Violence is not a concept one associates with nursing. Nevertheless, violence against nurses and by nurses in a variety of work settings has become an international problem. The exploration of this problem is at different stages in different countries. In some areas research has done much to identify and describe the factors in the victim, perpetrators and situations which lead to violence. In others research on this topic is still in its infancy. Similarly in some countries prevention and containment strategies in some areas of practice have seen substantial development over the last decade,...