The Throwaway Nurse Syndrome: Examining the Lived Experiences of Nurses Who Divert Opioids

Abstract

This dissertation explores the lived experiences of nurses who have engaged in opioid diversion for personal use. Interpretive phenomenological analysis, a qualitative methodology, was utilized to gather data through private interviews with nine nurses residing in Canada and the United States. This research draws upon the theoretical concepts of taboo and stigma as found in the work of Freud, Goffman, and other scholars. Analysis of the transcripts revealed five key themes. This study contributes to the limited understanding of nurses’ encounters with opioid addiction, diversion, and participation in alternative to discipline programs, highlighting the long-term effects on their personal and professional lives. In addition, the findings underscore the importance of acknowledging and addressing diversion, promoting a better understanding of addiction and combatting its social stigma, critically evaluating the public image of nurses and its impact on nurses’ lives, and probing into the relationship between substance misuse and the profession of nursing. Finally, this study underscores the need to increase support for nurses, raise awareness of support programs that do exist, and improve the alternative to discipline programs to better facilitate a return to meaningful work in the nursing profession.