Question 1
In an initial session with a social worker, a client mentions having been hospitalized
several times for depression. When the social worker attempts to explore the
hospitalizations, the client becomes tense and guarded, saying "it's old history". The client
refuses to give permission for the records to be released. The social worker should FIRST:
a. Explore why this topic appears to be upsetting the client
b. Acknowledge the client's right to decide about release of records
c. Reassure the client that the focus will be on present issues
d. Assess the client's current level of depression
CORRECT ANSWER
B - Acknowledge the client's right to decide about release of records
Question 2
When faced by a hostile client in an agency setting, it is BEST for the social worker to:
a. Suggest that the client's attitude is making the situation worse
b. Accept the client's hostility and talk about nonthreatening topics
c. Set limits and structure on the interview session
d. Acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them
CORRECT ANSWER
D - Acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them
Question 3
1
,A client who has received services for several years in a dialysis unit appears for a routine
visit. The nurse notices a markedly changed affect and refers the client to the social
worker. When seeing the social worker, the client seems detached, self-absorbed, and
tearful. The social worker should FIRST assess the client's:
a. Life situation and recent changes
b. Compliance with medical care
c. Concerns about dying
d. Feelings about dialysis
CORRECT ANSWER
A - Life situation and recent changes
Question 4
During Mrs. S's first appointment in a family agency, the social worker encourages her to
express her feelings about the recent placement of her child in a residential facility for the
developmentally disabled. Mrs. S talks at length instead about her physical problems. The
social worker should:
a. Use Mrs. S's remarks about her health to identify unresolved parenting issues
b. Refocus the interview on the child's behavior and the reason for the residential placement
c. Explore with Mrs. S how her health problems are related to the recent placement of her
child
d. Listen to Mrs. S's description of her health as a beginning of a relationship and means of
assessing her self-perception
CORRECT ANSWER
D - Listen to Mrs. S's description of her health as a beginning of a relationship and means
of assessing her self-perception
Question 5
A couple expressing extreme anger at each other go to a social worker for marital
counseling. The social worker should FIRST:
2
,a. Explore the goals the anger is masking
b. Clarify whether each partner is willing to hear the other
c. Acknowledge the anger each partner has toward the other
d. Use the interview to probe for positive feelings each has for the other
CORRECT ANSWER
C - Acknowledge the anger each partner has toward the other
Question 6
A social worker has been asked to assist an elderly client in making alternative living
arrangements. In the initial interview, the client repeatedly attempts to discuss past
experiences. What is the social worker's MOST appropriate response to the client?
a. Ignore the references to the past
b. Facilitate discussion of the recollections
c. Refer the client for psychiatric evaluation
d. Administer a geriatric evaluation scale
CORRECT ANSWER
B - Facilitate discussion of the recollections
Question 7
A hospital social worker interviews a couple whose six month old infant has recently been
hospitalized for cystic fibrosis. The social worker notices that the parents are reluctant to
touch the child. Based on this information, the social worker's FIRST intervention should
be to:
a. Explore the parent's reaction to the child's illness
b. Refer the couple to a support group
c. Evaluate the situation for out-of-home placement
d. Provide the couple with information
3
, CORRECT ANSWER
A - Explore the parent's reaction to the child's illness
Question 8
In the first session with a school social worker, a high school student reveals that he has
been cutting school and forging his mother's name on absence excuses. The social worker
should:
a. Inform the student that the social worker has a responsibility to inform his mother
b. Avoid negatively reinforcing the attention-seeking behavior
c. Suggest that it would be best for him to inform school authorities and accept
responsibility for his behavior
d. Explore the reasons for the absences and factors contributing to the behavior
CORRECT ANSWER
D - Explore the reasons for the absences and factors contributing to the behavior
Question 9
A family comes to an agency complaining of their child's behavior problems. As a result of
the assessment phase, the social worker believes that the marital relationship is the
primary problem. The social worker should focus on:
a. The parents, confronting them with their relationship issues
b. The child and the ways the parents should react to the behavior
c. A discussion of the social worker's perception of the marital relationship
d. Developing the child's insight into behavior as a reaction to marital stress
CORRECT ANSWER
C - A discussion of the social worker's perception of the marital relationship
4
In an initial session with a social worker, a client mentions having been hospitalized
several times for depression. When the social worker attempts to explore the
hospitalizations, the client becomes tense and guarded, saying "it's old history". The client
refuses to give permission for the records to be released. The social worker should FIRST:
a. Explore why this topic appears to be upsetting the client
b. Acknowledge the client's right to decide about release of records
c. Reassure the client that the focus will be on present issues
d. Assess the client's current level of depression
CORRECT ANSWER
B - Acknowledge the client's right to decide about release of records
Question 2
When faced by a hostile client in an agency setting, it is BEST for the social worker to:
a. Suggest that the client's attitude is making the situation worse
b. Accept the client's hostility and talk about nonthreatening topics
c. Set limits and structure on the interview session
d. Acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them
CORRECT ANSWER
D - Acknowledge the client's feelings and encourage discussion of them
Question 3
1
,A client who has received services for several years in a dialysis unit appears for a routine
visit. The nurse notices a markedly changed affect and refers the client to the social
worker. When seeing the social worker, the client seems detached, self-absorbed, and
tearful. The social worker should FIRST assess the client's:
a. Life situation and recent changes
b. Compliance with medical care
c. Concerns about dying
d. Feelings about dialysis
CORRECT ANSWER
A - Life situation and recent changes
Question 4
During Mrs. S's first appointment in a family agency, the social worker encourages her to
express her feelings about the recent placement of her child in a residential facility for the
developmentally disabled. Mrs. S talks at length instead about her physical problems. The
social worker should:
a. Use Mrs. S's remarks about her health to identify unresolved parenting issues
b. Refocus the interview on the child's behavior and the reason for the residential placement
c. Explore with Mrs. S how her health problems are related to the recent placement of her
child
d. Listen to Mrs. S's description of her health as a beginning of a relationship and means of
assessing her self-perception
CORRECT ANSWER
D - Listen to Mrs. S's description of her health as a beginning of a relationship and means
of assessing her self-perception
Question 5
A couple expressing extreme anger at each other go to a social worker for marital
counseling. The social worker should FIRST:
2
,a. Explore the goals the anger is masking
b. Clarify whether each partner is willing to hear the other
c. Acknowledge the anger each partner has toward the other
d. Use the interview to probe for positive feelings each has for the other
CORRECT ANSWER
C - Acknowledge the anger each partner has toward the other
Question 6
A social worker has been asked to assist an elderly client in making alternative living
arrangements. In the initial interview, the client repeatedly attempts to discuss past
experiences. What is the social worker's MOST appropriate response to the client?
a. Ignore the references to the past
b. Facilitate discussion of the recollections
c. Refer the client for psychiatric evaluation
d. Administer a geriatric evaluation scale
CORRECT ANSWER
B - Facilitate discussion of the recollections
Question 7
A hospital social worker interviews a couple whose six month old infant has recently been
hospitalized for cystic fibrosis. The social worker notices that the parents are reluctant to
touch the child. Based on this information, the social worker's FIRST intervention should
be to:
a. Explore the parent's reaction to the child's illness
b. Refer the couple to a support group
c. Evaluate the situation for out-of-home placement
d. Provide the couple with information
3
, CORRECT ANSWER
A - Explore the parent's reaction to the child's illness
Question 8
In the first session with a school social worker, a high school student reveals that he has
been cutting school and forging his mother's name on absence excuses. The social worker
should:
a. Inform the student that the social worker has a responsibility to inform his mother
b. Avoid negatively reinforcing the attention-seeking behavior
c. Suggest that it would be best for him to inform school authorities and accept
responsibility for his behavior
d. Explore the reasons for the absences and factors contributing to the behavior
CORRECT ANSWER
D - Explore the reasons for the absences and factors contributing to the behavior
Question 9
A family comes to an agency complaining of their child's behavior problems. As a result of
the assessment phase, the social worker believes that the marital relationship is the
primary problem. The social worker should focus on:
a. The parents, confronting them with their relationship issues
b. The child and the ways the parents should react to the behavior
c. A discussion of the social worker's perception of the marital relationship
d. Developing the child's insight into behavior as a reaction to marital stress
CORRECT ANSWER
C - A discussion of the social worker's perception of the marital relationship
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