You ’ ve heard the stories about workplace generation gaps : Baby Boomers are tech-inept , Millennials are entitled , Gen Z is addicted to social media … and so on . Which is why we approached this article assuming that the current five-generation workforce is a slog , a burden , something to be overcome . But after talking to clinicians in the field , we discovered something interesting : The stereotypes might be true , but they ’ re also missing the point .

Here , we take a look at three negative myths of a multigenerational workforce , what we might learn from each other and how to make the most of your age-diverse team so your team and patients benefit .

Myth 1 : Older generations don ’ t understand newer technology — and don ’ t want to Technology proficiency can vary widely from person to person , regardless of what year they were born . Consider the fact that Baby Boomers and Generation X have already been through multiple workplace upheavals , including the massive shift to online documentation .

They may not have been born with a silver iPhone in hand , but they may be your nurses best ready to , and open to , learning new strategies .

For those true tech gurus in the Millennial and younger generations , nurse leaders can give them a confidence boost by allowing and empowering them to help out with technology when necessary .

“ Where I work , everybody is more than happy to help ,” says Jerra Sullivan , CWON , Wentworth-Douglass Hospital , Dover , New Hampshire . Sullivan appreciates how quickly a computer-savvy colleague can document information or get a message out when Sullivan ’ s own inclination might be the snail mail way .

“ It ’ s none of that attitude of ‘ You ’ re the old lady ,’” Sullivan says . “ It ’ s ‘ Yes , I ’ ll be glad to help you with that ,’ or ‘ Okay , I ’ ve forgotten how to do this again , could you please re-explain to me how to do that ?’ They ’ re very willing to help me . And I love that environment .”

But technology isn ’ t the end-all-be-all While there are many benefits of technology , it ’ s important to set some digital boundaries . “ Smartphones are wonderful , and we use them for everything ,” says Marnie Knight , RN , MSN , LNHA , Chief Clinical Officer at Twin Rivers Health and Rehab , based out of Cleveland , Tennessee . “ But it ’ s a challenge to keep cell phones off of staff ,” she

continues . “ They feel like they ’ re dying if they don ’ t have their cell phones , and it becomes a distraction at work .”

Plus , technology is not always the best answer for complex situations . For instance , whereas social media is great at rallying volunteers to a fundraising event , it ’ s not appropriate for other types of connection . “ The popularity of social media has also created challenges for our facilities ,” Knight says . “ That ’ s a touchy situation , for sure .” She recalls an instance when a well-meaning CNA reached out to a resident ’ s family member via Facebook