Dr. Cynthia Bacon spent 25 years in various leadership and clinical roles in acute care hospitals prior to her career in academia. Now, she’s an Associate Professor in the UNC Greensboro School of Nursing and director of the master of science in nursing program. Her unique perspective drives her passion for creating healthy work environments for nurses, which help facilitate positive nurse and patient outcomes.
Most recently, Bacon’s research has focused on the challenges between the intergenerational workforce in nursing and, specifically, how to overcome some of the barriers to effective communication between nurse leaders and Generation Z nurses. UNCG News spoke with Bacon about her research and what she’d like to accomplish.
What motivated you to study the challenges of the intergenerational workforce in nursing?
I conduct nursing administration research. My research centers on the nurses’ work environment and the three pillars of professional nursing practice: autonomy, participation in decision making, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
My own experience working as a nurse and nurse leader certainly influenced my passion for this space. But COVID brought into sharp relief the challenges of the workforce for our newest generation of nurses, Gen Z (born between 1995-2012, currently aged 20-28). New nurses are speaking up about work-life balance and what they aren’t willing to do, something prior generations, who make up the majority of current nurse leaders, never did.
By 2027, Gen Z will make up one third of the global workforce. With the challenging times that continue post-pandemic and the different communication styles between generations, we need to ensure we’re handling resources well and creating an environment for our nurses to thrive.
What are some of the benefits of an intergenerational workspace?
Diversity among the nursing workforce is a good thing in terms of cultivating different perspectives. Different groups bring different strengths and skills and spur healthy debate and exchange of ideas. They also spur healthy conflict which promotes diversity of ideas.
Can you share some details about your current research?
Ultimately, I want to understand what communication looks like between nurse leaders and Gen Z nurses and to identify their communication facilitators, barriers, and needs. My goal is to build preliminary data for future intervention to improve nurse manager-Gen Z nurse communication.
I use interviews to conduct research and plan to conduct in-depth one-on-one discussions with nurse leaders and staff nurses, ideally 20 subjects in each category. I hope to conclude the interviews and data analysis within six months and then publish a series of papers.
How do you envision your research having an impact?
There isn’t anything like this in the current research literature, so this work is expected to lay the groundwork for future studies, particularly interventional work to improve communication between nurses and their nurse leaders. I hope my work will inform leadership science and build a knowledge base for nurses and nurse leaders.
How will the results of the study impact UNCG students and/or the nursing curriculum?
As this is the preliminary stage, the first impact will be on nurses currently in the workforce. However, I work with students who aspire to be nurse leaders. The information we learn and the interventions that follow will impact our current nursing students once they enter the workforce.
At the same time, the communication barriers between nurses and nurse leaders mirror those of nursing students and faculty. Our students are looking to their professors for assistance on both a personal and academic level, with emotional support and help with transitioning into the workforce. The results of my research should positively impact the student-professor dynamic and improve working relationships.
Story by AMB Copy
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
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