Which purpose of the NASW Code serves to help identify considerations when professional obligations conflict?

The chosen answer relates to the role of the NASW Code of Ethics in addressing situations where professionals may face ethical dilemmas or conflicts in their obligations. The Code serves as a guiding document that provides practitioners with a framework to navigate complex scenarios where different ethical principles may clash.

When professionals encounter conflicts, whether between competing values or obligations to clients, colleagues, or the broader society, the Code offers guidance to help clarify the ethical considerations at play. This guidance is crucial for making informed decisions that uphold ethical standards while considering all relevant factors. Thus, the Code assists social workers in wrestling with uncertainty and making choices that stay true to their ethical responsibilities.

In contrast, the other choices serve different purposes. While identifying core values is essential for establishing the foundations of the profession, and articulating standards helps define what is expected from social workers in practice, these components do not specifically address the process of navigating ethical uncertainty. Holding the profession accountable is about ensuring that social workers act according to these established values and standards, but it does not provide direct assistance in resolving conflicts when they arise. Therefore, guiding ethical uncertainty is the specific function that aligns with the need to identify considerations during conflicts in professional obligations.