Focus group discussions with four generations of staff nurses identified five themes that participants believed must be addressed in order to make the current work environment a desirable place to conduct their careers as nurses. These themes are: transitioning from student to nurse, managing difficult staffing conditions, maintaining morale, dealing with safety matters, and building relationships that enhance teamwork. Manager challenges are discussed in relation to each theme and suggested leadership strategies are offered.

(a) Create model managers; (b) empower staff nurse councils; (c) stabilize staffing; (d) revamp incentives; and (e) focus on safety.

Congruence of expectations facilitates mentoring relationships, so finding no difference between the older and younger groups bodes well for the mentoring of young nurse leaders. The key implication is the challenge to recruit and retain such leaders in the nursing profession in a systematic, logical, and generation-friendly way.