Professional Ethics Flashcards

A parent asks you to privately coach their child at the facility pool during off-hours without the facility's knowledge. What is the most ethical response?

Answer: Decline and refer the parent to the facility's approved private lesson program

Using facility resources without authorization violates employer policy and creates liability.

You notice a fellow instructor regularly leaves their class unattended to check their phone. What should you do first?

Answer: Report the safety concern to the aquatics supervisor

Unsupervised swimmers are a serious safety risk that must be reported through proper channels.

Which practice best protects both students and instructors from allegations of misconduct?

Answer: Keeping interactions observable and following a two-adult or open-door policy

Observable interactions are a core abuse-prevention and professional boundary practice.

A student's progress does not meet the level's exit skills, but the parent pressures you to pass them. What is correct?

Answer: Accurately evaluate against the performance criteria and explain the next steps

Honest assessment against established criteria is required for safety and program integrity.

An instructor posts photos of their swim class on a personal social media account without permission. What ethical issue does this raise?

Answer: Violation of privacy and facility media-consent policies

Photographing minors requires guardian consent and adherence to facility policy.

What is the instructor's responsibility if they suspect a child is being abused at home?

Answer: Follow facility procedures and state mandated-reporter requirements

Many states require youth-serving staff to report suspected abuse to authorities promptly.

Accepting an expensive gift from a student's family may be problematic mainly because it can:

Answer: Create a perceived conflict of interest or favoritism

Valuable gifts can compromise impartiality and should be handled per facility policy.