Harm Reduction into Action: Supporting Nurses to Provide Culturally Safe Care with a Harm Reduction Lens to People who use Drugs

Nurses often have stigmatizing attitudes towards people who use illicit substances that make it difficult for them to provide harm reduction services. This study will look at the state of harm reduction in an acute care hospital. Specifically it will examine the attitudes of acute care nurses towards addiction and harm reduction and whether they are willing to provide harm reduction services. The study hospital has recently changed its substance use policy which now directs nurses to provide clean needles. However, there is no evidence to indicate whether nurses have taken up this policy. The findings will help administrators and educators determine what support front line acute care nurses need to change their opinions about addiction and their preparation and willingness to provide harm reduction services.