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Expert spotlight: Engage all generations at staff meetings

Nurse Leader Weekly, August 25, 2008

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This week, learn to get the attention of staff members from all generations during meetings with expert advice from Judith "Ski" Lower, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNRN.

Q: Do you have any advice to help me engage my multigenerational workforce in meetings?

A: All managers need to hold meetings with their staff, but the meeting topics, timing, and frequency will determine the interest of each generation. Keep the information brief, as everyone suffers from information overload. The manager should triage information so nurses only have to read information that is truly relevant to their practice. An easy way to do this is to have a small notebook titled R-R-R. This stands for:

• Read (the information is mandatory and all staff must read it)
• Respond (after reading, staff should initial it, as proof they have read it)
• Remove (information stays in the book for only two weeks, after which the manager removes it)

If you keep the information in the book brief and meaningful, no staff member, regardless of generation, will have difficulty reading 10 or fewer pieces of paper during a two-week period. This practice will preclude the need for memos stuck around the unit with "Read!" written on them in red marker. Educate all staff so they know the one place to find required reading is the R-R-R book.

Editor's note: Do you have a question for our experts? Email your queries to editor kmucci@hcpro.com and see your name in print next week! In the meantime, head over to our Web site and view a growing collection of advice from our experts.

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