.

Data from 1427 GPNs were obtained from the 2023 cross-sectional Australian Primary Health Care Nurses' Association Workforce Survey. Data were stratified by three generational age groups: Veterans/ Baby Boomers, Generation (Gen) X and Gen Y/Z.

Nurses from all three age groups reported overall satisfaction with their current positions. Gen X and Gen Y/Z were more highly educated and more likely to seek further education and to remain in general practice over the next 5 years when compared with Veterans/Baby Boomers.

In light of recent federal directives for primary care, these results provide information for policy directions that may encourage younger nurses to stay in general practice and increase interdisciplinary care.