| Registered nurses (RNs) of all ages are enrolling in registered nurse-to-bachelor-of-science-in-nursing (RN-BSN) programs increasing the challenge for nurse educators to meet the support and learning needs of students from three generations; Baby Boomers, Generation Xers, and Millennials. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions RN-BSN students had about how generational differences influenced their learning in the online classroom. In this qualitative descriptive study, 16 graduates of an online RN-BSN program were interviewed to obtain their perspectives of the influence generational differences had on their learning. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed based on the narrative descriptions provided by the participants. The findings of this study revealed that generational differences contributed to increasing the participant's nursing knowledge, expanding their perspectives, helping them to develop as leaders, enhancing their communication skills, supporting their personal growth, and improving their technology skills. This study has direct implications for nursing education practice and research which are discussed. |
