Understanding the Experiences of Courtesy Stigma for Registered Nurses at Supervised Consumption Sites: An...

The benefits of supervised consumption sites (SCS) for people who use drugs (PWUDs), and their experiences with stigma, are well documented. However, less attention has been given to the stigma that may be experienced by registered nurses (RNs) working in these settings.

We used the lens of Goffman's stigma theory and interpretive phenomenological analysis in this study. We conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews with nurses about their experiences of courtesy stigma.

We interviewed five RNs who worked at SCS across Canada. We created five themes: 1) Deer in the Headlights: The Mystery of the SCS RN Role; 2) Slap in the Face: Consequences of Courtesy Stigma for SCS RNs; 3) Poking the Bear: SCS RNs Predicting Negative Reactions; 4) The Uphill Battle: Resisting Courtesy Stigma for SCS RNs; and 5) Fighting Back: Advocacy and Social Justice in SCS RN Nursing.

Misconceptions about the SCS RN role manifested in courtesy stigma, shaping nurses' social relationships, disclosure practices, and professional identities. However, these nurses responded with resilience, as courtesy stigma reinforced their commitment to harm reduction, advocacy, and social justice.