Cheating on nursing exams

[MiaNJ]

What would you do if you found out people were cheating on nursing exams? I don't mean just copying during the tests, but I've seen people share questions from the previous semester, since some professors use the exact same tests. They don't return the tests to the students, but they don't realize that when the tests are reviewed next class, some people write down the answers. Even if the professor tells everyone not to write anything, he or she cannot make sure everyone is not writing, esp. on laptops or PDAs, and it's a large class. Also, there is also the element of 'remembering' the questions right after the test. I myself and some friends can remember many questions afterward since we look in our notes for the answers, to see how we may have scored. But we do this for our own purposes and not to recreate the test. So what's to stop certain people from writing down whatever they remember then writing more during the test review. So the following semester they share with their friends.

I am doing well in all my classes since I study hard, but I just think it's not fair that certain students may simply memorize questions and answers and get high scores. It's not even about the scores, but what kind of nurses will they be, if they don't even grasp the material as a whole and are may just memorize questions.

I am not the only one who has seen this happen, but the professors don't realize that even though they don't return the test form to us, that students can either memorize or write down the questions/answers during review.

I know it's not nice to tell on people but do you think it's fair?

[MiaNJ]

Why not have a dialogue about this in class... Ask the instructor about what is or is not considered acceptable in terms of sharing knowledge about exam questions.

We asked our instructor and she actually did NOT have an issue with students sharing the memory of specific exam questions and answers with other students -- even those who were not in our semester. In fact, she arranged for tutors who would regularly share recollections of topics or even specific questions that had been on the exam.

However, the instructor was very concerned about the sharing of large portions of exam questions that had been copied or memorized verbatim, written down systematically and shared among students.

The instructor(s) have not openly discussed this, but it is more than obvious when they collect and count exams that they will be using the same ones again, and if they thought it was ok for students to share questions/answers with new incoming student who will take the same tests, then they would just return the tests to us. But we only get the scantron back.

They just assume that we can't possibly remember all test questions and since we are not supposed to write down the answer key or questions during review. I guess they don't think that people do have friends in other semester levels or make friends. If sharing questions was encouraged, then that means every new semester students will just find it easier and easier and much less inclined to study the material in depth. Why would someone spend hours/days studing pathophysiology for example, when they could easily memorize the questions they knew were going to be on the test? I don't think this would be a responsible act on the part of any nursing school, to send out graduates that really don't know their stuff, and just memorized a bunch of questions/answers. They most likely will not do good on the NCLEX and this can also make the school look bad.

[robred]

Thanks for your insight. You have good points, but I do believe that there are instances where an 'uncaring' attitude might endanger the safety of a patient. I have seen this myself where nurses didn't answer the bell of a pt. who they think is annoying or not really in pain but just want to press the bell. They don't really know when there is apiont where the patient really may need them. I know some patients can be annoying but that shouldn't take away our responsiblity in responding to the patient.

But even if just an 'uncaring attitude' doesn't always endanger the safety of a patient, I think it can affect the patients overall well being and healing. I've read studies on how just a caring attitude or giving a patient a smile or asking them how they are today or making small talk for a few min (since I know nurses are busy) often makes the patient feel better. IT's about the 'human touch'. I think that's a core value of nursing- caring, and it's not just about protecting a patient's safety, but about the 'quality' of their care while they are in the hospital. Some nurses may feel they don't have time for that, but even if they are busy, it only takes a second to tell someone hello, how are you this morning, with a smile or asking them if they are comfortable, not just going in and giving meds silently and not even smiling. I've seen this happen, and I think it's sad that some nurses maybe have become calloused. It may be more understandable if they've been in the job for many years, but to see nursing students have this uncaring attitude even before they become nurses is truly sad and makes me think they don't really want to be a nurse.

Of course, the 'human touch' will play a role in healing. But until you have lived on the job caring for clients and their significant others with complex health issues, coping dysfunction, and awful family dynamics on a daily basis, you will not have any understanding of the emotional stressors which clients, families andhealth care providers cope with. We are all individuals and in various stages of our own lives; what we each can offer can be limited by our own place in our stage of development. My employer is responsible to weed out and remove those individuals it feels are not meeting the standard of care. And yes, if I am witness to an act which jeopardizes a client's safety, I report that concern. We live in an imperfect world, Nia. Cheating and the inappropriate use of previous exams has been in the works for many years at all levels of higher education (to include our military academies which have an 'honor code') before you and will be present for many years after. Your idealism is thought-provoking, but the reality of nursing is a bit different. The following are the words from a card I received from a family of 10 who have some difficult family dynamics; there husband and father is fighting for his life. Dear Rob, Your attention and sincerity to our pain have made this challenging time, more tolerable to all of us. You are exceptional in your work and a true professional. You'll never know what a difference you have made in our lives.

[MiaNJ]

Of course, the 'human touch' will play a role in healing. But until you have lived on the job caring for clients and their significant others with complex health issues, coping dysfunction, and awful family dynamics on a daily basis, you will not have any understanding of the emotional stressors which clients, families andhealth care providers cope with. We are all individuals and in various stages of our own lives; what we each can offer can be limited by our own place in our stage of development. My employer is responsible to weed out and remove those individuals it feels are not meeting the standard of care. And yes, if I am witness to an act which jeopardizes a client's safety, I report that concern. We live in an imperfect world, Nia. Cheating and the inappropriate use of previous exams has been in the works for many years at all levels of higher education (to include our military academies which have an 'honor code') before you and will be present for many years after. Your idealism is thought-provoking, but the reality of nursing is a bit different. The following are the words from a card I received from a family of 10 who have some difficult family dynamics; there husband and father is fighting for his life. Dear Rob, Your attention and sincerity to our pain have made this challenging time, more tolerable to all of us. You are exceptional in your work and a true professional. You'll never know what a difference you have made in our lives.

I appreciate your thoughts. I realize that cheating has been part of academia for many yrs, not just nursing. I have even heard about it from medical students, who have witnessed it, and some doing it blatenly while testing.

I just thought nursing was about trust, and am feeling kind of down that I will graduate from a place where so much cheating probably took place,and people may eventually form stereotypes about me too, and wonder if I cheated, just because I get high grades. How will they differentiate the cheaters from non-cheaters? There are also cheaters who manage to pass the NCLEX and work as nurses and cut many corners.

I know it's human nature to cut corners sometimes from being exhausted or burned out. But it's sad to see this from students JUST entering the profession. I guess I thought nursing was supposed to be the most trusted profession, full of honest, truly caring individuals who actually want to learn about health (not just pass by cheating) and care about people.

Your note from the family was very touching. I can see you love being a nurse. I just hope I can forget about this cheating episode and that it won't haunt me later in my career, If more students everywhere find it easier to get thru nursing by cheating (if professors don't do anything more to prevent it) and eventually the nursing field becomes viewed upon as a 'lazy' easy degree anyone can get.

[quinnila]

The problem with cheating is bigger than school it's how will these people who cheat be good nurses. They are taking the "easy" route through school and are basically dishonest. I would not want a nurse like that working with me or taking care of me!

[MiaNJ]

The problem with cheating is bigger than school it's how will these people who cheat be good nurses. They are taking the "easy" route through school and are basically dishonest. I would not want a nurse like that working with me or taking care of me!

I agree. It's not about school competition and who gets the best grades. I have no issues with that, since i've also been a good student and studied hard. I don't feel jealous of those that get the same grades or higher w/o much studying. I feel the contrary, sorry for them that they are cheating themselves from actually learning more. I don't understand how some people tell me to mind my own business or it's not my problem. It's not my goal to bust out these people. I just think it's wrong, and don't get why some don't see the bigger picture. As you pointed out, it can create a problem for more people. Some say these cheaters won't pass the NCLEX, but how can we be sure they won't find a way to pass that also, with cheating? I posted links above about how other health professions have experienced cheating on licensing tests and why wouldn't it possibly happen with nursing? Or maybe not cheating but a lucky strike? As someone said, tests may not completely reflect all knowledge, but if a person studies alot in school, they acquire more knowledge and are prepared to be a nurse, more than simply answering questions on a test. The people who cheat are most likely less inclined to study much at all, so they really cannot compare to those who studied hard all thru school. I for one, would not one of these cheating nurses to end taking care of a family member or friend. If they like cheating at school, why wouldn't they want to cut corners at work?

[firstyearstudent]

The instructor(s) have not openly discussed this, but it is more than obvious when they collect and count exams that they will be using the same ones again, and if they thought it was ok for students to share questions/answers with new incoming student who will take the same tests, then they would just return the tests to us. But we only get the scantron back.

They just assume that we can't possibly remember all test questions and since we are not supposed to write down the answer key or questions during review. I guess they don't think that people do have friends in other semester levels or make friends. If sharing questions was encouraged, then that means every new semester students will just find it easier and easier and much less inclined to study the material in depth. Why would someone spend hours/days studing pathophysiology for example, when they could easily memorize the questions they knew were going to be on the test? I don't think this would be a responsible act on the part of any nursing school, to send out graduates that really don't know their stuff, and just memorized a bunch of questions/answers. They most likely will not do good on the NCLEX and this can also make the school look bad.

It seems like you are making a lot of assumptions here about what your instructor(s) would or wouldn't consider cheating. It isn't necessaily black and white. There is a grey area here. I was just sharing that when we openly asked our instructor, we were suprised at the response. She did not consider telling a classmate something like, "I think there is a question on antisocial personality disorder and its relationship to alcohol consumption," to be cheating. In fact, she encouraged this kind of dialogue by having the best previous students coach new students on the content of upcoming exams. She did consider cheating to be sneakily writing down the test questions and providing a written document with questions and answers to other students. Despite having this policy, and using the same exams year after year, grades have not been increasing.

[RN-Diane]

Good for you schooldays. Seems like you found a solution that worked well for you. My grandpa always quoted that song that says "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything." He was so wise!!

[RunnerRN, BSN, RN]

I haven't read all of the replies, but it does seem like you're putting a LOT of energy into this, if only online - practically every reply has a response from you! If you're off school, go outside and enjoy the sunshine....once you're back in school there won't be much time for that. If you're back in class already, then find out up front what your prof expects/allows. Or wait until after the first test, and send an anonymous note to the prof/dean regarding this issue. But, as was posted before, it seems like it is time to do something or forget about the issue.

[DoubleblessedRN, ADN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-P]

I haven't read all of the replies, but it does seem like you're putting a LOT of energy into this

I totally agree with Nurse Erica. I haven't followed this thread all the way through, but nursing school is such a stressful, difficult time in a person's life. I wouldn't even worry what others are up to. Worry about yourself. When you graduate and pass your NCLEX I know you will feel great knowing you gave it your all and earned your license. As for cheaters, it catches up to them eventually. Believe me, it does.