An ethnographic exploration of the communication skills of Generation Z student nurses.

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to identify if Generation Z student nurses possess unique communication skills and if so, how this may influence clinical nursing practice. Background: Generation Z, born on or after the 1st of January 2000, are entering higher education and the workforce and understanding the influences that have shaped this generation may help them realise their potential whilst preparing and supporting them to develop the resilience needed for the challenges of a nursing career Method: A three Phase ethnographic methodology was used in this study. Phases 1 and 2 were used to develop themes, due to the limited available literature on Generation Z student nurses. One-to-one interviews were conducted in Phase 1 with Generation Z student nurses and in Phase 2 with Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors. The themes that emerged through Phases 1 and 2 were used to inform the development of Phase 3, which used fieldwork observations and one-to-one interviews to triangulate the observation data. Phase 3 recruited six Generation Z student nurses, who were observed in clinical placement over a three-month period. Findings: The data gathered across the three phases of the study was analysed using thematic analysis. Four overarching themes were generated from the data, ‘Interpersonal communication’, ‘The changing face of communication’, ‘Collaborative practice’, and ‘Generation stereotypes.’ The findings demonstrated the complex nature of communication in clinical nursing practice and suggest that generation theory does not effectively capture individuality. Although Generation Z may possess different communication skills they were not observed in this study. Conclusion: The recommendations for practice focus on fostering a supporting working environment where there is not a ‘culture of fear’. Nursing leadership should not focus on generational traits to lead and manage their teams but provide person centred leadership and management to foster a sense of belonging.