I am an LPN who has worked in psychiatric settings for the past 13 years. I have done everything med nurse to program director and anticipating behaviors is definatley a skill that I have learned over the years to determine potential violence from a patient. The best thing that you can do to keep yourself safe is to not get yourself cornered in a room with a patient. Many people have the idea that all psych patients are angry and violent and that is just not the case. However that is not to say that patients don't get violent and act out. Make sure that you are reading your patient and looking for signs of increased agitation and potential acting out behaviors, such as clenched fists, yelling, pacing back and forth, etc. Good luck and I hope that helps

The number one thing is to stay calm. Reduce stimuli. Move all the other patients out of the area. Be very direct. The best predictor is if there is a history of violence. Those with a DX of paranoia are the ones to really watch for. They are the most unpredictable.