The incidence of work-related aggression as experienced by professional nurses has been extensively researched. The majority of studies reported have been conducted in nursing speciality areas includuig psychiatric hospitals, emergency departments,nursing homes, intensive care units and operating theatres. These studies have focused primarily on psychological and emotional outcomes, ignoring professional outcomes and have not identified reporting behaviours of nurses and interventions which may reduce the impact of aggressive behaviour experienced in hospital settings. The
present study adopted the cognitive appraisal model of Lazams and Folkman (1984) as a theoretical framework from which to examine the moderating effect of institutional social support on work-related aggression as it impacts upon the perceived professional competence of registered muses.