Generational attitudes of rural mental health nurses.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how attitudes of rural mental health nurses differ across generations.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
Mental health services in rural New South Wales.


METHODS
Practising mental health nurses.


METHODS
Survey responses.


RESULTS
Survey response rate 44%. A total of 89 mental health nurses, clustered in inpatient units and community health centres, responded. Of these nurses, 4 were veterans, 52 baby boomers, 17 Generation X and 5 Generation Y.


CONCLUSIONS
There are significant differences in how mental health nurses from different generations view their work, and in what is expected from managers. Managers need to modify traditional working styles, allowing greater flexibility of employment. They must also accept lower staff retention rates, and facilitate the development of younger staff.
Crowther
Andrew
A
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Sturt University, New South Wales, Australia. acrowther@csu.edu.au
Kemp
Michael
M