Communication crossroads: Exploring generational dynamics in nursing from the bedside to the boardroom

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Communication
• Nursing Practice
• Sociology in Medicine

Background:

• Nurses have frequent patient contact, making them crucial for healthcare communication.
• Effective communication impacts patient outcomes, teamwork, and staff engagement.
• Modern healthcare involves diverse generational interactions (workforce and patients).

Purpose of the Study:

• Examine how generational differences influence nurse communication.
• Analyze communication in peer-to-peer, nurse-to-patient, and nurse-to-leader contexts.
• Provide insights to enhance collaboration and care quality.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of communication dynamics.
• Review of generational communication theories.
• Exploration of relational domains in healthcare settings.

Main Results:

• Generational values and preferences significantly shape communication styles.
• Distinct communication challenges and opportunities exist across different relational domains.
• Tailored communication strategies can bridge generational gaps.

Conclusions:

• Acknowledging and adapting to generational communication differences is essential for nurses.
• Strengthening intergenerational communication can improve healthcare team dynamics and patient care.
• Further research into specific intergenerational communication interventions is warranted.