What's your take on this?

[Virgo_RN]

So, we had an exam on Friday, and this morning (Sunday) I was congratulated on my test score by another student. Funny thing though, I haven't told a soul what my test score was.

The way we find out our exam scores is by computer. You go to the NS website and punch in your ID number, and your test scores pop up. I'm wondering if someone has my ID number and has been looking at my confidential info?

I've seen the ugly side of other students when you're doing really well. I've been called an "overachiever", not invited to study sessions, asked to do poorly on a test so others look better, and told that "all the pretty girls got As in that class" when first of all, I'm almost forty and don't consider myself all that pretty, and second of all, I studied my tail off for that A.

So. I want to say something to the NS faculty because I am disturbed that my confidentiality has been broken, however I want it kept quiet so I don't get a raft of poop for being a tattle tale or goody goody type. There is a lot of pressure for students to stick together.

Thoughts? Discuss!!!!

[barbaratruth, RN]

The other student could have been manipulating you to try to find out your score, not really knowing your score in the first place.

I'm in my third semester and I can tell you a large number of my fellow students are extremely manipulative and dishonest. I have also come to learn that sometimes faculty may inappropriately disclose information to other students.

This is my pursuit of a second career and I am continually shocked by the lack of professionalism I have witnessed in the nursing school environment.

It's more important to stay committed to you doing your best and trying to ignore the immaturity of other students.

I would bring your concerns to management.

Good for you for doing well.

[Logos]

She knew you exact score. Did she say how she knew? Who told her, why they told her?

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

In order to access your scores don't you also need a PIN number as well as your ID number? A PIN number can be changed by you. Our school used the Blackboard system and the only grades we could see were our own and no one elses.

The student ID number is usually assigned by the admissions office. I'd take the issue up with them and tell them that you believe that another student has gotten your ID number and is able to get your grade information this way. See if they are willing to change it. It may, however, affect your records and you might have problems later when you need to get official transcripts.

I would suspect that the instructors are probably posting the grades alphabetically but they show up by ID numbers. It's not hard to figure out someone's ID number when the instructors do this. Even if you ask the instructors to use a different ID number for you, it might stick out like a sore thumb if someone has hacked into their class list already.

A suggestion. . .just to throw these idiots off kilter I would immediately deny that they got your grade correct. "What made you think I got an A? I bombed the test. I'm miserable." Let them think they got your ID number wrong. That should confuse them.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

There is no pin number, no password. Only your ID number. When you put in your ID number, you can only see your own grades, nobody else's. They do not post grades anywhere other than online, and again, you can only see your own (or those that go with the ID number that you punch in). There is no list posted anywhere, ever.

The person knew my exact score. I asked her how she knew, and she said she heard it from "X". I asked "X" and they said they heard it from "Y". I asked "Y", and they said they heard it from the original person who brought it up to me.

I spoke with the head of the program. She assigned me a new ID number, which is not the same as the ID number I use for the college, so it won't affect my being able to register or get transcripts.

I don't mind other students knowing how I'm doing. What disturbed me was that I could not recall telling anyone my score, so the only way someone could have found out is if they had my ID number and looked. The ID numbers are eight digits in length, so it would be pretty tough to just guess.

My guess is that either I told someone my test score and just don't remember, or someone somehow obtained a list of ID numbers and is using them to see how other students are doing. Since I have no evidence that I didn't tell anyone other than my memory, which could be flawed, I am loathe to start leveling accusations.

[caliotter3]

Even though you are loathe to start making accusations, this is a serious matter. Someone who is able to access your records to find out info can just as easily alter that info or do something else. While changing your personal ID now is a quick fix for your problem, the school management really needs to look at this in the big picture and fix the problem. All you need to do is to write up a one page letter detailing what happened and send it to the appropriate school authority (the Dean of Academic Affairs should be ok) and, of course, do not mention any possibility that you might have given out the info yourself (not likely, if you had told someone they would have let you know that you told them) sign the letter and send it. Then don't bring up the matter again unless asked by some school authority. Confidentiality of info is important and hacking into computer systems is a serious offense with potentially serious outcomes.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Even though you are loathe to start making accusations, this is a serious matter. Someone who is able to access your records to find out info can just as easily alter that info or do something else. While changing your personal ID now is a quick fix for your problem, the school management really needs to look at this in the big picture and fix the problem. All you need to do is to write up a one page letter detailing what happened and send it to the appropriate school authority (the Dean of Academic Affairs should be ok) and, of course, do not mention any possibility that you might have given out the info yourself (not likely, if you had told someone they would have let you know that you told them) sign the letter and send it. Then don't bring up the matter again unless asked by some school authority. Confidentiality of info is important and hacking into computer systems is a serious offense with potentially serious outcomes.

Actually, no, the person can't really do anything just having my ID number. You see, the NS website is separate from the college website. On the college site, where you pay bills, register for classes, check financial aid status, etc., there is a pin required. They would have to not only have my ID number, but my pin as well. There is no evidence that this has occurred.

On the NS website, the only thing you can do with an ID number is look at your grades. That's it. There is nothing to alter.

I have a new ID number for the NS website. I have discussed the matter with the head of the Nursing Program. I was the one who wanted to handle it quietly at this time, because I can't eliminate the possibility that I did tell someone and just don't remember.

Next term, the NS website will be on a different platform that will require a password/pin along with the ID number. This will address the security issues.

I wish there were a way to find out if and who looked at my grades. There is not. To make a big fuss about something that I cannot be sure even happened, and if it did, I cannot do anything about it, seems like a waste of my energy when I have so much on my plate right now.

[caliotter3]

Glad to see by your last post that you have put things in perspective and are satisfied with the outcome. Good luck with your studies and with everything else on your plate. Sometimes it is the littlest thing that tips us over when we have too much.