Plagiarism or not?

[MSN2]

I am asking an honest question here. I just failed a class because I was accused by the instructor of plagiarism. I have never been accused of anything like this before. Let me give you the details. I had surgery 3 weeks prior and was still feeling the pain (bone surgery.) Two days before I turned in this paper I developed a rip- roaring UTI with fever and everything. I had just gone back to work - had worked 3 12 hour shifts. I was taking Bactrim DS BID. That Sunday morning (my day off) I took my hydrocodone for the first time in 3 days because I hurt like hell! The paper that was due was not a scholarly research paper, there was no rubric. It was an opinion on what we thought about a fairly general subject. It was not due for another 5 days. I had pulled multiple articles on this subject as I was formulating what to write. Well, according to my husband, after taking my Bactrim, hydrocodone & celexa, I sat down at the computer and typed out a paper and submitted it. I really don't remember doing it. So two days later I get a call from the professor, who is spitting mad saying that I plagiarized my paper. I was stunned. I thought I was still working on it! I went on line and there it was. I pulled it up - I read it. It was vastly similar to one the articles I was using as a resource. I went into her office to explain. I had all my sources. Prior to this I had been a straight A student. No issues what-so-ever. My husband went with me to explain what he had seen. Nope - I failed. Even though I still had time to submit another paper. I did submit another paper - she was not going to accept it. So now I am appealing her decision. While it is a lesson in not mixing medication, how often does someone have a UTI, bone surgery and a paper due all at the same time. We as nurses try to preach about holistic care, but not between ourselves.

[OCNRN63, RN]

I agree with the advice you've been given. I would suggest running your paper through a proofreading site that checks for spelling, grammar and plagiarism. I don't know if this would have helped you in your situation since you were impaired, but it may help in the future.

I would just beg for mercy and ask them to take into consideration that your previous work was original. You don't want this on your record.

[MSN2]

I appreciate all of your comments. I had the meeting this morning with the professor and the head of my program. This is my last class. Every thing else is done. All A's. Even if she fails me on this paper, I would still pull a C. I pleaded insanity. I told them this is what happened, I could not make sense of it. They refused to hear my husband, who witnessed the bizarre behavior. The meeting was less than 10 minutes and they were angry at me, black & white, no questions. They took 5 minutes in deciding my fate. Instead of expelling me out of the program - I could come back next year and retake the class. Now here is where it really gets interesting. I was never required to take this class in the first place. It was a total screw-up by the advisor who retired at the beginning of the semester. Great - tuition money gone. Stress elevated. Now I have to figure out how to fight this. Again, thanks for all your input.

[Psychcns]

How bad would it be to come back and take the class? would that mean there is nothing bad on your record? Maybe if you have a lawyer to negotiate some kind of terms?

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

If you never had to take the class, why would you have to re-take it? Is it a condition of graduation due to the plagiarism?

[MSN2]

Good question. I am escalating my rights as a student. I would take an incomplete or a withdrawal to save my GPA. The F completely destroys my GPA. I am not trying to get out of anything - but let the punishment fit the crime. If someone has a hypoglycemic episode, we understand. If we give someone narcotics in the hospital and they experience delirium, we understand. Anyone remember the days of ketamine in adults? I had a bad drug interaction that was witnessed and I would think that my past performance would have some credibility. Not here. The old adage of 'nurses eat their young' continues to flourish. BTW - both of these professors are 2 years away from retirement.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

What will an F do to your GPA with everything else being A's? It doesn't seem one F would completely destroy your GPA.

Do what you have to do to feel your rights are attended-to. As a professor 2 years from retirement, however, I think you might want to remove that stereotype from your thinking.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

At least you weren't expelled. You could definitely try to appeal, but I don't know how far it will get you. Using your medications as the excuse only goes so far as you've seen from your review board: after a certain point, it starts sounding less like a bonafide but unfortunate accident, and more like you're making excuses and refusing to accept responsibility.

IMO it may be better to cut your losses. But you need to do what you think is best.

Best of luck whatever happens.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

So, if you withdraw from the course, could you still graduate or do you need the credits? I have to agree that at least you weren't expelled. If you have to do one more semester, it really isn't too much of a heartbreak (although it does really bite!) Please keep us posted and no more meds and homework :)

[BostonFNP, APRN]

From a faculty perspective I would have failed you. In some ways you are lucky you weren't expelled and/or reported.

You may win an appeal if your prescribing physician is willing to stick up for you, but that's a long shot.

I have been a part-time APN faculty member for two years and I have seen a very similar case. Student was failed, brought an appeal, was reviewed and ultimately dismissed from the program. It's a sad case, but if you would plagiarize a paper and submit it while impaired, would you write a patient note impaired?

Would you access the EMR impaired? Would you go to clinic/ward impaired? Would you prescribe impaired?

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Esme, they should be excluding quotes from the students work in the plagiarism score. Most of the nursing programs and other on line schools have an acceptable score of about 20 percent. Turn it in is the program I have seen the most and odds are that this student instructor used that or a similar program. A student can also run their paper through a similar program before submitting. I put my daughters paper through Viper.

[elkpark]

At least you weren't expelled. You could definitely try to appeal, but I don't know how far it will get you. Using your medications as the excuse only goes so far as you've seen from your review board: after a certain point, it starts sounding less like a bonafide but unfortunate accident, and more like you're making excuses and refusing to accept responsibility.

IMO it may be better to cut your losses. But you need to do what you think is best.

Best of luck whatever happens.

^^ This. I agree with some others here that the school has already cut you a break by not expelling you and giving you the opportunity to repeat the course; I don't see that you have much to gain by continuing to push for a different response. You could end up worse off than you are now.

[CDEWannaBe]

There were extenuating circumstances, but you did commit plagiarism. I have type 1 diabetes and when it was out of control during some of my college years it affected my performance in class and GPA. But I didn't get a break because of that, nor should I have.

You knew you were struggling and impaired and didn't handle the situation right. If you had contacted your professor in advance and asked for the deadline to be extended, she probably would have helped you, or at least would have been aware.

The department's decision is tough, but it's not wrong. You sound like a really committed and bright student. If you decide to go forward in fighting the charge, make sure to take responsibility for the part you played in it and to do your best to see the opposing side.