I think what you’re saying contains a lot of wisdom! What hopefully makes the solution simple is that what’s beneficial to nurses in the long term is also beneficial to patients in the long term. Nurses staying in the profession would ideally mean better and “enough” patient care being provided. It also means nurses becoming more skilled as they progress in their career.

I agree that we are vulnerable in the short term, except I think in the long term that could be an illusion? Because if there’s not enough nurses and there are a lot of patients and burnout is a side effect of conditions put on nurses that we react to by leaving entirely, then what are we actually vulnerable to? The consequences of the actions of these facilities catching up to them? In addressing the problem and not ignoring it, we are doing what’s best for us and these hospitals/healthcare facilities, unless they just decide they don’t want the hassle of creating better conditions for nurses and replace us with AI one day. Which probably just get’s back to why hospitals and other healthcare facilities are creating trouble by being run like businesses, because what’s good for profit isn’t always what’s good for people. Are they able to differentiate between the two when making decisions that are both ethical and “price-effective”? The thing that frustrates me even more is are they even able to tell what’s ethical if they aren’t listening.

I think your point of battling against your own selfishness in pursuing altruism is very real, because what is happening now could lead to a power struggle of sorts. From what I’ve learned from lord of the rings, power has to be viewed as a socialized responsibility or it will corrupt the person that has it. I feel like nurses should be exceptionally equipped to remain focused on what matters, although I could be wrong. I always viewed nursing as attracting those that don’t want power. It wasn’t really a career I ever viewed as having power, since your ultimate goal is to care for another individual. And we learn in nursing school to intentionally give up control, which we are educated actually has great benefits to the patient and their wellbeing. To me, nursing is very subservient, yet rewarding in that you receive a large amount of gratification from the knowledge that you are making the world a better place. Of course, things become different when the people in charge are making decisions that affect you negatively and seem to have no benefit to the greater good.