Generationally Speaking
Dr. Danielsen’s descriptions of each generation (Generations: moving through time. Clinician Reviews. 2011;21[1]: cover, 24-26) were right on track. Technically, I am considered a Baby Boomer but feel more like a GenXer—most likely because I was born late in 1961, only a few years before the first GenXers. Whenever I read about the qualities and feelings of the Baby Boomers, I don’t really relate. Maybe I am on the Boomer-GenXer cusp?
I was not even two years old when JFK was shot and was in kindergarten during the Summer of Love. In good GenX form, I have embraced new technology, especially the electronic medical record and e-mail as a means of patient contact—although some older Boomers absolutely hate this. Office processes are slowed and the risk of errors is increased by those who leave sticky notes rather than use the computer to communicate important messages. Not so good for the patient.
In my experience, though, the young adults in Generation Y are the most difficult to work with; they expect recognition for everything they do. When they show up for work on time, they feel they deserve “employee of the year.” What older workers consider part of the job, GenYers think is beneath them.
When I was a kid, you did what you did because you were told to; if not, there would be a negative consequence. Young adults today were raised with positive reinforcement for minimum effort and few negative consequences. Their childhoods were full of scheduled soccer games, little time spent outside, and ribbons and trophies for barely performing—all in an effort to increase their self-esteem. Unfortunately, it backfired. We’ve found out that a little more “do it because I said so” goes a long way in raising a child with a good work ethic.
Hopefully, part of the difference I see between the Boomers and GenYers is just youth. We all get smarter as we age, and those ahead of us probably had similar feelings about our generation. Only time will tell.
Alice Haines, FNP, MSN, Rocklin, CA
One strong characteristic of the Boomers (I am a borderline “Boomer,” born in 1944) is that we identify with our careers and the work ethic. I am having a lot of ambivalence about retiring, even at age 67. The structure that we had growing up was determined in our own imaginations of childhood and summertime. So when we hit the work force we became our careers, not realizing that we needed to balance our drive for work with recreational interests and hobbies.
We now watch our grandchildren twitter, text, and play with gadgets. They are overscheduled, full of self-esteem, and emotionally uninvested in tradition or family roots. The challenge to bridge all generational prototypes, whether in the workplace, church, or home, is to figure out how to slow down the communication explosion and regain that human connection that is felt from gathering around a family dinner table, hearing a voice on the other end of the line, or receiving a personal card or letter in the mailbox.
I am especially grateful to have seen the past six decades and to experience the changes that each one has brought. I still like holding a hard copy of the newspaper as opposed to perusing the computer screen, or a book instead of an e-reader. I also want to be involved, needed, and challenged to make a difference in the lives of others. Hopefully, that is the common thread between all generations and the generations to come.
Penelope Daniels, BSN, MS, FNP-C, Huntington, WV
Is Enough Vitamin D “Enough”?
In graduate school, I did a literature review on what the new guidelines for vitamin D supplementation should be, so I was pleased to read the article (Vitamin D: how much is enough? Clinician Reviews. 2011;21[1]: cover, 23, 35) stating that the Institute of Medicine has increased the RDAs for vitamin D and calcium. However, my concern is that 600 IU/d is not a sufficient daily dose of vitamin D.
When considering vitamin D, one must look at the current American culture. According to the CDC, approximately one-third of all Americans are obese, and this proportion is increasing; thus, at least one-third of adults in this country are not getting proper nutrition. Besides sunlight, sources of vitamin D are typically milk and other dairy products, orange juice, fish, and cod liver oil. Are the obese people in our country eating these food items? Probably not.
Also, according to the CDC, the incidence of melanoma has increased by around 3% for men (from 1986 to 2006) and women (1993 to 2006). As a result, there has been increased awareness of the importance of sunscreen use; unfortunately, sunscreen prevents the absorption of vitamin D.