According to government studies, the average age of nurses is in the mid-forties. Many nurses are well into their fifties and beyond. Meanwhile, in this uncertain economic time, seasoned nurses are routinely postponing retirement. At the same time, nursing schools have a backlog of applicants, due to a significant shortage of nursing instructors.

With the “graying” of our profession, new nurses sometimes worry that our profession is too slow to adopt new technologies or embrace positive change. The more mature members of our profession undoubtedly remember the old Bob Dylan song, The Times They Are A-Changin’. I like to think they will rally to the challenge.

Perhaps, it is due to their learned skills of adaptation and flexibility. Or, perhaps it is because seasoned nurses have weathered many changes over the course of their professional lives. In any case, I know seasoned nurses who possess both the desire and agility to adapt to positive change.

On the other hand, some long-established nurses seem fixated in inflexible, counter-productive patterns. In some ways, their rigidity is understandable. We all know how taxing nursing can be. No wonder that, after developing comfortable routines that minimize their stress, some long-term nurses balk when asked to support the latest trend.

But, the reality is that times are rapidly changing. Technology is quickly evolving in many facets of our work. Nurses constantly confront new technological and educational demands. From computerized record-keeping to increasingly complex medical equipment, we must continuously adapt to new technology. We must also keep abreast of current research in order to consistently employ “evidence-based” best practices.

In my few years of nursing, I have noted another important change. The culture of our profession is rapidly expanding. Our cultural diversity is gradually advancing as we add more minorities, cultures and males to our ranks. Nursing traditions are also being challenged by the emergence of second-degree nurses, who have spent time in other professions prior to coming to nursing.

These new faces in nursing provide us with unique and diverse perspectives. They challenge the status quo. Many new nurses also offer innovative tools that can enhance our profession. I have also noticed that new nurses seem increasingly unwilling to tolerate certain behaviors. Many are quick to question some of our profession’s outdated customs. Overall, these new nurses seem more impervious to aggressive behaviors and harsh initiation tactics (both of which have led to the saying that “nurses eat their young”). Many just don’t buy into long-established intimidation tactics.

In order for our profession to adapt to these changes in an efficient and productive manner, it is important for us to focus on our primary goal. Our chief purpose is to provide safe, compassionate and effective patient care. In order to consistently attain this goal and weather the storms of change, it is imperative that we work together as a professional team.

Do you believe that our profession is changing? How do you feel about these changes? Do you feel supported and encouraged in your professional development?