DSP - Direct Support Professional Professionalism and Ethics Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A person you support tells you in confidence that they have been skipping a prescribed medication because they don't like how it makes them feel. Which tenet of the NADSP Code of Ethics is most directly in conflict in this situation?
- Person-Centered Supports vs. Promoting Physical and Emotional Well-Being (Correct answer)
- Confidentiality vs. Integrity and Responsibility
- Relationships vs. Self-Determination
- Justice, Fairness and Equity vs. Advocacy
Correct answer: Person-Centered Supports vs. Promoting Physical and Emotional Well-Being
This scenario creates a direct conflict between honoring the person's wishes and autonomy (Person-Centered Supports) and the responsibility to ensure their safety and health (Promoting Physical and Emotional Well-Being). The DSP must navigate this by respecting the person's feelings while also addressing the potential health risks and ensuring proper medical consultation occurs.
Question 2: A DSP is working with an individual who loves to bake. The individual's family often brings expensive baking ingredients. The DSP, an avid baker themselves, accepts some of these ingredients to take home, believing it prevents waste. This action constitutes a violation of which professional principle?
- Dual relationships
- Informed consent
- Conflict of interest (Correct answer)
- Confidentiality
Correct answer: Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when a professional's personal interests interfere with their professional duties. By accepting the ingredients for personal use, the DSP is gaining a personal benefit from their professional relationship, which could compromise their objectivity and judgment in the support role.
Question 3: Which of the following actions BEST demonstrates a DSP maintaining professional boundaries?
- Sharing detailed stories about their own family problems to build rapport.
- Accepting a friend request on social media from a person they support.
- Loaning a person they support $20 until their next check arrives.
- Declining a client's invitation to a private family celebration. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Declining a client's invitation to a private family celebration.
Maintaining professional boundaries means keeping the relationship focused on support and avoiding dual relationships. Declining an invitation to a private family event is an appropriate way to maintain this boundary, while the other options (sharing personal problems, connecting on social media, loaning money) cross into a personal friendship, which can complicate the professional dynamic.
Question 4: A DSP overhears a coworker discussing confidential information about a person they support in a public area of the facility. According to the NADSP Code of Ethics, what is the DSP's primary responsibility?
- Confront the coworker loudly to make an example of them.
- Report the incident to their supervisor. (Correct answer)
- Immediately tell the person whose information was shared.
- Ignore the situation to avoid conflict with the coworker.
Correct answer: Report the incident to their supervisor.
The NADSP Code of Ethics emphasizes integrity, responsibility, and confidentiality. The most professional and ethical action is to report the breach to a supervisor who can address the issue appropriately and formally. This upholds the DSP's responsibility to the profession and protects the privacy of the person supported.
Question 5: The ethical principle of 'Integrity and Responsibility' requires a DSP to do all of the following EXCEPT:
- Assume responsibility and accountability for their decisions and actions.
- Advance their knowledge and skills through ongoing professional development.
- Allow their personal values to guide all professional decisions. (Correct answer)
- Seek advice and guidance on ethical issues when a situation is unclear.
Correct answer: Allow their personal values to guide all professional decisions.
While DSPs should be aware of their own values, the principle of Integrity and Responsibility requires them to not let personal values unduly influence their professional decisions, which must be guided by the NADSP Code of Ethics and the preferences of the person supported. The other options are all explicit components of this principle.
Question 6: A person supported expresses a desire to become more involved in their religious community, but the DSP holds very different spiritual beliefs. To act ethically, the DSP should:
- Explain why their own beliefs are more logical.
- Gently discourage the topic to avoid discomfort.
- Actively support the person in exploring and participating in their chosen faith. (Correct answer)
- Suggest a variety of other community activities instead.
Correct answer: Actively support the person in exploring and participating in their chosen faith.
According to the NADSP Code of Ethics, particularly the tenets of 'Respect' and 'Self-Determination', a DSP must honor the unique values, culture, and preferences of the individual. The DSP's role is to facilitate the person's self-directed life, which includes their spiritual pursuits, regardless of the DSP's personal beliefs.
DSP - Direct Support Professional Professionalism and Ethics Questions and Answers 1
A person you support tells you in confidence that they have been skipping a prescribed medication because they don't like how it makes them feel.
Which tenet of the NADSP Code of Ethics is most directly in conflict in this situation?