ACC Professional Ethics & Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A certified activity consultant is asked by a supervisor to skip required documentation to save time. The most ethical response is to:
- Comply if the supervisor has been working in the field longer
- Refuse and explain that documentation is a professional and regulatory requirement (Correct answer)
- Complete partial documentation as a compromise
- Consult a coworker to see what others do in this situation
Correct answer: Refuse and explain that documentation is a professional and regulatory requirement
Regulatory compliance and professional standards require complete documentation regardless of supervisor pressure.
Question 2: Which scenario represents a conflict of interest for an Activity Consultant?
- Ordering supplies from a vendor where the consultant's spouse is employed (Correct answer)
- Attending a professional development conference paid by the employer
- Coordinating a volunteer program with a local school
- Inviting a local musician to perform for residents
Correct answer: Ordering supplies from a vendor where the consultant's spouse is employed
Purchasing from a business where a family member works represents a conflict of interest that should be disclosed to administration.
Question 3: Under the NAAP Code of Ethics, activity professionals have an obligation to pursue continuing education primarily because:
- It is required to earn more salary
- It ensures competence and the delivery of quality services to residents (Correct answer)
- It satisfies an employer's liability insurance requirements
- It prevents activity professionals from being replaced by volunteers
Correct answer: It ensures competence and the delivery of quality services to residents
Continuing education is an ethical obligation tied to professional competence and the quality of care provided to residents.
Question 4: A resident tells an activity consultant personal information and asks that it be kept secret from staff. The most appropriate action is to:
- Keep it entirely confidential as the resident requested
- Share it only if it is relevant to the resident's care or safety (Correct answer)
- Immediately report all disclosed information to the charge nurse
- Ignore the information and change the subject
Correct answer: Share it only if it is relevant to the resident's care or safety
Confidentiality has limits — information relevant to care or safety must be shared with the appropriate care team members.
Question 5: When an activity consultant observes a colleague making a culturally insensitive remark to a resident, the ethical response is to:
- Laugh along to avoid drawing attention to the incident
- Address the behavior appropriately and report it per facility policy (Correct answer)
- Report it only if the resident files a formal complaint
- Assume the colleague knows the resident well and it was acceptable
Correct answer: Address the behavior appropriately and report it per facility policy
Cultural sensitivity and respect for all residents are ethical obligations; witnessing disrespect requires action.
Question 6: The ethical principle of 'justice' in activity programming most closely refers to:
- Punishing residents who break facility rules
- Ensuring fair and equitable access to activities for all residents (Correct answer)
- Prioritizing activities that generate the most revenue for the facility
- Giving the most popular residents preferential scheduling
Correct answer: Ensuring fair and equitable access to activities for all residents
Justice requires that all residents, regardless of ability, diagnosis, or background, have equal access to meaningful activity programming.
Question 7: An activity professional who is asked to work outside their scope of competence should:
- Attempt the task and learn as they go to avoid inconveniencing others
- Decline and refer the task to someone with the appropriate expertise (Correct answer)
- Complete the task without telling anyone of their limitations
- Ask the resident to waive liability before proceeding
Correct answer: Decline and refer the task to someone with the appropriate expertise
Working within one's scope of competence is an ethical obligation; tasks beyond that scope should be referred to qualified professionals.
ACC Professional Ethics & Standards 3
A certified activity consultant is asked by a supervisor to skip required documentation to save time.
The most ethical response is to: