The inappropriate and sometimes hostile behavior of staff was also a major source of stress in our participants. Poor relationship of health care workers with students has been identified as a deterring factor for clinical training in several studies.17,21,45-48 It may be that the stressful nature of midwifery practice leads the midwives to behave in this manner. Studies in Iran indicate high levels of bullying, professional burnout and job dissatisfaction in health workers, including midwives.49-52 In such circumstances, mistreatment of students is not unexpected, because, as smartly explained by Condell, it is not surprising that staff who are bullied but are not able to take out their anger on their oppressors, become frustrated and then abuse the students with whom they work.53