Nurses: Educated Professionals or Puppets?

I'm hoping that this thread doesn't offend anyone. I'm starting this to gain a perspective on how nurses are perceived and valued.
I've worked in LTC for nearly 13 years. Back in 2002 I became a trainer to in turn train my fellow co-workers on how to safely manage disruptive behaviours. I was one of about 13 trainers. I then took one additional course and became the primary trainer. The Director of Nursing at the time saw that I was exploring many other courses and she was an excellent coach and a cheerleader because she saw that these courses that I was going to be taking was definitely going to benefit both the staff and the 450 residents. I was motivated not only by her but the belief that If going to be a trainer of a particular subject, I better know what the hell I'm talking about.
While taking a series of full length courses in Forensic Studies we ended up having a significant change in management. In 2004 I finally graduated with my full certificate in Forensic Studies along with several other courses and was qualified to use the title Forensic Nurse. After faxing my certificates and transcripts, in 2005 I was granted the status to be a Regular Member with the International Association of Forensic Nurses based on experience and qualifications (Regular Membership is usually exclusive to R.N.'s and I'm a Registered Practical Nurse). Non R.N.'s are usually only Associate Members.
During a trainers meeting we were going over various training materials and I was offering my perspective on different things and the Administrator was getting somewhat frustrated. So I showed her my Forensic Studies Certificate. She read it right there in the meeting and looked up at me and said, "This will help you somewhere someday". I was never asked to do any kind of training ever again. They have a primary trainer for the disruptive training right now who has very little in the area of specialized training to do so.
The same employer also has staff who in turn train other staff on the use of patient lifts and transfers, who have no specialized training themselves and they are training staff to use slings with lifts that are not of the same manufacturer and going against the user manuals of the different lifts. This is because the employer is not willing to purchase the proper equipment.
I was speaking with an R.N. a while ago who was turned down for a vacant management job in spite of her qualifications and the employer hired a brand new grad for the management job instead. After sharing each others stories she hit the proverbial nail on the head by stating, "They (the employer) don't want educated staff, they want puppets who they can manipulate and control."
Factoring all the costs that it took me to take those Forensic Studies courses, it was between 6 and 8 thousand dollars. Needless to say I haven't exactly jumped on the band wagon to advance my self any further with regards to taking any other courses. It's pretty bad when an International Organization recognizes ones experience and qualificatiosn and their own employer couldn't care less. Speaking with a few of my other co-workers and colleagues in other facilities they have also had similar experiences where they have taken advanced assessment, woundcare, palliative care and other courses. They were never allowed to implement anything that they were taught. Yet they spent hundreds, if not thosands of dollars of their own money and time away from their families, for what?
Does anyone believe that Nurses are regarded as educated professionals or as mere puppets? Or, has anyone else experienced something similar?