LMSW FREE LMSW MCQ Questions and Answers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A social worker discovers that a client's 8-year-old child has unexplained bruising on multiple body parts. What is the FIRST action the social worker should take?
- Consult with a supervisor before taking any action
- File a mandatory report with child protective services (Correct answer)
- Confront the client about the suspected abuse
- Document the observations and schedule a follow-up
Correct answer: File a mandatory report with child protective services
Social workers are mandated reporters and must immediately report suspected child abuse to child protective services regardless of supervisor input.
Question 2: Which theoretical framework emphasizes the reciprocal relationship between individuals and their environments, viewing problems as arising from poor fit between person and environment?
- Psychodynamic theory
- Cognitive-behavioral theory
- Ecological systems theory (Correct answer)
- Solution-focused theory
Correct answer: Ecological systems theory
Ecological systems theory (Germain and Gitterman's life model) focuses on the person-environment fit and the transactions between them.
Question 3: A client tells a social worker, 'I feel like my family would be better off without me.' How should the social worker BEST respond?
- Reassure the client that their family loves them
- Ask directly whether the client is thinking about suicide (Correct answer)
- Refer the client immediately to a psychiatrist
- Explore family relationship issues in the next session
Correct answer: Ask directly whether the client is thinking about suicide
Direct inquiry about suicidal ideation is the appropriate clinical response when a client makes statements suggesting they may be a burden.
Question 4: In motivational interviewing, what does the acronym OARS stand for?
- Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries (Correct answer)
- Observations, Assessments, Referrals, Support
- Outcomes, Accountability, Resilience, Strengths
- Openness, Acceptance, Reframing, Skills
Correct answer: Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries
OARS are the core communication skills in motivational interviewing: Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, and Summaries.
Question 5: A social worker is seeing a client from a culture where direct eye contact is considered disrespectful. The client avoids eye contact during sessions. What is the MOST culturally competent response?
- Gently encourage the client to make eye contact to build rapport
- Recognize this as culturally appropriate behavior and adjust expectations (Correct answer)
- Interpret avoidance of eye contact as a clinical symptom
- Consult DSM-5 criteria to assess for social anxiety disorder
Correct answer: Recognize this as culturally appropriate behavior and adjust expectations
Cultural competence requires recognizing that behaviors have different meanings across cultures and adjusting clinical interpretations accordingly.
Question 6: Which defense mechanism involves attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to another person?
- Rationalization
- Displacement
- Projection (Correct answer)
- Sublimation
Correct answer: Projection
Projection is the defense mechanism where an individual attributes their own unwanted thoughts, feelings, or impulses to someone else.
Question 7: Under HIPAA, when may a social worker share a client's protected health information without written authorization?
- When a family member requests information for caregiving purposes
- When law enforcement requests information for any investigation
- To avert a serious and imminent threat to health or safety (Correct answer)
- When the client's employer requests documentation for disability leave
Correct answer: To avert a serious and imminent threat to health or safety
HIPAA permits disclosure without authorization to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of the client or others.
LMSW FREE LMSW MCQ Questions and Answers 3
A social worker discovers that a client's 8-year-old child has unexplained bruising on multiple body parts.
What is the FIRST action the social worker should take?