Millennial nurses make up one-third of the nursing workforce, according to a recent article on advisoryboard.com. They are natural multitaskers with technology literally in their hands all day. They bring a level of optimism, respect and collaboration that will help prepare them (and us!) for the future.

There is also a high rate of turnover. To change this behavior, we have steps in place to reorient these nurses and change the direction of their path from resignation to reignition.

The work environment is one of the most important factors affecting nurse turnover. There is no statistical difference between millennial nurses and more experienced nurses on this topic. While no job is perfect, the first priority is to ensure a positive work culture and happy nurses. Creating a positive work environment can be accomplished by:

• Learning and using On-Shift to allow self-scheduling
• Repeating that we DO NOT require overtime
• Maintain appropriate staffing
• Ensure safe patient ratios
• ZERO tolerance for bullying
• Role models – positive attitudes get rewarded
• Stop. Listen. Make sure concerns and ideas are validated

Each facility implements a buddy or mentor system, both methods appeal to millennial nurses, who have a strong desire to expand their skills. By pairing younger nurses with more seasoned nurses, both parties’ benefit. Experienced nurses become excellent teachers, more willing to educate, and millennial nurses will feel safer, ask more questions, and will be less overwhelmed at work.

If you’re looking for a safe, positive workplace, visit us at mycorrhealth.com/join-our-team.