PSW Practice Quiz
Free · 292 Questions.

• PSWs are an unregulated occupation with no college or licensing body governing the title
• PSWs are regulated by the College of Nurses of Ontario under the RHPA
• PSWs are regulated by a dedicated College of Personal Support Workers established in 2022
• PSWs are regulated federally by Health Canada under a national scope-of-practice code

Why: Unlike RNs and RPNs, who are regulated by the College of Nurses of Ontario under the RHPA, PSW is not a regulated or licensed title in Ontario — there is no college and no government licensing exam for it.

• Yes, if the PSW has received medication training and is assigned and supervised by a member of the registered nursing staff
• Yes, for any oral medication as long as a nurse gives verbal approval first, even without any medication training
• No, PSWs may not administer medication in a long-term care home, even when trained and directly supervised by a nurse
• Yes, for any medication as long as the resident's family consents in writing

Why: Under s. 140(3) of O. Reg. 246/22, a PSW may administer a drug (where no controlled act is involved) only if trained under the home's written policies, assigned by a member of the registered nursing staff, and supervised by that member. The older Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 rule that largely barred PSWs from giving medication no longer applies.

• Respecting the client's right to decline while documenting the refusal and offering it again later
• Bathing the client anyway, since hygiene needs are more important than preference
• Reporting the refusal as a serious safety incident requiring immediate escalation
• Withholding another service the client wants until the client agrees to bathe

Why: Person-centred care respects a capable client's right to make their own choices, including declining a task, while still documenting the refusal and offering the service again later.

• Call for emergency help and begin CPR according to current training
• Wait a few minutes to see if the client regains consciousness on their own
• Attempt to give the client food or water to help them recover
• Move the client to a different room before doing anything else

Why: For an unresponsive person not breathing normally, the priority is activating emergency response and beginning CPR promptly, since early CPR significantly improves survival outcomes.

• Listen respectfully and direct the client to the appropriate regulated professional or resource
• Explain in detail how the MAID process works and personally help arrange it for the client and the family
• Refuse to discuss the topic and leave the room right away
• Give a personal opinion on whether MAID is the right choice for the client

Why: A PSW is expected to respond respectfully to a client's inquiry about MAID and direct them to the appropriate regulated professional or resource. Assessing eligibility and providing MAID are done by authorized practitioners, not within the PSW role, and employer policy governs what a PSW may say.