"The nursing workforce in many countries today is more age diverse than ever before in history. In developed countries there are as many as four distinct generational age cohorts in active employment. This age diversity results in a tremenedous challenge for the nurse manager as it can often lead to increased friction and conflict in the workplace.Additionally, each generation has a distinct set of characteristics, values, beliefs and preferences. Understanding these diffeerences and blending them in the workplace challenges even the most experienced and capable leader. This paper identifies the characteristics of each generation and explores several implications for the effective management of nursing services." (excerpt from document)