One in three nurses suffers physical violence each year

One in three nurses experiences some form of physical attack each year, but many others also suffer verbal abuse, the survey of 202 nurses suggested.

The NHS expected nurses to handle difficult situations with a "stiff upper lip", the researchers at the University of Nottingham said.

They said attacks on staff can affect the quality of care a victim delivers.

The Royal College of Nursing called on more to be done to protect nurses.

RCN head of counselling Barry McInnes said: "It's disturbing that this level of violence is still being perpetrated against nurses, two years after the RCN's own study produced very similar findings.

A nurse who is worn out or who harbours residual anger is hardly going to be capable of excelling in his or her duty Dr Phil Leather

"Nurses have a right to be safe at work irrespective of whether they are based in hospitals, in the community or other healthcare premises.

"Violence against nurses has an immediate impact on the delivery of quality care, and can have long-term implications on a nurse's physical and psychological health. "

Staff attacks on all NHS staff have nearly doubled in five years and cost the NHS �69m a year.

The study, led by Dr Phil Leather and Dr Angeli Santos at the university's Institute of Work, Health and Organisations, found nurses who bottled up anger triggered by a violent incident at work were more likely to become nervous, worn out and depressed.

Dr Leather said the problem had a number of serious consequences.

Violence

"It's not just a problem for the member of staff who is the victim of violence, but patient care is at risk.

"A nurse who is worn out or who harbours residual anger is hardly going to be capable of excelling in his or her duty.

"Nurses need people to be made available to them who they can talk to about their experiences of abuse. They need a supportive environment, one which does not encourage the 'denial' so often seen among the medical profession."

The report comes just days after the NHS Security Management Service launched a campaign to tackle violence against health professionals.

A service spokesman said: "Violence and abuse is not part of any NHS job description and we are determined to take a hard line against anyone who assaults staff."