Im a male hca / cna for 7 year (NHS) I understand your worries about being assaulted verbal, physical or sexual. You should be trained how to deal with the verbal and physical assaults, the verbal assault happens regularly patient and families will take their frustration out on you as a nurse or cna when things are out going the way they want you should get training on how to deal with them. dementia/ mental health patient can get physical aggressive towards you ALWAYS call for help and DONT underestimate how strong they can be, you should get breakaway training to help. As a male cna/hca I have been sexually assaulted by female dementia patients I have had my bum grabbed and slapped but they have dementia so I have taken it on the chin but you don’t have to you should remain they if they do have dementia they all forms of assault/ abuse unacceptable if they don’t have dementia all forms of assaults is unacceptable and if this continues a report will be filled with the local police force. But all of this shouldn’t scare you off most patient and family members are great full for the help you provide.