Objective: It is thought that bringing the generation gap in nursing to the spotlight will contribute positively to professional practices by providing a bridge between the past and the present. When the national and international literature is examined, it is seen that the studies on this subject are limited. The aim of this study is to reveal the results of how the generation gap in nursing affects nursing care, social perception of the profession, and professional values.

Material and Method: This study was conducted as a qualitative research. A semi-structured interview form was used as a data collection tool. The participants consisted of 10 nurses who agreed to participate in this interview. Each interview was individual, face-to-face and in- depth. The data were recorded with a voice recorder. The collected data were analyzed by content analysis method.

The maximum diversity method was used to select the sample of nurses in the study group.

Results: The research findings consist of 4 main themes and 15 sub-themes. The main themes in the study consist of “factors in choosing a profession”, “reflection of the generation gap on professional practices”, “professionalization and specialization”, “professional autonomy”. It was determined that the factors affecting the generation gap in nursing also affect professional practice. Individual characteristics such as the reason for choosing the profession or the presence of organizational factors such as professional conditions that improve over time, the need for professionalization and branching, and professional autonomy affect the generation gap.

Conclusion: The generation gap was found to be influenced by the change in values over time. Health authorities can create a supportive environment for nurses in which they can get professional satisfaction in every period, highlight professional values and encourage nurses to professionalize

Nursing Generational difference Professional values Qualitative research