Safeguarding and Duty of Candour MCQs

Question 1

In the UK, a patient tells a nurse that a relative has been using the patient’s bank card without permission. The patient has capacity and asks what will happen next. Which response is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Explain the safeguarding process and discuss consent to share information

Answer

Tell the patient that the police must be informed immediately

Answer

Ask the relative to attend a meeting with the patient and nurse

Answer

Advise the patient to resolve the matter privately with the relative

Question 2

In the UK, a patient says a neighbour who provides informal care has threatened to stop visiting unless the patient gives them money. The patient has capacity and wants help but is afraid of losing support. What should the nurse do first?

Accepted Answer

Explore the patient’s safety and support needs in private

Answer

Tell the patient to stop giving the neighbour any money

Answer

Promise that the neighbour will not be told about the concern

Answer

Refer the matter to police without discussing it further

Question 3

In the UK, a patient says a care assistant has repeatedly ignored requests for help to use the toilet. The patient has no injury but has become distressed and is afraid of being labelled difficult. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Listen, reassure the patient, and report the concern through safeguarding procedures

Answer

Tell the patient that delays are unavoidable when the ward is busy

Answer

Ask the care assistant to explain the delays in front of the patient

Answer

Wait for evidence of physical harm before making a report

Question 4

In the UK, a nurse receives a safeguarding disclosure from an adult through a telephone interpreter. The adult’s friend offers to interpret instead because the friend speaks fluent English. Which action is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Use the professional interpreter and speak directly to the patient

Answer

Allow the friend to interpret because the patient knows them well

Answer

Ask the friend to summarise the concern after the assessment

Answer

Cancel the assessment until the patient can speak English independently

Question 5

In the UK, a patient makes a safeguarding allegation against a staff member and asks the nurse to record only that the patient is upset. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Record the patient’s words accurately and report the allegation

Answer

Record only observable injuries and omit the allegation

Answer

Write that the staff member abused the patient as an established fact

Answer

Ask the staff member to approve the wording before filing the record

Question 6

In the UK, a provider has identified a notifiable safety incident. The patient has capacity but says they do not want a face-to-face meeting about it. What should the provider do?

Accepted Answer

Respect the preference and provide the required information in another suitable way

Answer

Close the duty of candour process because the patient declined a meeting

Answer

Ask a relative to attend the meeting instead of the patient

Answer

Wait until the patient changes their mind before sending written information

Question 7

In the UK, a notifiable safety incident has occurred, but the full investigation will take several weeks. The patient asks for an explanation today. Which response best meets the duty of candour?

Accepted Answer

Give the known facts and apology now, then provide updates as findings develop

Answer

Wait until the investigation is complete before discussing the incident

Answer

Give the patient the most likely explanation and present it as confirmed

Answer

Refer the patient to the complaints team without discussing the incident

Question 8

In the UK, a patient affected by a notifiable safety incident has communication difficulties and requests that information be explained using an advocate. Which action is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Arrange communication support and check the patient’s understanding

Answer

Speak only to the patient’s relative because communication is difficult

Answer

Send the standard letter without adapting its content or format

Answer

Ask the patient to sign that the information was understood

Question 9

In the UK, a nurse learns that an incident may meet the threshold for a notifiable safety incident, but the nurse is unsure whether the threshold has been met. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Escalate the concern promptly through the organisation’s incident process

Answer

Decide personally that the threshold is not met and take no action

Answer

Tell the patient that the incident definitely meets the threshold

Answer

Wait until the next team meeting before raising the concern

Question 10

In the UK, a patient affected by a care incident asks whether the nurse thinks a particular colleague should be dismissed. The investigation has not yet started. Which response is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Explain that the concern will be investigated fairly and avoid speculating

Answer

Say that dismissal is likely because the patient was harmed

Answer

Tell the patient that staff disciplinary matters are never investigated

Answer

Ask the patient to decide what sanction the colleague should receive

Free Safeguarding and Duty of Candour MCQs with Answers