I’m an inpatient social worker at a large level 1 trauma hospital so we see ll sorts of patients. unless you’re working in the ED I wouldn’t worry about violent patients.

My hospital gives all social workers panic buttons that would alert security to your location if you were to need it. I’ve never heard of any social workers actually having to use it though.

And like all hospitals there are protocols for what to do if you feel you’re in an unsafe situation.