CPEN EXAM REVIEW SOLVED QUESTIONS COMPLETE ANSWERS GRADED A PLUS
Question:
2. The ability to keep personal feelings and needs separate from work relationships BEST represents
which social work ethical standard? a. Professional discretion b. Responsibility to the profession c.
Professional boundaries d. Responsibility to colleagues
Answer:
Rationale: This requires knowledge of the definition of professional boundaries (C). Since the
question asks for the BEST response, the secondary responsibilities in the other options are not
correct.
Question:
3. A social worker has been treating a client for two months in an agency setting and is experiencing
intense sexual attraction toward the client. The social worker's BEST response is to: a. Consult with
an agency supervisor about the case b. Reveal the attraction to the client c. Transfer the client to
another agency worker d. Work toward ending the client's services at the agency
Answer:
Rationale: Consulting with a supervisor (A) is the BEST response because it assists in helping to
understand and address the situation. Options B and D are clearly unethical. Transferring the client
(C) may be done later but it is unclear if this action is required at this point and there is not enough
information in the stem to conclude this.
Question:
4. In a routine review of case records at a mental health center, a social work supervisor discovers
that case managers routinely refer all Native American clients to either Alcoholics Anonymous or
Al-Anon. In discussing this practice with the case managers, the supervisors learns that the referrals
are made without obtaining information about the clients' use or abuse of substances. How can the
supervisor effectively address this practice? a. Reprimand case managers providing client services
based on stereotyping b. Educate the staff about services provided by Alcoholics Anonymous and
Al-Anon c. Provide staff training about culturally competent social work practice d. Allow no
referrals to be made without approval from the supervisor
,Answer:
Rationale: It is important to provide educational interventions (C) before moving to more restrictive
supervisory practices. Options A and D are more restrictive and may be done later, after the
provision of base line training first. While staff members may benefit from being educated about
AA and Al-Anon (B), it does not address the concern of stereotyping that is occurring.
Question:
5. At an intake session, a client requests medication for sleep. Since becoming unemployed the
client has used alcohol as a sedative. The client is worried about finances and is afraid of being
evicted. The social worker should FIRST: a. Refer the client for evaluation for sleep medication b.
Refer the client to public assistance c. Obtain more information about the client's use of alcohol d.
Refer the client to the local unemployment office
Answer:
Rationale: While options A, B, and D may all be appropriate actions for the social worker to take,
none would be the first. As part of the assessment process, the social worker needs to FIRST further
explore the issue of alcohol use (C).
Question:
6. A client with whom a social worker has worked for several years suddenly dies. The social
worker is very distressed by the death. During supervision, the supervisor encourages expression
and ventilation of feelings. The supervisor is providing: a. Education b. Consultation c. Therapy d.
Support
Answer:
Rationale: The correct answer is (D) because ventilation is one of the techniques used in providing
support.
Question:
7. A school age boy is being beaten almost daily by his father who has a drug and alcohol problem
for which he received no treatment. The boy solves his school conflicts by punching and kicking
younger children. This behavior is BEST described as: a. Identification with the abuser b. Hostility
toward peers c. Conduct disorder, group type d. Passive-aggressive personality disorder
Answer:
,Rationale: Basic recall of cycle of abuse concepts and dynamics. Option D is not reasonable given
the information in the stem and is not a current personality disorder. He may be hostile towards
peers (B) but it is because of his identification with the abuser. Option C and D are not indicated and
do not BEST explain his behavior. Option A is the BEST descriptor of what is occurring.
Question:
8. Client feedback that indicates a social worker's interpretation is on target is BEST displayed when
the client: a. Argues with the social worker b. Changes the subject c. Expresses anger at the social
worker d. Discusses related material
Answer:
Rationale: The effectiveness of a response can be assessed through client reaction. Continuing to
stay on target in the discussion (D) indicates a good progression.
Question:
9. A social work administrator is responsible for record keeping at a large agency. Which approach
is MOST appropriate for maintaining client records? a. Maintain all records for seven years
following termination b. Keep records indefinitely to assure their availability c. Seek permission
from clients for destruction of their records d. Store records for the number of years required by law
Answer:
Rationale: Social workers are required to follow the laws of the jurisdictions in which they practice.
Such statutes vary in their requirements. Hence, the only option that is correct is to maintain files for
the length of time required by law (D). Options A, B, and C might not apply in all locations.
Question:
10.A school social worker meets with a teenager who is increasingly frustrated and disengaged in
school. The student appears to be bright, but unmotivated, and does not submit completed
homework assignments. Meetings with the student have not resulted in changes in the teen's
behaviors. What should the social worker do NEXT? a. Consider an alternative educational program
for the student b. Arrange for individual tutoring sessions for the teen c. Refer the teen for
evaluation by an educational psychologist d. Create a behavioral self-monitoring plan with the
student
Answer:
, Rationale: Unscored question. The fact that the student is noted as bright, but unmotivated, may
indicate a learning problem. Of the choices listed, (C), is the correct answer because the social
worker has not been successful in helping the teen, and the problem may be more than behavioral
(D).
Question:
11.A doctor notifies a hospital social worker that a child with a chronic illness has not kept any
appointments in the past year and must be evaluated four times a year. The doctor states that if the
child does not come for the appointments, it will be considered medical neglect by the parents. The
social worker learns the mother has a physical disability and lives over an hour away from the
medical center. The mother asks if the child can be treated at a local medical center instead. What is
the MOST appropriate action for the social worker to take? a. Insist that the child go to at least four
medical visits per year b. Explore an alternative treatment schedule with the doctor c. Empathize
with the mother about the limitations of her physical disability d. Determine if the child can receive
health care services near the home
Answer:
Rationale: Goal is to find a feasible way for the child to receive medical treatment. Hence A, B, and
C are incorrect because none of them would remove the barriers to the child's medical treatment.
Finding health care services near the child's home, (D), could potentially remove one of the
perceived barriers.
Question:
12.A client is referred to a social worker regarding depression that began eight months earlier. The
client reports irritability, sleep problems, and loss of appetite. In exploring the onset of the
depression, the social worker learns that the client had an abortion nine months ago. What should
the social worker do FIRST? a. Complete a comprehensive eating disorder assessment b. Offer
relaxation strategies to address sleep problems c. Refer the client to a grief and bereavement group
d. Ask about the meaning of the abortion to the client
Answer:
Rationale: The social worker should start with the problem presented by the client, which is
depression. In assessing the depression, the worker would ask the client to explain her feelings about
the abortion (D). Options A, B, and C may all be done later, but the FIRST action is to determine the
meaning of the abortion for the client.
Question:
2. The ability to keep personal feelings and needs separate from work relationships BEST represents
which social work ethical standard? a. Professional discretion b. Responsibility to the profession c.
Professional boundaries d. Responsibility to colleagues
Answer:
Rationale: This requires knowledge of the definition of professional boundaries (C). Since the
question asks for the BEST response, the secondary responsibilities in the other options are not
correct.
Question:
3. A social worker has been treating a client for two months in an agency setting and is experiencing
intense sexual attraction toward the client. The social worker's BEST response is to: a. Consult with
an agency supervisor about the case b. Reveal the attraction to the client c. Transfer the client to
another agency worker d. Work toward ending the client's services at the agency
Answer:
Rationale: Consulting with a supervisor (A) is the BEST response because it assists in helping to
understand and address the situation. Options B and D are clearly unethical. Transferring the client
(C) may be done later but it is unclear if this action is required at this point and there is not enough
information in the stem to conclude this.
Question:
4. In a routine review of case records at a mental health center, a social work supervisor discovers
that case managers routinely refer all Native American clients to either Alcoholics Anonymous or
Al-Anon. In discussing this practice with the case managers, the supervisors learns that the referrals
are made without obtaining information about the clients' use or abuse of substances. How can the
supervisor effectively address this practice? a. Reprimand case managers providing client services
based on stereotyping b. Educate the staff about services provided by Alcoholics Anonymous and
Al-Anon c. Provide staff training about culturally competent social work practice d. Allow no
referrals to be made without approval from the supervisor
,Answer:
Rationale: It is important to provide educational interventions (C) before moving to more restrictive
supervisory practices. Options A and D are more restrictive and may be done later, after the
provision of base line training first. While staff members may benefit from being educated about
AA and Al-Anon (B), it does not address the concern of stereotyping that is occurring.
Question:
5. At an intake session, a client requests medication for sleep. Since becoming unemployed the
client has used alcohol as a sedative. The client is worried about finances and is afraid of being
evicted. The social worker should FIRST: a. Refer the client for evaluation for sleep medication b.
Refer the client to public assistance c. Obtain more information about the client's use of alcohol d.
Refer the client to the local unemployment office
Answer:
Rationale: While options A, B, and D may all be appropriate actions for the social worker to take,
none would be the first. As part of the assessment process, the social worker needs to FIRST further
explore the issue of alcohol use (C).
Question:
6. A client with whom a social worker has worked for several years suddenly dies. The social
worker is very distressed by the death. During supervision, the supervisor encourages expression
and ventilation of feelings. The supervisor is providing: a. Education b. Consultation c. Therapy d.
Support
Answer:
Rationale: The correct answer is (D) because ventilation is one of the techniques used in providing
support.
Question:
7. A school age boy is being beaten almost daily by his father who has a drug and alcohol problem
for which he received no treatment. The boy solves his school conflicts by punching and kicking
younger children. This behavior is BEST described as: a. Identification with the abuser b. Hostility
toward peers c. Conduct disorder, group type d. Passive-aggressive personality disorder
Answer:
,Rationale: Basic recall of cycle of abuse concepts and dynamics. Option D is not reasonable given
the information in the stem and is not a current personality disorder. He may be hostile towards
peers (B) but it is because of his identification with the abuser. Option C and D are not indicated and
do not BEST explain his behavior. Option A is the BEST descriptor of what is occurring.
Question:
8. Client feedback that indicates a social worker's interpretation is on target is BEST displayed when
the client: a. Argues with the social worker b. Changes the subject c. Expresses anger at the social
worker d. Discusses related material
Answer:
Rationale: The effectiveness of a response can be assessed through client reaction. Continuing to
stay on target in the discussion (D) indicates a good progression.
Question:
9. A social work administrator is responsible for record keeping at a large agency. Which approach
is MOST appropriate for maintaining client records? a. Maintain all records for seven years
following termination b. Keep records indefinitely to assure their availability c. Seek permission
from clients for destruction of their records d. Store records for the number of years required by law
Answer:
Rationale: Social workers are required to follow the laws of the jurisdictions in which they practice.
Such statutes vary in their requirements. Hence, the only option that is correct is to maintain files for
the length of time required by law (D). Options A, B, and C might not apply in all locations.
Question:
10.A school social worker meets with a teenager who is increasingly frustrated and disengaged in
school. The student appears to be bright, but unmotivated, and does not submit completed
homework assignments. Meetings with the student have not resulted in changes in the teen's
behaviors. What should the social worker do NEXT? a. Consider an alternative educational program
for the student b. Arrange for individual tutoring sessions for the teen c. Refer the teen for
evaluation by an educational psychologist d. Create a behavioral self-monitoring plan with the
student
Answer:
, Rationale: Unscored question. The fact that the student is noted as bright, but unmotivated, may
indicate a learning problem. Of the choices listed, (C), is the correct answer because the social
worker has not been successful in helping the teen, and the problem may be more than behavioral
(D).
Question:
11.A doctor notifies a hospital social worker that a child with a chronic illness has not kept any
appointments in the past year and must be evaluated four times a year. The doctor states that if the
child does not come for the appointments, it will be considered medical neglect by the parents. The
social worker learns the mother has a physical disability and lives over an hour away from the
medical center. The mother asks if the child can be treated at a local medical center instead. What is
the MOST appropriate action for the social worker to take? a. Insist that the child go to at least four
medical visits per year b. Explore an alternative treatment schedule with the doctor c. Empathize
with the mother about the limitations of her physical disability d. Determine if the child can receive
health care services near the home
Answer:
Rationale: Goal is to find a feasible way for the child to receive medical treatment. Hence A, B, and
C are incorrect because none of them would remove the barriers to the child's medical treatment.
Finding health care services near the child's home, (D), could potentially remove one of the
perceived barriers.
Question:
12.A client is referred to a social worker regarding depression that began eight months earlier. The
client reports irritability, sleep problems, and loss of appetite. In exploring the onset of the
depression, the social worker learns that the client had an abortion nine months ago. What should
the social worker do FIRST? a. Complete a comprehensive eating disorder assessment b. Offer
relaxation strategies to address sleep problems c. Refer the client to a grief and bereavement group
d. Ask about the meaning of the abortion to the client
Answer:
Rationale: The social worker should start with the problem presented by the client, which is
depression. In assessing the depression, the worker would ask the client to explain her feelings about
the abortion (D). Options A, B, and C may all be done later, but the FIRST action is to determine the
meaning of the abortion for the client.
