The National Survey of the Work and Health of Nurses, released Dec. 11 shows BC nurses are the most likely in Canada to report that inadequate understaffing levels are undermining their work environments and their ability to provide quality care to patients.

The survey also says reports of physical assaults and emotional abuse by patients and visitors are most prevalent among nurses in BC.

The complete report, which was done by Statistics Canada in conjunction with the Canadian Institute for Health Information and Health Canada, is available at http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/products/NHSRep06_ENG.pdf

The breakdown by province is available at http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11-621-MWE2006052

BCNU president Debra McPherson and St. Paul’s nurse Bev Basaraba commented on the survey in the Vancouver Sun.