Masters MCQ Flashcards

A social worker discovers that a client with severe depression has been secretly stockpiling medications. The client begs the social worker not to tell anyone. What is the most appropriate initial action?

Answer: Conduct a thorough suicide risk assessment immediately

A thorough suicide risk assessment must be conducted first to determine the level of danger before deciding on any intervention or breach of confidentiality.

During a home visit, a social worker observes unexplained bruising on an elderly client who lives with an adult child. The client says she 'falls a lot.' What should the social worker do?

Answer: Interview the client privately and assess for elder abuse

The social worker should first interview the client privately to conduct a proper assessment before determining whether a mandatory report is required.

A client in family therapy discloses that her husband hits their children but has not done so recently. The children appear healthy and deny abuse. What is the social worker's obligation?

Answer: File a mandatory report because past abuse was disclosed

Social workers are mandatory reporters and must report disclosed child abuse regardless of whether it is ongoing or occurred in the past.

A social worker using a strengths-based approach with a client experiencing chronic unemployment should primarily focus on:

Answer: Exploring the client's existing skills, resources, and past successes

Strengths-based practice centers on identifying and building upon the client's own capabilities, resilience, and resources rather than focusing on deficits.

A social worker is ending treatment with a client after 18 months. The client becomes angry and accuses the social worker of abandonment. This reaction is BEST understood as:

Answer: Transference related to the client's past experiences of loss

Strong emotional reactions at termination often reflect transference, where the client projects feelings from past abandonment or loss experiences onto the therapeutic relationship.

Which intervention is MOST consistent with motivational interviewing when working with a client ambivalent about stopping alcohol use?

Answer: Reflecting the client's own statements about wanting to change

Motivational interviewing uses reflective listening to amplify the client's own change talk, avoiding confrontation and supporting intrinsic motivation.

A social worker learns that a colleague is regularly seeing clients outside of office hours for social visits. The social worker should FIRST:

Answer: Discuss the ethical concern directly with the colleague

NASW ethics guidelines recommend first addressing ethical concerns directly with the colleague before escalating to supervisors or licensing bodies.