Cheaters.... What is our responsibility?

[PlayaChickRN]

Hi all.

I'm in my last semester of pre-reqs, starting nursing school in the fall. I have noticed a bit of casual cheating (who knew this was a thing!?). Last week, a couple students next to me, while taking a test in A&P II were blatantly cheating. How do I know? Well, this teacher gives color coded tests, such that you should never be next to anyone with the same version of the test as yourself. HOWEVER, the questions are all the same, just jumbled around. Long story short, they were talking and comparing tests in detail, also, our teacher made a printing error and had to manually write some questions (for only one version of the test) on the board. One of the alleged cheaters turned in her test, before the professor even finished writing the questions on the board! (I was shocked.) He was flustered because of his error and didn't notice what was going on with these girls.

My dilemma... what is my responsibility (if any)with this blatant cheating and with casual cheating that I see almost daily (with others)? I'm a person of strong character and have very black and white views on this for myself and my kids. I also spend hours studying for a test only to get within 5 points of these "cheaters".

These girls, specifically, are pre-nursing. If they somehow make it in, how would you deal with this in the program? It could really screw up someone's care down the line and frankly it scares me to have to share patients with someone like this.

My petty concern, is that they will retaliate. They already don't seem to be the nicest of people and would hate to end up with a keyed car or something. If I don't do something, they could end up hurting someone down the line with these poor habits.

Gah! Help. Have you ever been in a similar situation? At what point is enough, enough?

[BusiestBSN]

I have witnessed multiple cheaters throughout my years of college. I am about to graduate with my BSN in May and there are still students who "cheat".

Honestly, you have no responsibility for their cheating. Focus on yourself & finishing your pre reqs. If they keep this habit up, they will not make it through nursing school and certainly won't pass the NCLEX.

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

This is a topic that frequently appears on AN. BusyBSN2B is correct. I would not get involved. Here is the thing…if you accuse those three of cheating without any definitive proof; you could be setting yourself up for a slander/deformation of character lawsuit. THIS is why we educators aren't quick to accuse. If three people turned in the same test with the same six missed questions AND they were sitting together, well that could be something different. The same can happen to the three who took different versions of the test. However, if I had a student turn in a test who correctly answered questions without my having completed writing the questions on the board, that's a red flag too. I suspect your professor has made a mental note about this. We simply do not share this kind of information with the class.

[ICUnurseEst2015, ADN, BSN]

Wow I've was in the exact same situation! The girls say behind me in anatomy and physiology had their notes on their lap. I have very strong character too and they made me so mad! Especially when they scored higher than I did! Well now we're in the same program together and they get by just fine. I don't know if they still cheat but I am graduating with highest honors this year. I am the only one who will be receiving the director's award this year and it goes to show hard work pays off. I am the type of person who believes that U get what you work for. People who cheat will enter nursing clueless and unfortunately might kill patients. But this is so inevitable. However, it's not in our best interest to turn in a cheater in school. Someone reported it once and the instructor made a whole new exam much more difficult. We all paid for it. BUT if I EVER and I mean EVER see a coworker try to cover an error that hurts a patient you bet I will say something this goes for MDs or nurses.

[Shinnichi, ADN, RN]

I agree with the PPs about not worrying about the cheaters. IF they manage to make it into NS, the kinds of questions they will be faced with (and if your school is smart) the setup for testing won't allow for cheating. Even so, it wouldn't be possible to cheat once they are in clinicals-- their instructor asking them things they should already know, not being able to demonstrate necessary critical thinking and skills, etc. And if all else, the NCLEX certainly wouldn't be passable for them.

It sucks to put in effort and watch others graze by, but in the end you can only ever be responsible for yourself.

[PlayaChickRN]

Thanks! I'll take a chill pill and let it work itself out.

I agree, once we are on a floor with them as a job, that's a different situation.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Thanks! I'll take a chill pill and let it work itself out.

Yes!

If you want to go to the professor and tell him that people in the class are cheating, go for it. Considering these people were talking the entire exam and he "missed" it, I'm guessing that he will not be cracking down on cheating.

Otherwise, carry on with you education and stop worrying about them! It will take care of itself. If they can't get through A&P without cheating, they will never survive the nursing classes.

[mae0218]

If they are cheaters, then they're not going to pass the NCLEX, assuming they graduate from nursing school, which I doubt. At my school, when you take a test in the nursing program, they treat you like you're taking the NCLEX (no jackets, no shirts with pockets, turn in your phone, etc) and watch closely. The people who might be cheating in the prereqs won't do well in nursing school anyway.

[PaulBaxter]

I guess if it were me, I'd just send an email or something to the prof stating that you've observed what appears to be cheating. If the prof asks for more info, just state exactly what you saw or heard. Don't embellish or connect the dots.

[caliotter3]

My granddaughter noticed the woman sitting next to her cheating away during their first exam. She was so disturbed about it that she approached the instructor after the exam and said that he stated he had not noticed (although the cheater was very obvious) and kept acting incredulous. I asked a pertinent question and based upon my granddaughter's response, I told her it would be best to simply keep her paper covered in the future and not bring up the subject of cheaters to the instructor. Sometimes you have to be cautious in picking your battles.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I am shocked by what my daughter is telling me....unbelievable.

I tell her cheaters never prosper and they WILL hang themselves when given enough rope. I also told her to avoid being social with them so that she is not associated with the group.

[Angeljho, MSN, NP]

They can't cheat their way through everything. It will eventually catch up with them. I don't see how they're going to pass nursing school. Sure, they can cheat on their fluid & electrolytes exam; but everything in nursing is a building block that adds on and on. Just wait until they have to critically think to answer nursing exam questions.