Photo: Contributed - BCNU

An Abbotsford nurse is recovering from injuries just days after her union asked for more protection from injury and abuse.

According to the BC Nurses' Union, the ER nurse was 'savagely attacked' and suffered serious trauma and injury at a hospital in Abbotsford over the weekend.

"This is clearly unacceptable and the BC Nurses' Union expects health authorities to improve the safety of nurses now," said vice-president Christine Sorensen.

This is the third reported attack on a medical professional over the past three months.

In early December, a physician at Penticton Regional Hospital was beaten and left for dead. He suffered a broken jaw and other facial injuries.

Gregory Nield of Summerland was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily harm and aggravated assault.

A day later a nurse at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops was 'brutally assaulted' by someone who allegedly grabbed her by the hair, punched her several times and threw her against a wall.

"Policies to protect nurses are not being followed. Abbotsford hospital was fined $75,000 in May of 2014 for their inaction on a previous WorkSafeBC violence issue," said Sorensen.

“Nurses need dedicated security in ER, appropriate staffing and reports must be filed immediately with WorkSafeBC and police. Nurses are professionals who provide care and they should not end up as patients due to violence.”

Katherine Hamilton, BCNU's Fraser Valley chair added the union has been asking for additional security since 2011.

"Nurses are afraid to come to work and the time for action is long overdue," said Hamilton.

The union is asking health authorities to implement policies to protect nurses, including better security and training, appropriate staffing, prompt incident reporting and investigations and adequate support for the nurses who are impacted by violence and its aftermath.