Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) CBT Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The situation described involves a caregiver inappropriately kissing and holding a client tightly against their will, which constitutes a breach of personal boundaries and consent. This is a clear indicator of sexual abuse, as it involves unwanted physical affection and advances of a sexual nature.

Sexual abuse is characterized by actions that violate an individual's autonomy and involve a sexual element without consent. In this case, the caregiver's actions directly infringe upon the client's right to personal space and autonomy, which is central to the definition of sexual abuse.

The other types of abuse mentioned—emotional, psychological, and discriminatory—do not specifically address the sexual nature of the caregiver's actions. Emotional and psychological abuse often involve manipulation, intimidation, or control to undermine the victim's emotional well-being, while discriminatory abuse relates to unfair treatment based on personal characteristics such as race, gender, or disability. In this instance, the nature of the action clearly aligns with the definition of sexual abuse rather than these other forms of mistreatment.