Docsity
Docsity

Prepare for your exams
Prepare for your exams

Study with the several resources on Docsity


Earn points to download
Earn points to download

Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan


Guidelines and tips
Guidelines and tips

Civil service Exam Practice 2 |85 Questions with Verified Answers,100% CORRECT, Exams of Laboratory Practices and Management

Civil service Exam Practice 2 |85 Questions with Verified Answers A social worker at a community mental health agency is doing a home visit to a client as he has not gotten his medication refilled as prescribed. The social worker learns that he has not been taking it for several weeks due to a belief that it is not helping alleviate his thought to "just end things." In order to assist the client, the social worker should FIRST: A. Accompany the client to his next appointment with the psychiatrist to see if another medication can be prescribed B. Explain to the client the importance of taking the medication as prescribed C. Conduct a suicide risk assessment D. Ask the client if he has suggestions for other strategies that may assist him - CORRECT ANSWER A: C

Typology: Exams

2023/2024

Available from 05/02/2024

paul-kamau-2
paul-kamau-2 🇺🇸

2.7

(3)

3.2K documents

1 / 39

Toggle sidebar

Related documents


Partial preview of the text

Download Civil service Exam Practice 2 |85 Questions with Verified Answers,100% CORRECT and more Exams Laboratory Practices and Management in PDF only on Docsity! Civil service Exam Practice 2 |85 Questions with Verified Answers A social worker at a community mental health agency is doing a home visit to a client as he has not gotten his medication refilled as prescribed. The social worker learns that he has not been taking it for several weeks due to a belief that it is not helping alleviate his thought to "just end things." In order to assist the client, the social worker should FIRST: A. Accompany the client to his next appointment with the psychiatrist to see if another medication can be prescribed B. Explain to the client the importance of taking the medication as prescribed C. Conduct a suicide risk assessment D. Ask the client if he has suggestions for other strategies that may assist him - CORRECT ANSWER A: C The client's thoughts to "just end things" may be an indicator of suicide risk. The social worker should FIRST assess the degree of risk that is present to determine whether the client is safe without use of the medication and can wait to discuss his concerns with his psychiatrist at a future appointment or needs to be treated immediately. Upon intake, a client who professes to be "health conscious" reports that she smokes cigarettes. When asked by the social worker if she is aware of the health risks associated with smoking, the client states that "the reports are filled with misinformation and the hazards are not that great". The client's assertion MOST likely results from: A. Cognitive Dissonance B. Metacommunication C. Displacement D. Intellectualization - CORRECT ANSWER A: A Psychologist Leon Festinger proposed a theory of cognitive dissonance centered on how people try to reach internal consistency. Clients have an inner need to ensure that their beliefs and behaviors are consistent. Inconsistent or conflicting beliefs lead to disharmony, which clients strive to avoid. For example, clients who smoke might continue to do so, even though they know it is bad for their health. A social worker who retired more than a year ago from private practice runs into a former client whom she has not seen in years. The former client received grief counseling from the social worker for several years after her mother died. The former client also recently retired and suggest that the social worker join a local group for retirees to which she belongs. The social worker, who has been looking for ways to stay active, agrees to attend the next meeting. The social workers actions are: A. Justified as she has not seen the client for several years B. Unprofessional because the social worker is using the former client for her own gain C. Problematic as she is knowingly creating a conflict of interest or dual relationship D. Acceptable because the interaction will be in a group context and not intimate in nature - CORRECT ANSWER A: C Social workers must ensure that they do not engage in dual or multiple relationships with current or former clients. In addition, social workers should be alert to avoid conflicts of interest. A client reports that he was recently in a serious accident at work that has resulted in limitations in his mobility. In this situation the social worker should FIRST: A. Assist with making a workers compensation claim to help the client pay for medical expenses and lost wages B. Refer the client to vocational rehabilitation services to determine whether modifications are needed to his home and work environments C. Discuss the psychological impacts of trauma and disability that will need to be addressed in order for the client to make a full recovery D. Conduct a biopsychosocial assessment to determine the impact of the client's physical change in his other life domains - CORRECT ANSWER A: D In this case scenario, the client has had a physiological change resulting from an accident at work. The social worker may ultimately take one of the actions listed in the incorrect responses, but he/she must initially determine the impact that this decline in mobility has had on client well-being in all other areas. A complete assessment must be done to determine the clients short and long term needs in A. Public information, making them accessible to any party for justified purposes B. Open to inspection and review by parents at any time C. Available to the parents only if the assent of the child is obtained prior to release D. Strictly confidential, only to be released to the parents if ordered by a court. - CORRECT ANSWER A: B The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he/she reaches the age of 18. Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the schools. Parents or students also have the right to request that schools correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. Which of the following behaviors is NOT an indicator that client is resistant or lacks readiness to fully participate in readiness? A. Engaging in small talk about irrelevant topics B. Regularly missing or being late for appointments C. Limiting the amount of information revealed about the problem D. Asking in detail about confidentiality practices and procedure - CORRECT ANSWER A: D Social workers should not assume that clients are ready or have the skills needed to make changes in their lives. Clients may be oppositional, reactionary, noncompliant, and unmotivated. These attitudes or behaviors are referred to as resistance. There are indicators that a social worker should use as evidence that a client may be resistant or not ready to fully participate in services. These indicators include engaging in small talk about irrelevant topics, not keeping appointments, and limiting information communicated with social worker. An example of cultural blindness in social work practice is: A. Viewing the needs of all clients, not just those in the dominant culture, as equally important B. Identifying cultural norms that have impacted on client's presenting problem C. Advocating for the rights of all clients regardless of culture, race, and ethnicity D. Applying helping approaches universally to all clients without considering cultural diversity - CORRECT ANSWER A: D Cultural blindness is a point on the cultural proficiency continuum that is characterized by a well-intentioned desire to be unbiased. The continuum begins with cultural destructiveness and progresses to cultural incapacity, cultural blindness, cultural pre-compentence, and cultural competence, respectively before ultimately reaching cultural proficiency. The hallmark of cultural blindness is that all people are the same and that color or culture should make no difference. Which criterion does not need to be met for social workers to be able to terminate clients for nonpayment of fees? A. The clinical and other consequences of the nonpayment have been discussed with the client B. The financial contractual arrangements have been made clear to clients, preferably in writing C. Social workers have used sliding scales to make fees affordable for clients D. Clients do not pose immediate threat to self or others - CORRECT ANSWER A: C According to the NASW Code of Ethics before social workers begin termination of services for nonpayment of fees, the following criteria should be met: The financial contractual arrangements have been made clear to clients, clients do not pose immediate threat to self or others, the clinical consequences have been discussed with client. Social workers not need to institute sliding scales or set fees based on client's incomes. A client is upset about the breakup of his marriage. He feels distraught and does not think he will ever have another intimate relationship. In this situation, the social worker can BEST demonstrate empathy by: A. Discussing similar events in the social worker's life that have been resolved successfully B. Telling the client that many people in this situation feel similarly C. Listening attentively while looking at the client as he describes his feelings D. Helping the client to find ways to cope with his emotions during a difficult time - CORRECT ANSWER A: C The question contains a qualifying word--BEST. While telling the client that his feelings are typical in this situation and helping him cope with his emotions will be helpful, the correct answer is the one that "can BEST demonstrate empathy." Central to empathy is understanding a client's situation and the feelings expressed. Showing. a client that his or her experiences and perceptions are important can be achieved with nonverbal communication techniques like active listening and eye contact/posture. The incorrect response choices focus on the social worker intervening by "discussing", "telling", or "helping". Often empathy is established by more passive actions such as listening, attending, and suspending value judgements. Most therapeutic situations require little to no self-disclosure by a social worker and any self-disclosure must be thoroughly evaluated in supervision before it is used as it can be an indication of professional boundary violation. A social worker recieves a request for "all mental health records" of a client. The social worker maintains psychotherapy notes of sessions in a seperate locked location. After reviewing all of the records and notes, the client signs a single authorization releasing all mental health information. Based on this consent, the social worker should: A. Provide copies of both the record and psychotherapy notes B. Advise the client that the decision is poor and no information should be sent C. Send a summary of diagnoses, treatment dates, and fees collected D. Release only information in the record and not psychotherapy notes - CORRECT ANSWER A: D Social workers must be aware of the confidentiality or privacy standards that are dictated by social welfare legislation, such as HIPAA, and the 2008 NASW Code of Ethics. Social workers must be knowledgable about what information should be released when client consent is given for all mental health records. Without understanding the provisions of HIPAA with regard to psychotherapy notes, social workers may inadvertently release information that is afforded extra protection. This is a recall question that relies on having substantive knowledge on this content area. A social worker has just implemented a new agency practice to resolve an existing ethical issue. According to the principles of ethical problem solving, the social worker should NEXT: A. Ensure that the new practice is formally incorporated in agency documents and trainings B. Examine the key social work values and principles that support the new procedure C. Ask the client what has been revealed that causes her concern so that the social worker can better understand why she is so fearful D. Review confidentiality procedures and their limits in order to alleviate the client's concerns. - CORRECT ANSWER A: D In this case scenario, the client is worried that information disclosed to the social worker "will be used against her". When words are in quotation marks in questions, they should be considered carefully as they are included for a reason. Social workers must know the limits of confidentiality and apprise clients of them so that clients can make informed choices. Social workers can release relevant information when clients pose a danger to themselves or others. In the case scenario, there is no threat to safety and the social worker should claim privelege if there is a request for treatment information. Helping the client understand that what was revealed to the social worker cannot be used against her is the most appropriate answer. The question is about confidentiality and its limits, so advising the client to get along with siblings is a distractor. A lawyer is not needed to explain confidentiality practices of social workers. Lastly, it is evident why she is fearful, so questioning her about it will not produce insight or help to calm her fears. A client is upset because a boy whom she recently kissed broke up with her. The client states that she does not understand why the breakup occurred as the kiss indicated that he had strong feelings towards her. The social worker explains that kissing may not have the same meaning for the boy. The social workers statement is rooted in which theoretical perspective? A. Self psychology B. Symbolic interactionism C. Operant Conditioning D. Object Relations - CORRECT ANSWER A: B The question is a recall question on theory that helps social workers understand client communication. Based on symbolic interactionism, kissing may have had different meanings for the client and the boy. The client clearly saw the action as an indication of affection toward her while the boy did not. A social worker is assisting a community to develop a program to treat adolescent drug addiction. Neighborhood citizens are very concerned as several youth have died due to overdoses in the last few weeks. In order to ensure that services are developed using principles of social justice, the social worker should: A. Advocate for community members to have decision-making power in the planning process B. Use evidence-based practices as the foundation for treatment of this hard-to- serve-population C. Integrate substance use and mental health treatment due to the prevalence of co-occurrence of these disorders D. Gain support from community leaders to increase the likelihood of successful implementation - CORRECT ANSWER A: A The correct answer is distinguished from the incorrect ones as it ensures "that services are developed using the principles of social justice". While all of the response choices would be helpful, only advocating for community members to have authority in decision making is consistent with empowerment, a key ingredient in promoting social justice. Within social work practice, action research is distinguished from other scientific methods due to the: A. Mandate that investigation occur as urgent injustice is currently occurring B. Commitment of resources to take action on the findings in order to realize change C. Focus on social problems that have been identified as needing immediate action D. Processes of collaborative problem solving and inquiry occurring simultaneously - CORRECT ANSWER A: D Action research is a technique to influence social policy through an interactive inquiry process that balances collaborative problem-solving actions with data- driven collaborative analysis or research. Its aim is to guide change in order to solve an immediate problem. Action research challenges traditional social science by moving beyond reflective knowledge by outside experts through sampling, to an active moment-to-moment theorizing, data collecting, and inquiry occuring in the midst of emergent structure. It is seen as "action-science"-- rather than "reflective science" A client is discharged from the hospital with a medication that must be taken four times a day. Which of the following abbreviations will appear on the client's medication order? A. qid B. prn C. bid D. qh - CORRECT ANSWER A: A There are common abbreviations that appear on medication orders. Qid indicaes that a medication is to be taken four times a day. Prn is used for medication that are administered as needed. Bid indicates that a medication is to be taken twice daily. Qh appears when medications are taken every hour. A client who is making substantial progress in treatment learns that her insurance has authorized only two more sessions. The social worker and client feel that additional therapy is needed in order to achieve stated treatment goals. In order to BEST assist the client, the social worker should: A. Identify the most critical topics to be discussed so they can be covered in the remaining sessions B. Inform the client's insurance company's appeals process while providing support through the process C. Provide the insurance company with information on additional problems experienced by the client and services needed in order to justify continued payment D. Set an affordable fee that the client can pay privately once the insurance company stops paying - CORRECT ANSWER A: B The question contains a qualifying word--BEST. While prioritizing treatment topics and determining whether the client is able to pay an affordable fee privately may be useful, the social worker has an ethical responsibility to assist the client to use her insurance coverage to the maximum extent possible. Since her existing treatment goals require additional sessions, it would be inappropriate to add more diagnoses or goals in order to justify coverage. The social worker should not terminate services as there is still a continued need. The paramount issue is helping the client to understand that she has the right to appeal the decision and provide support and information needed by the client for this appeal. A decision about whether a social worker must disclose privileged information without a client's consent is NOT legally influenced by: A. Relevant statutes B. Professional experience C. Judicial opinion The question contains a qualifying word--BEST. Ecomaps, like genograms, help to understand system dynamics by depicting relationships that clients have with others. They are vital when using "person-in-environment" perspective to determine opportunities or barriers for change. Ecomaps are not directly related to environmental justice or conservation. They may have identify sources of power within systems, but their purpose is broader. A client reports she was recently fired from her job based upon her religious beliefs. She is intimidated by the thought of taking action against her former employer as she does not believe that she will be successful in fighting the bias against her. She feels depressed and hopeless. In formulating treatment goals, the social worker should: A. Identify whether antidepressant medication may be needed B. Determine the impacts of her current emotional state C. Complete a suicide risk assessment D. Assist the client in fighting the discriminatory practices of the agency. - CORRECT ANSWER A: D The question is essentially asking about the desired intervention for a client who has been adversely affected by discrimination. When clients have been victims of discrimination, social workers must work to empower them. The correct answer is the only one that is linked to empowerment or eradicating the root cause of the problem. In addition, identifying the need for antidepressants and/or determining the client's current emotional state are assessment tasks that would occur prior to the formulation of treatment planning. The social worker will certainly address the negative impacts of discrimination, but finding ways to support the client in fighting the discrimination is essential. The correct answer is also the only one which indirectly helps others, who are adversely affected by the discriminatory practice of this employer, not just the individual client. There is no indication that the client is suicidal, so completing a risk assessment is not warranted. Suicide screening is also not. a treatment goal in this case scenario. A social worker is supervising a student intern and would like to ensure that the intern considers the social work core values in all agency decision making. the BEST method for the student to learn about these values is to: A. Read the agency policies and procedures manual B. Speak to the employees of the agency about their experiences C. Review the professional code of ethics D. receive singular supervision to discuss client issues and progress - CORRECT ANSWER A: C The question contains a qualifying word--BEST. Although some of the response choices may assist in determining the extent to which the values are incorporated into agency policies and procedures, employee practices, and client services, reviewing the professional code of ethics is the only way to see the values explicitly stated. In order to "learn about these values", it is most useful for the student to see them and the standards that are derived from them in writing. This foundation is essential before actually using them for decision making. A social worker completes a sexual history with an adolescent client. The social worker asks about number of partners that she has had and the methods, if any, that she is using to prevent pregnancy and STD's. The social worker then puts the sexual history in the client's file. The social worker's supervisor would consider this sexual history to be inappropriate because it: A. Included protected health information about STD's B. Was placed in the adolescent's file instead of stored separately C. Lacked important information about the gender of her partners and sexual practices D. Should have been completed by another professional who is licensed in this area. - CORRECT ANSWER A: C The question requires selecting an answer that best describes why the social workers actions in completing a sexual history were flawed. Sexual history information is protected health information, as is all data collected by the social worker. Asking about STDs does not make it any more sensitive. All information must be kept confidential. A sexual history should be kept with the other client records, not stored separately. Completing sexual histories is within the scope of practice of social workers. It does not have to be done by other professionals. However, a social worker needs to ensure competence in adequately collecting this data before doing it. In this scenario, the social worker did not do a thorough assessment as the sexual history lacked key information. During acculturation, which of the following statements describes the responsibilities of those in the dominant and nondominant cultures? A. Individuals in both the majority and minority have an equal responsibility to change in order to work together cooperatively B. Individuals in majority groups must teach those in minority about their customs and traditions C. Individuals in minority must advocate for inclusion to ensure equal access to societal rewards by those in majority D. Individuals in the minority must decide which majority practices they will follow for integration to occur - CORRECT ANSWER A: A Historically, models of acculturation have inappropriately seen the responsibility of change being placed on those in the minority. In addition, they have viewed the goal as "a melting pot" with all societal members adopting the same customs and traditions. This view has been replaced with a more appropriate belief that a pluralistic society is one that respects the differences of its members while having a cooperative agreement to work together towards a common goal The correct answer is the only one that puts equal responsibility for change on both the minority and majority--a key element in a socially just model of acculturation. A social worker who was recently hired by a large agency sees that services are delivered in a very bureaucratic manner with employees at the lowest organizational levels having their tasks overseen by supervisors who, in turn, are overseen by managers. There is also a strong expectation that workers perform tasks according to specific procedures designed to maximize levels of service. This agency is MOST likely operating according to the principles of: A. Human Relations Theory B. Systems Theory C. Scientific Management Theory D. Contingency Theory - CORRECT ANSWER A: C The question contains a qualifying word--MOST. While it is possible that the agency is adhering to some principles from other organizational theories, the characteristics described are hallmarks of a scientific management approach, also known as Theory X. It posits that workers will do what is best for themselves and need to be controlled in order to be most efficient. Motivation for enhanced productivity is linked to financial rewards for workers, as money is seen as a salient reinforcer. Which statement is NOT true about the distinction between grief and depression? C. Refer the couple for physical examinations to rule out medical etiology D. Arrange to meet with each spouse seperately to find out if other issues exist - CORRECT ANSWER A: C The question contains a qualifying word--FIRST. Whenever social workers are doing assessments, they must determine if client behaviors result from medical or substance use problems before attributing them to mental or emotional issues. The husband's decreased sexual desire may be related to having his children leave the house, but the timing of these events may be coincidental. Often couples are in their 50s when their children leave for college. This age is also when men experience decreased sexual desire due to lowering of testosterone levels and/or erectile dysfunction. Women can experience physical changes which lead to vaginal dryness, making intercourse painful or difficult. It may be useful to pinpoint when the problem started and meet with each spouse separately, but these actions would take place after physical causes have been ruled out. The PRIMARY criterion for selecting an intervention modality should be that it is: A. Applied consistently to ensure reliability of service provision B. Sanctioned and monitored by agency administration to ensure quality C. Approved by third-party payers so that reimbursement for services will occur D. Supported by research and professional values for treating the presenting problem - CORRECT ANSWER A: D The question contains a qualifying word--PRIMARY. At times interventions require modification based on individual client circumstances so consistency is not always achieved, making the first answer incorrect. In addition, not all services are delivered in agency settings or reimbursed by third-party payers, making these choices not primary. The correct answer always is the one that focuses on the delivery of effective services to assist clients with their problems. Thus, ensuring that interventions are supported by empirical research and consistent with code of ethics is most important. A social worker observes a steady decline in a client's mobility as he has refused to get a needed hip replacement. The doctor has assured the client that the surgery is low risk and will greatly enhance his quality of life. In order to best assist the client, the social worker should: A. Urge the client to get the surgery based upon doctors advice B. Speak to the client's family so that they can assist in helping the client change his mind C. Provide the client with materials that clearly articulate the benefits of the procedure D. Assist the client to prioritize his concerns about having the surgery - CORRECT ANSWER A: D The case scenario calls for selecting the correct answer based on the standard that it will "best assist the client". Urging the client to get the surgery is not acknowledging his right to self-determination. His refusal does not pose any true safety risk-- it simply does not afford him the possibility of enhanced mobility. Speaking to his family would be inappropriate as he is the client; they are not. Providing him with educational materials can be helpful, but outlining only the benefits does not give him all the information needed for informed consent. The correct answer is the one that does not have the social worker attempting to influence the client's decision. Assisting the client to prioritize his concerns can aid in determining his most salient fears. It may also assist him in determining whether the benefits outweigh the risks. What is the MOST important factor in the development of an effective helping relationship? A. Social worker's training and experience in working with similar client problems B. Client's willingness to view a social worker as a resource for change C. Nonverbal and verbal communication between social worker and client D. Agency policies that clearly articulate the roles of both a social worker and a client - CORRECT ANSWER A: C The question contains the word MOST. while some of the incorrect response choices may be important in practice, the correct answer must be critical to the formation of an "effective helping relationship". Training and experience of a social worker, as well as agency policies, are not directly related to the core of the helping process, namely the relationship between a social worker and client. Only the correct answer acknowledges the interface between a social worker and client. The reciprocal nature of the helping process is essential. A social worker is not an advice giver. A therapeutic relationship must be built on trust and respect by both parties that can be achieved only through effective communication. Echolalia is associated with which of the following DSM-5 diagnoses? A. Catatonia B. Autism Spectrum Disorder C. Bipolar Disorder D. Major Depression - CORRECT ANSWER A: B Echolalia is the repetition of phrases, words, or parts of words. Echolalia may be a sign of Autism Spectrum Disorder. A hospital social worker is working with a client who has suffered a traumatic brain injury that has damaged his cerebellum. The social worker would expect this impairment to affect his: A. Problem-solving abilities B. Coordination and balance C. Feelings and emotions D. Breathing and heart rate - CORRECT ANSWER A: B The cerebellum sits at the back of the head, under the cerebrum. The cerebellum receives information from the sensory systems, the spinal cord, and other parts of the brain and then regulates motor movements. The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movements such as posture, balance, coordination, and speech, resulting in smooth and balanced muscular activity. A social worker attends a new-employee orientation that reviews the mission of the agency and its programs. It is designed to assist employees in their work with clients. The supervisor documents attendance in the social workers personnel file. Which function of supervision is represented by the supervisors actions? A. Supportive B. Bureaucratic C. Educational D. Administrative - CORRECT ANSWER A: D The case scenario asks how documenting attendance at an agency training would be classified according to supervision function. The question is asking about the actions of the supervisor-not the social worker. Administrative functions include, but are not limited to, reviewing organizational policies and procedures, documenting training experiences, conducting performance reviews, and/or reporting on client, worker, or agency activities. While the training may be educational in nature and aims to support the social worker's activities, the documentation of training completion in the social workers personnel file is administrative in nature. Bureaucratic is not a function of supervision. will be authorized by insurance. Just because the client wants inpatient care does not mean that it is needed. Hypomania can be characterized as: A. Extreme manic episode with psychotic features B. Inflation in mood that does not result in significant impairment in work or family/social life C. Elevated mood that is subtle and not noticeable to family members or friends D. Any manic episode that does not meet the diagnostic criteria for mental disorder - CORRECT ANSWER A: B Hypomania is a condition similar to mania, but less severe. The symptoms are elevated mood, increased activity, decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, racing thoughts, and so on. Hypomanic episodes differ from mania as they do not cause significant distress or impair client's work or family/social life in an obvious way while manic episodes do. There are never any psychotic features present in hypomanic episodes. A social worker has an involuntary client who has been court-ordered to receive counseling. Since intake the client has expressed her belief that meeting with the social worker will not be helpful and has repeatedly threatened not to come in the future. During the next session, the social worker stops the client when she is complaining and says, "You are correct that talking with me does not appear to be helpful and I don't think that you should come next week." The social workers' statement is an example of: A. Paradoxical directive B. Cognitive Distortion C. Double Blind D. Manifest Message - CORRECT ANSWER A: A Social workers often find themselves providing services to those who did not choose to receive them and need methods aimed at working with involuntary clients. While there are many interventions that may be helpful, the use of paradoxical interventions can assist with the resistance that often accompanys these circumstances. Paradoxical interventions or directives involve prescribing the very symptom that a client wants to resolve. It is a complex concept often equated with reverse psychology. A client is referred to a social worker by her employer due to many absences. She is a single mother with three small children. Financial troubles have resulted in her home being placed in foreclosure. She has had many different jobs in the last few years with few lasting more than several months. In order to best assist the client, the social worker should FIRST: A. Develop strategies to address issues that led to the work abscences B. Help the client to identify her underlying problems C. Ascertain the client's earnings and expenses to find existing financial gaps D. Determine if she qualifies for subsidized housing assistance - CORRECT ANSWER A: B The question contains a qualifying word--FIRST. In the case scenario, the client's financial troubles may have resulted from her employment instability. However, the cause of her absences is unknown. She may have lost her past jobs due to a similar behavior. The social worker must find out from the client about existing problems. While the employer wants her to have better attendance, it may not be possible without getting at the root cause of the issues causing the absences. Absences are symptoms of underlying issues-not the problem itself. A client has been seeing a social worker to deal with the grief associated with the recent death of his elderly mother. The client lived with his mother for his entire life and was her primary caregiver just prior to her passing. The client informs the social worker that he has recently been diagnosed with cancer and will begin treatment immediately. The social worker should respond to this disclosure by: A. Assessing whether current goals need to be altered given a change in his physical well-being B. Adjusting his appointments in order to work around needed medical appointments C. Mobilizing the client's natural support network to assist him during treatment D. Reassuring him that there are many effective medical treatments for cancer. - CORRECT ANSWER A: A In this case scenario, the client is seeing a social worker for a particular problem, grief, upon which the treatment plan is based. However, the client is experiencing a new issue, a cancer diagnosis, that may result in other, even more immediate needs. Thus, the social worker "should respond to this disclosure" about his medical condition by assessing its impact to determine whether modifications to existing treatment goals need to be made. A client who is discriminated against due to his or her national origin and/or culture is being judged based on: A. Non dominant ancestry B. Race C. Ethnicity D. Minority Status - CORRECT ANSWER A: C A client can be discriminated against based on national origin and/or culture regardless of whether he or she is the dominant or nondominant group. Thus, the response choices which state that nondominance or minority status are the bases of the prejudice have to be eliminated. A social worker is a field supervisor for a student in an agency. As her internship ends, the student confides to the social worker that she thinks that she could benefit from counseling to assist with some unresolved issues. The student would like to receive those services at the agency, preferably from the social worker. In this situation, the social worker should: A. Explore the reasons for the request as a method of professional development for the student B. Make an appointment for the student to see another social worker in the agency C. Inform the student that her request would violate professional boundaries and provide contact information for several other counseling agencies D. Agree to see the student for counseling after she completes all requirements for the internship - CORRECT ANSWER A: C In this case scenario, the student is requesting to engage in dual relationship with the social worker. According to the NASW Code of Ethics, the social worker should avoid engaging in such relationship due to potential conflicts. The student also has interacted with other agency personnel in a professional capacity as a result of her internship. Thus, seeing another social worker in the agency does not mitigate the conflict or existence of a dual relationship. Using the DSM-5, symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder include all of the following except: A. Marked impulsivity B. Obsessive tendencies C. Suicidal ideation D. Affective instability - CORRECT ANSWER A: B C. Symptoms must be active for at least 1 month D. The predominant symptom should define the subtype - CORRECT ANSWER A: D The question contains a qualifying word--NOT. Since the edition of the manual is mentioned, it provides a clue that the correct response choice may be a change that was made between the previous edition and the current one. The elimination of subtypes for schizophrenia is a substantive change in the DSM-5. During an assessment, a client admits to regularly using drugs. When asked about attempts to seek treatment, the client states that he is fearful of being "dope sick". Based on this statement, the client is most likely using: A. Cocaine B. Heroin C. Marijuana D. Stimulants - CORRECT ANSWER A: B The question contains a qualifying word--MOST. While "dope sick" can be used to refer to signs of withdrawal from a variety of drugs, it is most commonly associated with opiate and opioid addiction. Opiates are alkaloids derived from the opium poppy. A social worker is contacted by a former client who received follow-up services from another agency after termination. The former client reports that his confidentiality was breached by this agency's staff and recommends that the social worker not refer to this agency in the future. In order to best assist, the social worker should: A. Inform the agency director about the incident so that no referrals are made in the future B. Educate the client about methods for filing licensing and other complaints C. Ask the client if he would like to discuss the situation further D. Contact the follow-up agency staff to see if they are aware of the allegations. - CORRECT ANSWER A: B The correct answer is the one that will "best assist" the client given the case scenario. The social worker does not know the circumstances surrounding the alleged breach of confidentiality. The credibility of the complaint is best investigated by a regulatory, licensing, and/or credentialing body--not the social worker--by meeting with the former client or questioning the follow-up agency staff. Ceasing referrals would be inappropriate if the breach did not occur or was done to prevent serious, foreseeable, and imminent peril. A social worker learns that his daughter's boyfriend has made an appointment to see him at his agency to discuss problems that the youth is having at home. The social worker contacts the boyfriend by phone and learns that fighting with his parents has become destructive. The boyfriend states that he trusts the social worker who has interacted with the boy and his parents for several months. In this situation, the social worker should: A. Arrange to see the boy at the agency immediately to assess whether he is in danger B. Offer suggestions that may be helpful before telling him that being served by the agency would pose a conflict C. Explain prohibitions about meeting with the boy while providing names and contact information of other clinicians who can help D. Recommend that the boy meet with the social worker's supervisor so that a determination can be made about how to best assist - CORRECT ANSWER A: C In this case scenario, the social worker has a personal relationship with the boy that precludes serving him. Offering suggestions about courses of action would not be appropriate as the social worker does not know the root cause of the problem and, therefore, cannot offer advice. Additionally, having the boy meet with the supervisor would not be advisable as it is also a conflict and requires the boy to waste time explaining his situation to someone who will not be treating him. While the case scenario describes the fighting as "destructive," there is no indication that the boy is in danger. The boy should understand the reasons that the social worker cannot meet with him and freely choose from a listing of appropriate providers. A social worker who was recently hired as an executive director of a large mental health agency notices that the racial composition of the administration does not reflect that of the overall organizational staff. There are few individuals of color in leadership positions. In this situation, the social worker should FIRST: A. Encourage minority staff to apply for supervisory positions in the future B. Review the hiring process and practices of the agency C. Raise the concern at the next executive staff meeting D. Implement a program to attract and develop qualified job candidates of color - CORRECT ANSWER A: B The question contains a qualifying word--FIRST. While many of the incorrect response choices, such as encouraging minority staff are good ideas, they do not address the apparent root of the problem--institutionalized discrimination. Without identifying and changing the policies and practices that are preventing minority staff from being hired/promoted, the ideas presented in the incorrect response choices will be useless. Discussing the concern with executive staff may be helpful, but only after the social worker has identified the reasons that minority candidates are not applying and/or being selected. Perhaps because they do not see persons of color in executive management, they do not feel that such positions are attainable or are sent the message, consciously or unconsciously, that it is not worth applying as they will not be selected. A client who attributes his illness to the "evil eye" is likely going to seek intervention through: A. Medication administration B. Educational group work C. Spiritual rituals D. Medical treatment - CORRECT ANSWER A: C Spirituality and/or religious beliefs are important considerations in the selection of treatment modalities as they have strong influence on client behavior and attitudes. Historically, mental illness was thought to be caused by evil spirits, the "evil eye". Positive regard is BEST defined as: A. Unconditional acceptance of client's actions and feelings B. Acknowledgement of client's strengths in assessments C. Constant reinforcement of client's progress towards change D. Use of language that is free of pejorative terms - CORRECT ANSWER A: A The question contains the qualifying word--BEST. While some of the response choices may be related to positive regard, unconditional acceptance is central to this construct, making it the correct answer. During the sixth session, a client becomes angry as she feels that a social worker is judging her behavior. She leaves abruptly, sending a written request several days later for a copy of her record. In the request, the client states that she will not be returning for services. The social worker does not feel the information in the record would be harmful to the client, but is concerned about the abrupt termination. The social worker should: A. History of antisocial behavior B. Prior criminal history C. Use of force in prior assaults D. Abuse of substances - CORRECT ANSWER A: D All of the response choices are risk factors, but only the correct one is dynamic. The remaining answers are static as they can not be changed. Social workers should focus their efforts on interventions aimed at reducing or eliminating dynamic risk factors. A social worker learns from a client that his wifes company is going to open a corporate site in a neighboring town that will dramatically increase property values in that area. The social worker tells this information to a colleague who is struggling financially and looking to invest in order to improve his situation. The social worker does not reveal the source of the information. In this situation, the social workers actions are: A. Unethical, since the social worker used client information for a personal interest B. Ethical, since the social worker protected the confidentiality of the client C. Unethical, since the social worker cannot ensure that the colleague's investment will grow D. Ethical, since the social worker assisted a colleague and did not personally benefit from the information - CORRECT ANSWER A: A While the social worker did not directly gain financially from the client information, it was used for personal interest, assisting a colleague, which is unethical. It is easy to see how using information obtained from a client can lead to many problems. A client confides to a social worker that she feels overwhelmed as she does not know where to begin addressing her many problems. She recently lost her job and has increasing demands being placed on her by her aging parents. Which of the following statements by the social worker will BEST convey empathy to the client? A. "We need to figure out together which problem is most pressing so we can come up with some strategies to help make things better" B. "It is a pity that you are experiencing so many problems at the same time, but we can work together to make your situation better." C. "Perhaps your job loss can be viewed as a positive as you will now have more time to meet the demands placed on you by your parents" D. "Feeling overwhelmed is understandable given the issues that you have mentioned and your acknowledgement of these feelings is important." - CORRECT ANSWER A: D The question contains a qualifying word--BEST. While some of the response choices may be helpful, they do not "start where the client is" by addressing her feelings. Empathy is not pity. Also, helping the client prioritize her problems does not directly show sensitivity to her emotions, which is the most appropriate response. Negative entropy in a system occurs when order is: A. Decreased or eliminated B. Maintained or increased C. Directed at maladaptive purposes D. Not controlled in any way - CORRECT ANSWER A: B The meaning of negative entropy is counterintuitive as it is positive for a system. "Negative" in this context means the opposite of entropy, which is the loss of energy. Thus, negative entropy is "good" for a system and entropy is "bad". A client is experiencing severe financial hardship and working outside the home will greatly enhance the financial well-being of her family. She refuses to seek employment, citing the need to stay home and care for her small child as the reason. This decision will likely result in the eviction of her family in the near future. To effectively serve this client, the social worker must: A. Locate affordable housing options in case the client needs to move quickly B. Help the client to see the urgency of the situation C. Acknowledge the effects of values on the clients attitudes and behaviors D. Explore with the client employment opportunities that may be done at home - CORRECT ANSWER A: C The correct response must be chosen as it is the basis of being able "to effectively serve the client". Some of the incorrect answers provide tangible actions or interventions that may be useful. However, these interventions are not tied to the acknowledgment that a client's values will drive his or her attitudes and behaviors. All individuals, including social workers and clients, tend to use their own social, economic, religious, and cultural background as the norm. Social workers must acknowledge the differences in values that they have from clients in order to be effective partners in the change process. A family comes to see a social worker as their relationships have become strained. The teenage son has a group of good friends, but never brings them home and spends most of his time in his room. The parents engage in destructive patterns of fighting that usually result in them not speaking to each other. The family is experiencing financial difficulties due to underemployment and the son threatens to leave the house if "things do not get better". In order to best assist, the social worker should: A. Model effective communication strategies that can be used by family members B. Begin individual counseling with the son to assist him with dealing with the stress in the household C. Help the parents look for additional work to alleviate their financial demands D. Determine the outcomes desired by the family to assist them with prioritizing their concerns - CORRECT ANSWER A: D In case scenarios, it is critical to identify the client. In this scenario, it is the family as a whole, so two of the four responses can be eliminated. Often it is possible to help narrow down the number of possible correct response choices by ensuring that attention is being directed at the identified client. Which personality disorder is MOST closely associated with attention-seeking behavior? A. Schizoid B. Histrionic C. Obsessive-Compulsive D. Narcissistic - CORRECT ANSWER A: B The question contains a qualifying word--MOST. While clients with other personality disorders may engage in attention-seeking behaviors it is a hallmark of histrionic personality disorder. Narcisstic personality disorder is within the same cluster as histrionic. While there may be some attention-seeking with this disorder, it is based on receiving praise and admiration. A client meets with a social worker as he has been estranged from his parents and feels an emotional loss at not having a relationship with them. He reports that he would like to contact them and does not know why it has been so long since they talked. In order to discuss the available options, the social worker should FIRST: