The percpetions of the supervision that generation-Y nurses experience working in either an emergency or intensive care unit of an academic hospital in Johannesburg

Abstract

According to the Generational Theory, each generation has different values, beliefs and attitudes, ultimately leading to challenges in the work place and contributes significantly to multigenerational workplace cohesion or discord. Born between 1982 and 2003, Generation-Y is the latest group of adults to enter the work place and are said to be tech-savvy, team players and constantly seeking new opportunities. This generation of workers might be a good fit for the nursing profession, because they are team players who want to make a difference in the world. The on-going nursing shortage is a concern for nurse leaders and methods to recruit nurses and retain newly qualified registered nurses need to be explored. Mentoring and supportive supervision are complementary activities which can enhance the clinical environment through on-going support of the newly qualified (Generation-Y) registered nurses. The benefits of supervision include increased confidence, a decrease in stress at work, increased job satisfaction and staff retention. The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of Generation-Y registered nurses working in either an Emergency Departments or Intensive Care Units, in a purposively selected academic hospital, about the supervision they experience in these clinical environments by older generation nurses, known as Generation-X, Baby Boomers and Veteran nurses. The research design used for data collection is qualitative. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Generation-Y nurses and data was recorded and transcribed. Two themes and six sub themes were formulated. Generation-Y registered nurses perceptions were that they were not being adequately supervised, but understood that the environment, high patient acuity and resistance from the older generations made supervision challenging.