NCTRC Professionalism and Ethical Conduct 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CTRS working in a long-term care facility notices that a resident's treatment plan was developed without the resident's input. This raises concern about which ethical principle?
- Non-maleficence
- Justice
- Autonomy (Correct answer)
- Veracity
Correct answer: Autonomy
Autonomy requires that clients have the right to participate in decisions about their own care and treatment.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a boundary violation in recreational therapy?
- Modifying an activity to meet a client's functional level
- Sharing personal contact information with a client for social purposes (Correct answer)
- Documenting session outcomes in the medical record
- Coordinating care with the interdisciplinary team
Correct answer: Sharing personal contact information with a client for social purposes
Sharing personal contact information for social purposes blurs professional boundaries and can compromise the therapeutic relationship.
Question 3: A CTRS suspects a client is being abused by a family member. Under the ethical principle of non-maleficence and mandatory reporting laws, the CTRS should:
- Confront the family member directly during a session
- Report suspicions to the appropriate authorities as required by law (Correct answer)
- Document observations and discuss with the client before taking action
- Maintain confidentiality since there is no confirmed evidence
Correct answer: Report suspicions to the appropriate authorities as required by law
Mandatory reporting laws require CTRSs to report suspected abuse to proper authorities, superseding confidentiality obligations.
Question 4: Which document serves as the primary ethical guide for CTRSs in the United States?
- The ATRA Standards of Practice
- The NCTRC Code of Ethics (Correct answer)
- The Joint Commission Ethical Standards
- The ADA Accessibility Guidelines
Correct answer: The NCTRC Code of Ethics
The NCTRC Code of Ethics is the foundational ethical framework that governs the professional conduct of certified therapeutic recreation specialists.
Question 5: A CTRS who misrepresents their qualifications on a job application is violating which ethical principle?
- Beneficence
- Justice
- Veracity (Correct answer)
- Fidelity
Correct answer: Veracity
Veracity (truthfulness) requires that CTRSs be honest about their credentials, qualifications, and professional background.
Question 6: When is it appropriate for a CTRS to break client confidentiality without client consent?
- When a family member requests information for financial planning purposes
- When a client poses an imminent danger to themselves or others (Correct answer)
- When an insurance company requests records for billing verification
- When a supervisor requests general progress information for staffing decisions
Correct answer: When a client poses an imminent danger to themselves or others
Confidentiality may be ethically and legally broken when there is an imminent risk of harm to the client or identifiable others.
Question 7: A CTRS is approached by a former client who wants to pursue a personal friendship six months after discharge. According to ethical standards, the CTRS should:
- Agree, since the therapeutic relationship has formally ended
- Carefully evaluate the potential for harm and consult ethical guidelines before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Immediately refer the former client to another therapist for ongoing support
- Decline all contact as all post-discharge relationships are prohibited
Correct answer: Carefully evaluate the potential for harm and consult ethical guidelines before proceeding
Ethical guidelines require careful consideration of potential harm in post-therapeutic relationships, as power dynamics may persist after discharge.
NCTRC Professionalism and Ethical Conduct 5
A CTRS working in a long-term care facility notices that a resident's treatment plan was developed without the resident's input.
This raises concern about which ethical principle?