During a study by Statistics Canada, 46 per cent of male nurses and 33 per cent of female nurses reported that they have been physically abused. The study included 12,200 respondents to a national survey of nurses in 2005. 47 per cent of the study subjects reported emotional abuse.

Study co-author Kathryn Wilkins said: "Nurses who perceived that there was a shortage of personnel or a shortage of support staff, those who feel that they have a low level of support from their supervisor, or from their colleagues, are more likely to report physical violence within the past year from patients."

56 percent study subjects believed that nurses on staff was not sufficient to provide quality patient care. 46 per cent nurses said that they were exposed to hostility or conflict from co-workers, and 28 per cent reported lack of support from their supervisor. 19 percent nurses stated that there was lack of team work between nurses and physicians.

Rachel Bard, CEO of the Canadian Nurses Association said the statistics are informative to nurses, and the factors all relate to problems with human resources and workplace environment.