Arghh, am I the only one is tired of systematic cheating

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CEUs, BLS/ACLS renewals, and general state requirements you name it. Cheating, cheating, and more no shame cheating. Am I the only one who finds it disturbing and is the problem as systematic as I believe it to be?

I guess I never knew you could "cheat" like that. This being said, BLS CPR is pretty simple. Especially now with the recent changes. I'm not sure why anyone would WANT to let alone NEED to cheat on it. You attend a 3-4 hour class and take an exam. Pretty simple stuff to me. I teach it myself and I can tell you I won't issue a card to any healthcare provider who can't pass something that simple.

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

A co-worker told me about someone else who was supposedly certified but would renew your BLS card if you just paid her.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

Massachusetts had a big scandal a few years ago with continuing ed fraud among EMTs.

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I guess I never knew you could "cheat" like that. This being said, BLS CPR is pretty simple. Especially now with the recent changes. I'm not sure why anyone would WANT to let alone NEED to cheat on it. You attend a 3-4 hour class and take an exam. Pretty simple stuff to me. I teach it myself and I can tell you I won't issue a card to any healthcare provider who can't pass something that simple.

I don't think anyone finds the class difficult to pass, just time consuming. Although I wouldn't seek to buy a card outright, I admit that I have a strong preference for a fast class over a slow one. Although there may be a change here or there, most of what's included in a four hour class is old news.

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.

Well, I have known a BLS instructor who would provide cards for a very small fee to people that s/he worked with and knew well. The reasoning was something like, "I've been in multiple codes with you, I've seen you do CPR on real people, in less-than-ideal circumstances, you know your stuff... it's a waste of time for you sit through the renewal class which is partly just an AHA fundraiser."

It seemed a reasonable attitude on her/his part.

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Specializes in ER.

When I was a BLS instructor, I made people take the computer class and I would help them if they needed it. Then we did check offs. I remember doing check offs in a fast track room. Like 10 staff members came down and were checked off because it was useful (night shift). More companies need to do night time check offs.

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Specializes in OR.

When I took ACLS for the first time, many, many moons ago, it was through the VA. They took the whole 2 days, went through the whole mega code with people switching out roles, etc. Quite nice and I learned A LOT. A few years later, I took PALS because I was starting an ER job. The individual teaching it, I kid you not simply said "its just like ACLS with smaller patients." Oh my, it most certainly is not!!! I was appalled. He skipped the videos and ambled through the code as a group and were out the door in about an hour. Just fixing to take on pediatric patients, I felt very ill prepared for it. I actually paid out of pocket to take it again at the local tech school.

So yes, fraud does exist in it. I think the downhill slide started when it became such that nobody leaves the class without passing, to the point where you will be coached until you do pass it. That being said, I also prefer a faster class, but the material still needs to be covered.

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I have not experienced this as a nurse. The last few times I've taken it was at the VA and they are very thorough. I always felt confident in my abilities afterwards. But if I flashback to when I was a teenager taking the lifeguard certification course, which includes first aid & CPR, there most certainly was cheating going on. Our course lasted a couple weeks, I think, this was over 15 years ago, and when it came time to take the exam, the instructor was giving people answers during the exam and I was shocked! How is anyone supposed to be competent enough to save a life if someone is giving out answers to the certifying exam?!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I'm not sure how I'm complaining about my own behavior ...I'm simply describing it and what led up to it. And although my situation was somewhat subtle and completely unexpected, I've also heard of people very directly selling CPR renewal cards.

What I meant was ... that YOU cheated on your CPR renewal. Yes, the instructor led you to cheat ... but YOU cheated by accepting and turning in a card that you knew was a fraud -- and not reporting the problem. Then you come here and complain about the cheaters when you are guilty of the very type of thing you are complaining about.

Back in 1984, I was a CPR instructor as part of my job as a unit educator. The Director of that unit wanted me to give CPR cards to her favorite staff members who didn't want to take the renewal class. I refused and reported the situation to the head of the education department. When I didn't get a lot of support there, I found another job because I would not participate in cheating.

We don't have to participate in cheating. We can choose not to go along with it and report it. You chose to go along with it and not report it. That makes you part of the problem and not part of the solution.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
It happens. I enrolled in a last-minute BLS renewal class once upon a time. Then, I got a call saying that the class was cancelled but the instructor would "run through" it with me if I stopped by her near-by apartment. I was over-due and desperate, so I headed over. I paid her the money and she gave me the card explaining that she was "really busy". I guess I could have refused and reported her, but I took the card I needed for work the next day and I left.

Wow!!!! I don't blame you but I do blame her.

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wow...

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What I meant was ... that YOU cheated on your CPR renewal. Yes, the instructor led you to cheat ... but YOU cheated by accepting and turning in a card that you knew was a fraud -- and not reporting the problem. Then you come here and complain about the cheaters when you are guilty of the very type of thing you are complaining about.

I am NOT COMPLAINING about myself or anyone else. I'm describing a situation and informing others that things like this DO actually happen. The first several responders seemed to believe that the OP was dreaming up an impossible situation. I'm not sure how much more clear I can make it.

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