Nursing Conspiracies - Do I Need a Tinfoil Nurse's Cap?

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I know it's human nature to want to place blame for our misfortunes, and instead of realizing the complex nature of things, we like to find the "real reason" for why things are the way they are. That brings us to conspiracy theories. I have seen that Nursing has its own collection; many of which have been presented and discussed on this forum. Like all conspiracy theories, they usually have some bit of truth to them (sometimes not!), and they can be entertaining. But, to a newcomer like myself, they can be misleading. So, what do you think of these conspiracies?

Here are a few examples:

1)

Who's out to get us: Nursing schools and hospitals

They are conspiring to get: Money from students and lower wages

They are manipulating us by: Lying about an imaginary nursing shortage

2)

Who's out to get us: Doctors

They are conspiring to get: All the respect and power

They are manipulating us by: Treating us poorly and casting us in a bad light

3)

Who's out to get us: BSN Nurses and hospitals

They are conspiring to get: All the jobs

They are manipulating us by: Taking a few extra theory classes at an expensive 4 year school

4)

Can you name some more??

I'm definitely no expert, just a guy from the outside looking in at this point. I start NS in a few months. But, my distance from the field may lend some clarity? I don't know... but, have some fun with it!

Who's out to get us: Hiring managers.

They are conspiring to get: Only the prettiest nurses hired.

They are manipulating us by: Treating those they just hired like crap! (muwahahahaha)

(This was in the spirit of tinfoil hats and in no way represents an actual nursing problem.)

:yeah: That's more like what I was talking about!

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Specializes in FNP.

I don't believe in any of the above.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I think the OP is making a good point -- one that hasn't been explored much on allnurses. (And note to newbies: I've been quite active here for a long time.)

A lot of nurses DO play the victim when things don't go their way. Instead of taking responsiblity for the mistakes they have made in life, they blame the world for not giving them a better chance of success. Instead of acknowledging that life can be challenging and not always "fair," they look for someone to blame and demonize.

Sure, sometimes there are "bad guys" out there who do bad things. And some innocent people do get hurt sometimes. But a lot of times, the people doing the most complaining didn't do their homework -- or are in the process of "paying the piper" for poor decisions made in the past -- and are trying to avoid taking responsibity for their own choices in life.

I'm sorry, OP, that you got flamed as a result of your legitimate post. I suspect you can handle it ... but I wanted to offer you a little support anyway. I think the OP has posted an idea worth taking seriously and discussing.

I guess I should put my flame retardant suit on now.

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OP, I totally get what you were trying to do with this post. I can see why some may be on edge but IMO, your original thought/message/intent was clear... Its meant to be fun!

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Specializes in LTC, wound care.

I think you forgot to mention the ghosts who lurk around the places we work...

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I get the intent of the OPs post, but I think the examples offered are not "conspiracy" theories, they are actual real things that are happening in the world. By calling them conspiracies the OP is inferring, whether intentional or not, that they are not real problems that nurses are having to deal with, when in fact they are.

So I think a better term for what the OP is trying to say would be "urban myths" about nursing, which we have already covered in AN, although it's a fun topic and is always worth revisiting.

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I'm glad many of you DO get the idea here!

It's not that actual real things that happen are portrayed as false, but that the connections we make to explain them are often... quirky or even funny. And, that's the entertaining stuff. :)

Just like MN-Nurse said: a normal looking nurse may think she or he is being treated poorly because they only want to keep supermodel nurses employed at that hospital. Not that he or she may have actual performance issues.

And yes, can't we make light of some of the more serious things? Just to stay sane? I think it's therapeutic...

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I'm glad many of you DO get the idea here!

It's not that actual real things that happen are portrayed as false, but that the connections we make to explain them are often... quirky or even funny. And, that's the entertaining stuff. :)

Just like MN-Nurse said: a normal looking nurse may think she or he is being treated poorly because they only want to keep supermodel nurses employed at that hospital. Not that he or she may have actual performance issues. ...

These types of posts are being discussed on another thread that is still ongoing. it has hundreds of posts already.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/your-one-stop-592093.html

And yes, can't we make light of some of the more serious things? Just to stay sane? I think it's therapeutic...

Durrr. You're on your own kiddo.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

On the conspiracy about nursing schools the plain truth is every school is trying to keep their classes full and tuition up. The difference between nursing and other fields like medicine, pharmacy or PA programs is the amount of colleges available. Nursing Schools keep growing and expanding to "meet the demand" which hospitals love cause it keeps a steady supply of new grads available and keeps wages down. But the other professional programs do the opposite, they have very few programs available and consequently it is a lot harder to get into those programs which helps prevent both oversupply and low wages. With these other healthcare programs you must be willing to relocate to get into the programs unlike nursing programs that are a dime a dozen!

But that said, these problems affect more than nursing students. Look around at college and university grads and you will see they are having a problem getting a good paying "college" level job, yet are stuck with student loans to pay back. You probably know college grads working as secretaries, waitstaff even CNA's because that is all they could find. Not to mention law schools have been sued by former students who were lied to about 90% employment, but the reality was only 60% jobs were actual lawyer jobs.

So there is actually a conspiracy among colleges and law schools more so than nursing programs!

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On the conspiracy about nursing schools the plain truth is every school is trying to keep their classes full and tuition up. The difference between nursing and other fields like medicine, pharmacy or PA programs is the amount of colleges available. Nursing Schools keep growing and expanding to "meet the demand" which hospitals love cause it keeps a steady supply of new grads available and keeps wages down. But the other professional programs do the opposite, they have very few programs available and consequently it is a lot harder to get into those programs which helps prevent both oversupply and low wages. With these other healthcare programs you must be willing to relocate to get into the programs unlike nursing programs that are a dime a dozen!

But that said, these problems affect more than nursing students. Look around at college and university grads and you will see they are having a problem getting a good paying "college" level job, yet are stuck with student loans to pay back. You probably know college grads working as secretaries, waitstaff even CNA's because that is all they could find. Not to mention law schools have been sued by former students who were lied to about 90% employment, but the reality was only 60% jobs were actual lawyer jobs.

So there is actually a conspiracy among colleges and law schools more so than nursing programs!

I don't beleieve for a second that there is an overall conspiracy for nursing schools to churn out nursing grads who can't find jobs. It's supply and demand. They are nit responsible for vetting out your career choice. Only YOU are! They simply offer the option. No one has to take it. The lawyers suing their law school is ridiculous as well. If all schools had to worry about ensuring a job schools would be even MORE expensive because they'd be covering their buts with insurance! The Art History or Pottery majors would put every college out of business!

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Specializes in Tele.

As for the hospitals, they are running a business and as such they must cover their costs. Nurses are expensive, and graduate nurses are probably the most expensive when you figure in the cost to educate them during their first year of employment. Graduate nurses have a learning curve of about 6 months to a year. That is a huge investment for the hospital, and a bit of a gamble. If the hospital employs the nurse for 1 year and the nurse leaves, the hospital has lost a huge investment. The training received will transfer to the new place of employment, but the hospital is out big bucks for investing and losing the employee.

I couldn't agree more! Having worked in business in career #1 & #2 (NSG #3), I am amazed hospitals and mgmt do not apply effective, employee retention strategies from other industries. Makes no sense to me why there can not be a mentoring process for new grads or employess, where senior or more experience nurses are able to cultivate the newer ones. Seem like win-win to me - job satisfaction for Sr RNs and desperately needed support/education for new RNs.

Also, if the culture and environment of the unit/business is satisfying then most people will overlook the negatives and even work for less $$, are more productive and stay longer.

Just my :twocents:.

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Hi, there. . .

With all due respect, it is very difficult to have 'some fun' with this type of discussion when the aforementioned issues are negatively affecting many nurses' lives and careers. Good luck with your schooling.

^This!

But as someone else said I'm not a student, only an RN who lives with the realities (not conspiracies) of our profession.

Also like many here I DO take responsibility for any career choice mistakes I've made...But I try to make things better through public education of the problems of our profession.--Allnurses.com has been a great help in that regard.

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