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]

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.

You had my sympathy until you threw the NETY card and referenced your professors' age. Your professors were following the policies set forth by the institution. I would imagine there would be repercussions for their careers if they let a potential case of plagiarism slide.

State your case without denigrating others.

[Psychcns]

My friend and I had a mantra to get through graduate school "Cooperate, Graduate. " I think if you fight they will win, maybe not, but it does seem like they have all the cards... After reading your post it is so much more in my awareness when I prescribe psych meds to ask pts about pain meds and the possibility of delerium...I always do this anyway but now it is more in my awareness that it can happen. Best wishes to you

[chessi89]

I served as a student representative on my university's academic integrity board. Let me just say that instructors take academic integrity very seriously. Although I empathize with your situation, I would call plagiarism as well since you submitted the paper. There really isn't a way to prove that you were on your medication while typing the paper, and I think that is a major concern. Also, if you wish to appeal, you may want to take a look at your school's academic conduct policy/handbook in regards to the procedure for filing academic dishonesty. Sometimes instructors do not follow the procedure as written, for example, officially filling academic dishonesty before contacting the student in my university could get a case thrown out due to procedural error.Hope this helps!

[thenursemandy]

I wonder how good your paper could have been if you were "out of it" to the point of plagarism. If it was fairly well written otherwise, id have to conclude you weren't under the influence.