Please help. Got an academic dishonesty record on my transcript.

yvette1222 · Jun 12, 2013

mhasan77 said:
I am sorry to have to say this to you, but when it comes to treating patients and having their lives in your hands, no school will take that risk. Your best option is top pursue another degree/career. It doesn't matter what the reason was, you cheated, plain and simple and that academic dishonesty will follow you for the rest of your life. Even if the school forgives you, an employer won't hire you when they see that on your transcript.
I also have a hard time believing the story. If this was a family issue, you could have taken the test later and schools give you a cool off period to regroup from the loss of a family member. The fact you cheated tells the school if you cheat on a test, what else could you possible cheat on. And to be honest, the school wouldn't be doing other student who got the high GPA's justice if they admitted you ahead of someone else who didn't cheat.
Let this be a life lesson for you. If you cheat, you will eventually get caught. You know the old saying..once a cheater...

Yeah I know the saying of once a cheater, always a cheater. Thank you for your advice and everything. If you cannot believe the fact that my grandpa passed away and then I cheated on my test, then..,I don't know what to say. I know this record will follow me for the rest of my life. But nursing is what I want to do and I don't think one mistake would banned me from pursuing my passion in nursing. Again, thanks. I really appreciate your effort.

yvette1222 · Jun 12, 2013

Fireman767 said:
Well everyone has hammered this question home, but you are a red flagged student because of the cheating. regardless of the excuse, you cheated, no sob story or reason needed. But to help we should know when this hapened, what the end result or sanctions the school imposed, all that.

Hi Fireman767,

Thanks for your input. This happened in March, 2013. I got 0 on that test and got an academic dishonesty record on my file. I passed this A&P1 class with a B.

yvette1222 · Jun 12, 2013

akulahawk said:
It's not that you'll always be a cheater, but you'll always be suspect. You'll be under the microscope for quite a long time. Unfortunately, it's going to be the OP's "albatross" to wear for quite a long time, and it's going to follow the OP always. And hopefully it'll be a HUGE life lesson that can be passed on to others.

Hi akulahawk,

Thank you for your thoughtful input. I totally understand that I will be suspected for a long time even if I finished my BSN or other nursing programs. I am going to stick to nursing because this is my passion, and I really cannot stand the idea of not becoming a nurse in my future. Again, thank you so much for your advice.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2013

Good day, Yvette:

It is not a matter of believing you that your grandfather passed away.

It is the issue that you are using that as an excuse for something that should never happen.

By doing so, at least twice in this entire thread to date, you are showing you don't understand the seriousness of the choice you made.

Add to the fact, only God and you know how many times you've cheated before you were caught... and you can get a picture of the trust issue involved.

Now, do some homework as to what profession is the most trusted of all professionals around the world?

After doing that homework, can you see a bearing as to why this is a serious matter?

I'm not stating what you can or cannot do or become, Yvette.

The questions I asked earlier and what I'm writing now are hopefully to get you to think. To be an adult, which means to stop making excuses and take 100% responsibility for the choices you make.

Thank you.

Fireman767 · Jun 13, 2013

pmabraham stated it well. Would you want a nurse or doctor treating you if they cheated in their past studies? would you want them treating your family? Im not debating your reason, but what im saying is there shouldnt even be a reason to cheat. That B you earned, how do we or the school know it wasn't all earned from cheating. Regardless of you getting into a program, they will watch you like a hawk, and if you happen to even get thought of as cheating your past will haunt you in a way that would more than likely lead to dismissal from the program. We all have bad times in our life, doesn't mean we should resort to cheating to get ahead. next time talk to your professor, they would have understood. And many programs in the application ask of instances of academic dishonesty, and you best believe thats one of the things they in depth look at.

allnurses Guide · Jun 13, 2013

I review ABSN and DE-MSN applications for a local college.

A history of academic dishonesty would immediately put you on the very bottom of the pile.

It's a tough punishment for a single mistake but there really is no wiggle room. Even more concerning is that you still seem to think your cheating was somehow justified.

zasaeki · Jun 13, 2013

I know that community colleges are a bit more lenient towards cheaters, most universities are not. The fact that you still got a B in the course is my proof because my school would have automatically failed you and put you on probation. That being said you should be hopeful that you still got somewhat of a decent grade in A&P. You made a mistake despite the fact you were hurting, and unfortunately will have to face the consequences. Even a person who steals for his starving family will face consequences if caught. NOW... It's time to think what you can do from here. You probably won't get much sympathy from here (AN) because most if not all of us dislike people who cheats especially in nursing because everyone has to work so hard. So my advice would be this: 1) don't cheat ever again. In fact, be Anti-cheating. Hate it. Cheating will only make you weaker. Even successful people fail only to succeed again. 2) talk to your dean and build a relationship. Your dean knows how to deal with cheaters and if he/she is a good dean, will help bring your potentials out so you wouldn't make choices like the ones you've made. 3) Now that you have a record you need to show people that the record doesn't define you. Reach out to your community. Do stuff outside your school to show others that you care about nursing. I don't want to list every thing for you but think about it... Many people just study hard to show schools that they're serious about nursing but not everyone actually puts themselves out there. Obtain something others won't have like experience, wisdom, and a genuine caring heart for those who are sick. Good luck.

whitsinn · Jun 13, 2013

\ said:
I know that community colleges are a bit more lenient towards cheaters most universities are not. The fact that you still got a B in the course is my proof because my school would have automatically failed you and put you on probation. That being said you should be hopeful that you still got somewhat of a decent grade in A&P. You made a mistake despite the fact you were hurting, and unfortunately will have to face the consequences. Even a person who steals for his starving family will face consequences if caught. NOW... It's time to think what you can do from here. You probably won't get much sympathy from here (AN) because most if not all of us dislike people who cheats especially in nursing because everyone has to work so hard. So my advice would be this: 1) don't cheat ever again. In fact, be Anti-cheating. Hate it. Cheating will only make you weaker. Even successful people fail only to succeed again. 2) talk to your dean and build a relationship. Your dean knows how to deal with cheaters and if he/she is a good dean, will help bring your potentials out so you wouldn't make choices like the ones you've made. 3) Now that you have a record you need to show people that the record doesn't define you. Reach out to your community. Do stuff outside your school to show others that you care about nursing. I don't want to list every thing for you but think about it... Many people just study hard to show schools that they're serious about nursing but not everyone actually puts themselves out there. Obtain something others won't have like experience, wisdom, and a genuine caring heart for those who are sick. Good luck.

Excellently stated. MOVE forward as much as you can! If you haven't learned your lesson, it will happen again down the road. I'm not so sure there can be any recovery from it if it's on your record twice. Embrace the opportunities, forgiveness, and advice.

smoup · Jun 13, 2013

My dad was admitted to the hospital for an emergency quadruple bypass right before my last final my sophomore year of undergrad. I cried all through the test, wrote the professor a note on the test telling him not to bother grading it and explaining the situation. He let me retake the test a day or so later. No big deal. It never crossed my mind to cheat.

Cheating is something that just shouldn't cross your mind. It would do you well to figure out not only why it crossed your mind but why you acted on it also. "Because my grandfather passed away" won't cut it.

I would talk to your advisor and ask what options you have regarding nursing school.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 13, 2013

zasaeki said:
I know that community colleges are a bit more lenient towards cheaters, most universities are not. The fact that you still got a B in the course is my proof because my school would have automatically failed you and put you on probation.

This seems an odd statement to make. How is it that you know this? I think we can all point to the case of the CC student who was thrown out on his ear for crossing the proverbial line, as well as the case of the university student who was smacked on the wrist and told to be a good boy in the future even though there was a serious transgression.

The fact that the OP got a B in the course is no proof of anything whatsoever, except perhaps that her particular school has some questionable academic guidelines.

I suppose I just detest generalities like this; it only serves to perpetuate stereotypes. A community college is not automatically a "lesser" nursing school because it is not a university. Trust me, there are stories we ALL could tell on that score!

zasaeki · Jun 13, 2013

Quote
This seems an odd statement to make. How is it that you know this? I think we can all point to the case of the CC student who was thrown out on his ear for crossing the proverbial line, as well as the case of the university student who was smacked on the wrist and told to be a good boy in the future even though there was a serious transgression.
The fact that the OP got a B in the course is no proof of anything whatsoever, except perhaps that her particular school has some questionable academic guidelines.
I suppose I just detest generalities like this; it only serves to perpetuate stereotypes. A community college is not automatically a "lesser" nursing school because it is not a university. Trust me, there are stories we ALL could tell on that score!

I think you misunderstood me or maybe I should've been more clear. I went to a UC as an undergrad then attended (several) community college for my nursing prereqs. Trust me on this, there is a difference when it comes to policies on cheating. And in no way was I comparing an ADN program to a BSN program. I'm in an ADN program myself. My point of saying that was not to downplay community colleges but to tell the OP that the situation could've been worse.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2013

You cheated. There are consequences. Blaming stress or anxiety means nothing to anyone. Good luck in the future. In the current economic situation anything that shows character flaws (cheating, breaking the law, etc..) are no gos. Even the military is making it much harder to enlist because there are plenty trying to join.