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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

ASWB MSW Exam Questions

Page 9 of 50

161.

To which of the following does the term "comorbid" refer?

  • A patient with two conditions

  • Two patients with the same condition

  • A patient with two conditions, one of which is fatal

  • A patient with a fatal condition

Correct answer: A patient with two conditions

The term comorbid refers to a patient who suffers from two conditions at the same time; such as depression and substance abuse, or schizophrenia and tic disorder.

Comorbid does not refer to two patients with the same condition, nor does it specifically refer to the fatality of any condition.

162.

A social worker has been subpoenaed to court to testify against a former client. Which of the following is TRUE about the social worker's responsibilities?

  • The social worker is required to submit a testimony if ordered to do so by a judge

  • The social worker can legally ignore the subpoena due to confidentiality laws

  • The social worker should first inform the client of the subpoena, then notify the judge in writing that the social worker will not be attending the court hearing

  • The social worker's responsibility is not to the client but to the law

Correct answer: The social worker is required to submit a testimony if ordered to do so by a judge

Social workers should always respect clients' confidentiality and privacy and should notify them before disclosing information to third parties. However, if a social worker is subpoenaed by the court system, that social worker should first explain the limits of confidentiality to the judge. If the judge orders the social worker's testimony, the social worker is required to testify or can be held in contempt of court. During the court hearing, the social worker should only provide the minimum amount of information that will answer questions.

As stated above, the social worker should not ignore the subpoena or refuse to attend the court hearing as this would violate legal obligations. The social worker is ultimately required to appear in court, but also has a responsibility to the client to provide the least amount of information necessary.

163.

When one is assessing affect, what is one assessing?

  • Mood and statements about mood

  • Language capability

  • Integrity of thought process

  • Judgment and insight

Correct answer: Mood and statements about mood

When a person is being assessed, affect refers not only to the mood they exhibit to observation but to their perceptions about mood as evidenced by their own statements about it.

Affect in this context does not refer to language capability, thought integrity, or judgment/insight.

164.

Restating content and reflection of feelings are two types of:

  • Listening techniques

  • Brainstorming techniques

  • Sculpting techniques

  • Internalizing techniques

Correct answer: Listening techniques

Communication skill-building techniques are an incredibly important component of family therapy. Social workers are usually able to observe communication methods within families during the first few sessions and can use various techniques to improve the ways family members communicate with each other. Listening techniques can be very helpful to families and include restating content, reflection of feelings, taking turns expressing feelings, and nonjudgmental brainstorming.

As stated above, restating content and reflection of feelings are two types of listening techniques. Brainstorming is another specific type of listening technique. Sculpting techniques include posing the family in specific situations and family choreography, which shows how family members would like the situation to be rather than how it is. Internalizing refers to the process of targeting one's negative emotions toward the self rather than others, so this answer is also incorrect.

165.

In which of the following stages of couples development is there a realization that differences do exist, but the decision has been made to remain together and take the good with the bad?

  • Commitment

  • Stability

  • Co-creation

  • Romance

Correct answer: Commitment

In the commitment stage of couples development, a couple has experienced romance, resolved power struggles, achieved a degree of stability and have established the idea of commitment; that there is good and bad and acceptance of both is crucial.

The other stages listed are either earlier or later in the process. Co-creation is seen as the last stage, where a comfortable commitment enables mutual growth.

166.

Which of the following correctly narrates the classic statuses of cultural, racial, and ethnic identity?

  • Preencounter, Encounter, Immersion, Internalization

  • Preencounter, Immersion, Internalization, Encounter

  • Preencounter, Encounter, Internalization, Immersion

  • Preencounter, Immersion, Encounter, Internalization

Correct answer: Preencounter, Encounter, Immersion, Internalization

There is a classic presentation of statuses with regard to cultural, racial, and ethnic identity. It is important to remember that this is not necessarily a progression. The preencounter phase refers to a state of relative ignorance. Encounter describes a meeting with an object of cultural, racial, or ethnic identification that provokes consideration. Immersion refers to the confrontation with cultural, racial, or ethnic identity, and internalization is the more secure sense of identity that eventually emerges from the process.

167.

What is the "duty to warn"?

  • If a client tells a social worker they are planning to hurt someone else, the social worker is allowed to break confidentiality in order to protect the potential victim

  • If a social worker has been working with a client who has a volatile temper, they must tell the new social worker taking over the case so they are prepared

  • If a client tells their social worker that they have an STD but does not want to tell their spouse, the social worker must break confidentiality and tell the spouse

Correct answer: If a client tells a social worker they are planning to hurt someone else, the social worker is allowed to break confidentiality in order to protect the potential victim

The "duty to warn" means that if a client makes a threat toward someone, a social worker must break confidentiality to protect the potential victim.

The other answer options are incorrect because any communication regarding or on behalf of the client requires permission prior to breaking confidentiality.

168.

Ruth is a resident in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Every month, her social worker meets with her, as well as the nutritionist, nurse practitioner, activity director, and other staff. They work together to make sure Ruth is healthy and happy at the SNF. What is this team called?

  • Interdisciplinary team

  • Cooperative team

  • Multi-departmental team

  • Quality care team

Correct answer: Interdisciplinary team

An interdisciplinary team is a team of professionals from different fields who work together to meet the needs of a client. The team coordinates their efforts to avoid duplication of services or to avoid forgetting to provide a particular service.

The other answer options are incorrect because they are not teams that are formed to coordinate care for a client.

169.

Which of the following is NOT seen as a benefit of empathic communication?

  • Mitigation of symptoms

  • Defusing anger

  • Decreasing defensiveness

  • Establishing rapport

Correct answer: Mitigation of symptoms

Empathic communication, the practice of engaging emotionally with one's client and providing feedback indicating engagement, is known to defuse anger, decrease defensiveness, and help in establishing rapport.

The mitigation of mental health symptoms per se is not a benefit of this style of communication.

170.

According to Bowlby, which of the following is the BEST description of the age range most critical to attachment and bonding?

  • 0 to 5 years

  • 5 to 10 years

  • 0 to 1 years

  • The entire lifespan

Correct answer: 0 to 5 years

According to the work of John Bowlby, the key period of the lifespan for attachment and bonding is anywhere within the first five years of life.

The other age ranges do not match Bowlby's arguments about attachment and bonding.

171.

What does HIPAA stand for?

  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

  • Health Initiative and Preventive American Association

  • Health Initiative Portability and Accountability Act

Correct answer: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

HIPAA was enacted in 1996 by the federal government to protect healthcare information, make health insurance easier to obtain, and control healthcare administrative expenses.

172.

Which of the following would be a safe assumption about a client's gender identity?

  • That it is defined by the client

  • That it always conforms to a client's anatomical sex

  • That it is not separate from sexual orientation

  • That they are likely to have a gender identity that differs from biological sex

Correct answer: That it is defined by the client

Gender identity is defined by the client. For some clients, gender identity is not as simple as being male or female; it can also involve shifts between masculinity and femininity in terms of dress and expression. Assuming that gender identity is defined by the client is really the only entirely safe assumption here.

Gender identity does not always conform to a client's anatomical sex. For instance, transgender individuals identify as being different from their biological sex.

Gender identity and sexual orientation are separate concepts. People who identify as transgender can experience the full range of sexual orientations that those who are not transgender experience.

Finally, it is not likely that everyone has a gender identity that differs from biological sex. For most people, gender identity aligns with biological sex, but this is not the case with transgender individuals.

173.

If a social worker uses indirect practice, who do they work with?

  • Organizations

  • Individuals

  • Small groups

Correct answer: Organizations

Indirect social work practice involves working with agencies, organizations, and administration in order to effect change on a greater level.

Direct practice is when a social worker works with an individual or a small group of people in order to determine which programs or services would best meet their needs. Social workers who use direct practice would work with individuals, families, and small groups. Direct practice social workers are responsible for performing the initial screenings, determining the most appropriate services and programs, handling a case management load, and some counseling.

174.

A social worker employed by an inpatient psychiatric hospital needs previous records on an 8-year-old patient's mental health history. Since the patient's admission the day before, the social worker has not been able to reach the patient's guardian. Which of the following actions should the social worker take?

  • Continue to attempt to reach the guardian to obtain consent to get records

  • Contact the previous providers and explain the situation to them

  • Have the 8-year-old sign consent paperwork

  • Call Child Protective Services to make a report of neglect

Correct answer: Continue to attempt to reach the guardian to obtain consent to get records

In this situation, the patient is a minor; his guardian is required to give permission to obtain records. The social worker in this situation should continue to try to reach the guardian in order to obtain consent rather than violate the patient's privacy.

By contacting previous providers, the social worker would be notifying third parties that the patient is hospitalized and would be violating confidentiality laws. Consent must be signed by the patient's guardian; paperwork signed by the minor patient is not considered valid. The social worker has only been unable to reach the guardian for one day, so it would be extreme to make a report of neglect to Child Protective Services and would create a relationship of distrust between the guardian and the social worker.

175.

According to section 1.16 Termination of Services of the NASW Code of Ethics, when may a fee-for-service social worker terminate services to a client?

  • A fee-for-service social worker can terminate services to a client when the client has not paid an overdue balance, when the client does not pose a danger to himself or others, and when the social worker addresses the nonpayment consequences with the client

  • A fee-for-service social worker may not terminate a client's service unless his supervisor grants permission to do so

  • A fee-for-service social worker can terminate services to a client when the client fails to attend three consecutive sessions

  • A fee-for-service social worker can terminate services to a client when he wants to pursue a sexual relationship with the client

Correct answer: A fee-for-service social worker can terminate services to a client when the client has not paid an overdue balance, when the client does not pose a danger to himself or others, and when the social worker addresses the nonpayment consequences with the client

The Code of Ethics clearly outlines when services to a client can ethically be terminated, which occurs after the social worker has attempted several times to arrange agreed-upon terms of payment with the client.

Section 1.16 of the NASW Code of Ethics does not state that a social worker needs his supervisor's permission to terminate services to a client, nor does it state that services can be terminated when a client fails to attend three consecutive sessions. This section states that services to a client cannot be terminated in order for a social worker to pursue a sexual relationship with a client.

176.

Social workers should be familiar with all of the following laws and policies, EXCEPT:

  • Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

  • NASW Code of Ethics

  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Correct answer: Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act is the name of various pieces of legislation that have been approved by the United States Congress in an attempt to balance the United States budget. There is no particular reason that social workers need to be familiar with this legislation other than general knowledge about the workings of the United States government.

Social workers should be familiar with the NASW Code of Ethics and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, as they govern issues of confidentiality and privacy. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act is mainly for social workers in schools, but all social workers should understand its basic principles.

177.

Which of the following is a TRUE statement regarding abuse in relationships later in life?

  • Abuse in relationships is often linked with childhood experiences

  • Boys are more likely than girls to experience abuse as children

  • Witnessing acts of violence in the home decreases the chances that males will be violent and girls will be victims

  • Adolescent girls typically experience violence only in their homes

Correct answer: Abuse in relationships is often linked with childhood experiences

Studies have shown that abuse in relationships is often linked with childhood experiences. This means that children who are exposed to domestic violence in the home, neighborhood, or school will often act out aggressively later in life simply based on their level of exposure.

The remaining answer options are all false. Girls are more likely than boys to experience abuse as children. Witnessing acts of violence in the home increases the chance that males will be violent and girls will be victims. Adolescent girls typically experience violence in their homes, schools, and communities.

178.

According to psychoanalytic theory, which of the following represents the "I" or reasoning, conscious state?

  • Ego

  • Superego

  • Id

  • Homeostasis

Correct answer: Ego

According to psychoanalytic theory, the ego is the reasoning, conscious state that mitigates between the superego, or set of societal norms and expectations, and the id, or the unconscious drives operating according to survival and pleasure principles. 

Homeostasis refers to the steady state of mood and stability that most people strive for.

179.

A former client you saw for several years has contacted you to request copies of his records. You feel strongly that by allowing your client to read his records you would be causing him serious harm.

What should you do?

  • Document the client's request as well as the reason behind your denial, and refuse to let the client have the copies

  • Give the client copies despite your reservations

  • Refuse to give the client copies and do not explain why

  • Give copies to the client's closest family member and explain to that person your reservations

Correct answer: Document the client's request as well as the reason behind your denial, and refuse to let the client have the copies

Section 1.08 of the NASW Code of Ethics, Access to Records, states that there are times when a client's access to their own records could cause harm. In these situations, social workers have the right to limit access to records, though clients’ requests and the rationale for withholding some or all of the records should be documented in clients’ files. 

As stated above, you have the right to restrict access to clients' records. You can refuse to give the client copies, but you should make sure that you document why you refused and may even give the client a brief explanation. You should not give copies to anyone other than the client, especially if you are afraid it could do harm to the client.

180.

Stephanie is using Roberts' Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model with a client who is in a crisis situation. Stephanie has assessed the lethality of the crisis and is ready to move to the next step.

Which step should Stephanie take next?

  • Establish a rapport with the client

  • Identify problems by defining the crisis

  • Deal with the client's feelings

Correct answer: Establish a rapport with the client

Albert R. Roberts developed Roberts' Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model, which includes the following seven steps:

  1. Assess the lethality of the crisis
  2. Establish a rapport with the client
  3. Identify problems by defining the crisis
  4. Deal with the client's feelings
  5. Explore coping alternatives
  6. Develop an action plan to restore function
  7. Follow up with the client
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