Hildy Michalek, a former nurse at Latrobe Regional Hospital in Gippsland, was left in chronic pain with permanent nerve damage to her spine and legs after the man leapt out of a police van parked in the ambulance bay and struck her while attacking the officers.

After a legal battle lasting more than five years, the hospital and the police force agreed to pay Ms Michalek a six-figure damages settlement.

Now, the Victorian WorkCover Authority has launched separate proceedings against the police force in a bid to recoup a share of the $500,000 compensation it has paid Ms Michalek.

WorkCover's payments - covering benefits, medical and rehabilitation costs and home-based care - have been made for several years and are ongoing.

Ms Michalek, who was 33 at the time of the attack, told The Age she was forced to live with painful injuries and impaired mobility. Now 42, she has not worked since.

"The fact is that I have to live with this for the rest of my life," Ms Michalek said.

"I've had a career ripped out from underneath me."

On the day of the attack in March 2005 the offender was believed to be experiencing a drug-induced psychotic episode. He had been arrested at Traralgon police station and was being taken to hospital in a divisional van.

Documents filed in the Supreme Court allege the three police officers failed to adequately restrain the man during his transfer and admission to hospital despite knowing he was violent.

WorkCover also alleges that police did not adequately assess the man’s mental health and threat to hospital staff, and did not act on Ms Michalek’s request that the man be kept in the police van prior to being admitted.

"The police officers owed to the worker a duty to take reasonable care to avoid foreseeable risks of injury," the writ says.

Victoria Police declined to comment given the matter was before the courts.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation assistant state secretary Paul Gilbert said there was a pressing need for stronger protocols between hospitals and police to protect nurses.

"These protocols should include ensuring that hospitals are notified if police are bringing a patient who is agitated or distressed or has a history of aggression so they can prepare accordingly," he said.

"The hospital might call upon extra security staff or ensure particular clinical staff members are present when the patient arrives."

Latrobe Regional Hospital said it was continuing to develop ways to reduce risks to staff and patients, and was "constantly reviewing" its processes.

Chief executive Peter Craighead said the hospital had set up an occupational violence working group to assess the risk across the hospital's work areas.

Ms Michalek, who was one of two workers on duty in the psychiatric ward at the time of the attack, said Victorian hospitals must call in more staff and security to deal with violent patients.

She has urged hospitals and the nursing board to help injured nurses regain their registration and rejoin the workforce by allowing reduced contact hours in bridging courses during recovery.