A national survey conducted in 2013 found that 25.1 percent of nurses in south China's Guangdong Province had been verbally or physically abused by patients, the Guangzhou-based New Express Daily reported on Tuesday.

Despite the enormous pressures at work and the price hikes in recent years, nurses remain poorly paid. In a top-rated hospital, a nurse with less than three years of experience can earn 2,000 yuan (US$322) to 3,000 yuan (US$483) per month.

"Nurses are working under enormous pressure in a tense atmosphere," said Huang Fei, the vice director of the Guangdong Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission.

Due to the low pay, heavy workloads and tough working conditions, many nurses have chosen to quit their jobs, and it has been very difficult for hospitals to hire new ones.

In light of the situation, the Guangdong provincial government has taken a series of measures, such as raising health care charges, reducing nurses' workloads and enhancing security in hospitals, to improve nurses' working conditions and protect them against attacks from vengeful or disgruntled patients.

Guangdong Province has suffered from a shortage of nurses in recent years, especially experienced nurses and male nurses. It has been estimated that by 2020, 90,000 more nurses will be needed in the province.

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