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Tall Poppy Syndrome in Healthcare

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2m of CPD
'Tall poppy' is an Australian cultural term that refers to people who stand out for their high abilities, enviable qualities, and/or visible success. n a society that prides itself on egalitarian principles, rising above the pack is considered antisocial and countercultural.

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'Tall poppy' is an Australian cultural term that refers to people who stand out for their high abilities, enviable qualities, and/or visible success. But standing out, in this case, isn’t viewed positively. In a society that prides itself on egalitarian principles, rising above the pack is considered antisocial and countercultural. Tall poppies generate hostility and elicit a host of undermining behaviours to bring them down a peg. This compelling desire to cut high achievers down to size is called the ‘tall poppy syndrome'.

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Sandra Dash
Sandra Dash began her nursing career in 1993 in New South Wales working in trauma, orthopaedics and ICU. Sandra then spent the next 9 years working in the Northern Territory, NSW and Victoria with the Australian Defence Force. During this time she found her beginning in Nursing Education, teaching at both University and TAFE levels earning a Master’s of Health Science (Nursing Education). In 2010, Sandra moved to Queensland and began the most rewarding career in palliative care, through which she has not only cared for people at a distressing time in their life, but has also been able to continue her passion for education.
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Slavica Ristich
02 Feb 2023
Enrolled Nurse
This article has been wonderfully articulated. It resonates with myself and many others who have a desire to further develop their career in nursing through education, further time, further effort and financial and family sacrifice to achieve a deeper understanding of health care and the human body. Unfortunately, in some instances, people who have chosen to further their career are stigmatized as thinking they are superior to those who have been happy to practice at their present capacity. Also, in some instances, people who have undergone further education and career development can at times also make others who have not undertaken further studies etc feel inferior and less valued. This has long plagued the nursing profession unfortunately rather than shifting the issue to ''get wit the times'' and encourage a healthy work place where experience is valued and further education is also recognized and acknowledged as an effort to provide better care. Together, if the two can be recognized for their merit, the nursing profession and patient care would greatly benefit.
EC
Eleonora Cilakov
25 Dec 2022
Good
Portrait of Alison cox
Alison cox
16 Feb 2023
Appropriate to Nursing in Australia.
YM
Yvonne Martin
21 Jun 2019
It was an experience piece of an entire who had experienced victimization who actually gave up her profession due to this.
GA
Grace Ash
24 Jul 2022
Enrolled Nurse
great thanks
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