Danger part of job for assaulted nurse

A nurse who was punched in the face by an aggressive patient said nurses accepted the risks and dangers in their workplaces.

"If someone wants to hit, kick or punch you they have probably already made that decision before it has happened," she said.

"There have been a few times as a student and working as a caregiver which just shouldn't have happened, but working with people you have to expect there will be some sort of altercation," she said.

The man who assaulted her was restrained by security staff and sedated.

"People are generally emotional beings. Put them in a stressful environment, add pain, fear of the unknown, plus feeling miserable and you have a pretty good mix for something to go wrong," said the emergency department nurse, who declined to be identified.

Nurses were often confronted by family members who refused to adhere to the limits on visiting sick relatives.

"De-escalation, communication and family-violence training are just some of the compulsory education given.

"They strengthen and develop skills and make nurses more confident and assertive when dealing with the public and people who may be threatening them."

Nurses were moving to Australia because the patient-to-nurse ratio was lower, the pay and services were better and more resources were put into the health system.

"If there is a high number of assaults to staff it may affect the high turnover."