NACC PSW EXAM PRACTICE & STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 |
400 Questions with Verified Answers | Graded A+ | Aligned
with NACC Certification Standards | Pass Guaranteed - A+
Graded
Foundations of Personal Support Work (Questions 1–70)
Q1: A PSW is asked by a client's family member to share details about the client's
medical diagnosis. The PSW should:
A. Provide the information since family members have a right to know
B. Refuse and explain that only the client can authorize sharing personal health
information [CORRECT]
C. Share only the information that seems harmless
D. Tell the family member to ask the nurse instead
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B because confidentiality is a core ethical principle for
PSWs — personal health information belongs to the client, and sharing it without their
explicit consent violates privacy laws and trust. Even family members need the client's
permission or a legal substitute decision-maker status before any disclosure occurs.
Q2: Which of the following best describes the PSW's role when a client expresses a
preference that conflicts with their care plan?
A. Ignore the preference and follow the care plan exactly
B. Report the preference to the supervisor and support the client's right to choose within
scope [CORRECT]
C. Convince the client to follow the care plan for their own good
D. Change the care plan independently to match the client's wishes
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: This choice is correct because PSWs respect client autonomy while
recognizing that care plans are developed by the health care team — the PSW's job is to
communicate the client's wishes upward and support their choices wherever it's safe
and within the PSW scope to do so.
Q3: Standard precautions require a PSW to treat all clients as if they:
A. Have a known infectious disease
B. May be carrying infectious organisms [CORRECT]
C. Are immune to common infections
D. Require isolation until proven otherwise
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B because standard precautions are based on the
assumption that all body fluids, secretions, and excretions could potentially contain
infectious agents — it's about universal protection, not singling anyone out as "infected."
Q4: A PSW notices bruises in various stages of healing on a client's upper arms during
bathing. The client says, "I fall a lot." The PSW should:
A. Accept the explanation and document the bruises as fall-related
B. Document observations objectively and report concerns to the supervisor
immediately [CORRECT]
C. Confront the client about possible abuse
D. Take photos of the bruises with a personal phone for evidence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This aligns with standard PSW protocol that says you document exactly what
you see without interpretation and report suspected abuse or neglect through the
proper channels — it's not the PSW's role to investigate or accuse, but it absolutely is
their duty to speak up.
Q5: The PSW scope of practice includes:
A. Administering medications independently
,B. Performing catheter insertions with training
C. Assisting with activities of daily living and observing/reporting changes in condition
[CORRECT]
D. Diagnosing client health conditions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This matches the principle of person-centered care where the PSW works
within a clearly defined scope — assisting with daily living, providing comfort, and being
the eyes and ears of the health care team by reporting what they observe, while leaving
diagnosis and treatment decisions to regulated professionals.
Q6: A client tells a PSW, "Don't tell anyone, but my daughter takes money from my
wallet." The PSW should:
A. Keep the secret since the client asked
B. Report the disclosure to the supervisor as a potential financial abuse concern
[CORRECT]
C. Confront the daughter directly
D. Tell the client to hide their wallet better
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B because financial abuse is a mandatory reporting
situation — a PSW cannot promise confidentiality when a client's safety or well-being is
at risk, and the proper pathway is always through the supervisor or designated abuse
reporting system.
Q7: Person-centered care means the PSW should:
A. Do everything for the client to ensure tasks are done correctly
B. Focus on the client's preferences, strengths, and independence [CORRECT]
C. Follow the care plan without asking the client's opinion
D. Prioritize efficiency over client choice
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: This choice is correct because person-centered care is about seeing the
whole person — their history, their likes and dislikes, their abilities — and supporting
them to do as much for themselves as possible, rather than taking over.
Q8: A PSW is providing care to a client whose cultural background is different from their
own. The PSW should:
A. Treat the client the same way they treat everyone else
B. Learn about and respect the client's cultural practices and preferences [CORRECT]
C. Ask the family to explain their culture to the PSW
D. Avoid the topic of culture to prevent awkwardness
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B because culturally safe care means being curious and
respectful, adapting your approach to honour the client's values and traditions —
treating everyone "the same" often means treating everyone like they're just like you,
which isn't respectful at all.
Q9: Which of the following is an example of a PSW maintaining professional
boundaries?
A. Accepting a $100 gift from a grateful client
B. Sharing personal problems with a client to build rapport
C. Declining a client's invitation to a family dinner while expressing warm appreciation
[CORRECT]
D. Adding a client on social media to stay in touch
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This aligns with standard PSW protocol that says professional boundaries
protect both the client and the worker — you can be warm, caring, and genuinely
connected without blurring the line into a personal relationship that could compromise
care or trust.
400 Questions with Verified Answers | Graded A+ | Aligned
with NACC Certification Standards | Pass Guaranteed - A+
Graded
Foundations of Personal Support Work (Questions 1–70)
Q1: A PSW is asked by a client's family member to share details about the client's
medical diagnosis. The PSW should:
A. Provide the information since family members have a right to know
B. Refuse and explain that only the client can authorize sharing personal health
information [CORRECT]
C. Share only the information that seems harmless
D. Tell the family member to ask the nurse instead
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B because confidentiality is a core ethical principle for
PSWs — personal health information belongs to the client, and sharing it without their
explicit consent violates privacy laws and trust. Even family members need the client's
permission or a legal substitute decision-maker status before any disclosure occurs.
Q2: Which of the following best describes the PSW's role when a client expresses a
preference that conflicts with their care plan?
A. Ignore the preference and follow the care plan exactly
B. Report the preference to the supervisor and support the client's right to choose within
scope [CORRECT]
C. Convince the client to follow the care plan for their own good
D. Change the care plan independently to match the client's wishes
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: This choice is correct because PSWs respect client autonomy while
recognizing that care plans are developed by the health care team — the PSW's job is to
communicate the client's wishes upward and support their choices wherever it's safe
and within the PSW scope to do so.
Q3: Standard precautions require a PSW to treat all clients as if they:
A. Have a known infectious disease
B. May be carrying infectious organisms [CORRECT]
C. Are immune to common infections
D. Require isolation until proven otherwise
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B because standard precautions are based on the
assumption that all body fluids, secretions, and excretions could potentially contain
infectious agents — it's about universal protection, not singling anyone out as "infected."
Q4: A PSW notices bruises in various stages of healing on a client's upper arms during
bathing. The client says, "I fall a lot." The PSW should:
A. Accept the explanation and document the bruises as fall-related
B. Document observations objectively and report concerns to the supervisor
immediately [CORRECT]
C. Confront the client about possible abuse
D. Take photos of the bruises with a personal phone for evidence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This aligns with standard PSW protocol that says you document exactly what
you see without interpretation and report suspected abuse or neglect through the
proper channels — it's not the PSW's role to investigate or accuse, but it absolutely is
their duty to speak up.
Q5: The PSW scope of practice includes:
A. Administering medications independently
,B. Performing catheter insertions with training
C. Assisting with activities of daily living and observing/reporting changes in condition
[CORRECT]
D. Diagnosing client health conditions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This matches the principle of person-centered care where the PSW works
within a clearly defined scope — assisting with daily living, providing comfort, and being
the eyes and ears of the health care team by reporting what they observe, while leaving
diagnosis and treatment decisions to regulated professionals.
Q6: A client tells a PSW, "Don't tell anyone, but my daughter takes money from my
wallet." The PSW should:
A. Keep the secret since the client asked
B. Report the disclosure to the supervisor as a potential financial abuse concern
[CORRECT]
C. Confront the daughter directly
D. Tell the client to hide their wallet better
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B because financial abuse is a mandatory reporting
situation — a PSW cannot promise confidentiality when a client's safety or well-being is
at risk, and the proper pathway is always through the supervisor or designated abuse
reporting system.
Q7: Person-centered care means the PSW should:
A. Do everything for the client to ensure tasks are done correctly
B. Focus on the client's preferences, strengths, and independence [CORRECT]
C. Follow the care plan without asking the client's opinion
D. Prioritize efficiency over client choice
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: This choice is correct because person-centered care is about seeing the
whole person — their history, their likes and dislikes, their abilities — and supporting
them to do as much for themselves as possible, rather than taking over.
Q8: A PSW is providing care to a client whose cultural background is different from their
own. The PSW should:
A. Treat the client the same way they treat everyone else
B. Learn about and respect the client's cultural practices and preferences [CORRECT]
C. Ask the family to explain their culture to the PSW
D. Avoid the topic of culture to prevent awkwardness
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B because culturally safe care means being curious and
respectful, adapting your approach to honour the client's values and traditions —
treating everyone "the same" often means treating everyone like they're just like you,
which isn't respectful at all.
Q9: Which of the following is an example of a PSW maintaining professional
boundaries?
A. Accepting a $100 gift from a grateful client
B. Sharing personal problems with a client to build rapport
C. Declining a client's invitation to a family dinner while expressing warm appreciation
[CORRECT]
D. Adding a client on social media to stay in touch
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This aligns with standard PSW protocol that says professional boundaries
protect both the client and the worker — you can be warm, caring, and genuinely
connected without blurring the line into a personal relationship that could compromise
care or trust.
