The other side of the pill bottle: the lived experience of HIV-positive nurses on HIV combination drug therapy.

A qualitative study of nine HIV-positive nurses was conducted to explore the experience of daily life for HIV-positive nurses taking HIV combination drug therapy. The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of factors relating to HIV medication adherence and nonadherence. The study also provided new knowledge on what it is like to be a nurse who is HIV-positive. Implementation of the study and analysis of the data were done using an integrated method for conducting phenomenological research. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted around the United States with three women and six men who were HIV-positive nurses. Participants had acquired HIV via three modes: occupational exposure, sexual transmission, and contaminated blood products. The nurses were taking HIV antiretroviral medications in various combinations. Analysis of the nurses' interviews revealed six major themes that described the experience of day-to-day life for HIV-positive nurses on HIV combination drug therapy. The metaphor that emerged across the narratives was the Double-Edged Sword of Being a Nurse on the Other Side, in the role of patient. The metaphor described the life-changing experience of being an HIV-positive nurse attempting to adhere to the prescribed HIV combination drug regiment. While many of the study findings were congruent with the literature, new components of the experience emerged. The study gave voice to a group of nurses who previously have been described only in terms of HIV/AIDS statistics.