Cheating in an FNP program

caliotter3 · Feb 11, 2015

I would have hoped that people at this stage of their career would show more maturity.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Feb 11, 2015

Wow. How old are these people?

Well unless you have proof there's really nothing you can do. Especially if there is a big group of cheaters, then it will turn into (s)he said/they said.

elise1180 · Feb 11, 2015

It's disheartening...all adults close to 30. No proof but I suppose instructors could easily see IP addresses of where they take the tests is always the same for several of them.

Red Kryptonite · Feb 11, 2015

If the fools running your school haven't figured out how to effectively proctor online exams, then they've asked for this.

edmia, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2015

If the fools running your school haven't figured out how to effectively proctor online exams, then they've asked for this.

Exactly! An unproctored online exam is the same as giving an open book exam. If the university wants true exams, they have to proctor them. There are plenty of software solutions out there.

People are always going to take the easy way if available. Human nature.

Complain to the university and ask for a way to take proctored exams. Or join the crowd and do it as an open book test. I think you learn either way, honestly. If you haven't at least skimmed the material, you don't have time to look things up.

Sent from my iPhone -- blame all errors on spellcheck

AJJKRN · Feb 11, 2015

If the fools running your school haven't figured out how to effectively proctor online exams, then they've asked for this.

No, these are suppose to be professional registered nurses, not to mention adults, that in essence should be trustworthy. Ridiculous that any of these people have the opportunity to attend NP school and are treating the learning experience like high school but then again, what did they get away with in high school. I also shudder to think what they may have gotten away with during patient care as well.

AJJKRN · Feb 11, 2015

Exactly! An unproctored online exam is the same as giving an open book exam. If the university wants true exams, they have to proctor them. There are plenty of software solutions out there.
People are always going to take the easy way if available. Human nature.
Complain to the university and ask for a way to take proctored exams. Or join the crowd and do it as an open book test. I think you learn either way, honestly. If you haven't at least skimmed the material, you don't have time to look things up.
Sent from my iPhone -- blame all errors on spellcheck

While I respect your opinion and can see where you're coming from, we will probably agree to disagree on this subject. While I do feel like an non-proctored exam should be treated as an open book exam, I also feel like the only help I as a student should receive should come from the study materials, me, myself, and I. :lurking:

Eru IlÃºvatar · Feb 11, 2015

I attend maryville university and know several students who have cheated on our first patho test. The tests are online and people actually bragged how they all got together for the test. One had the book open, one had the study guide and another had Google ready to find answers. I feel like this is totally unfair for those of us that are working hard to honestly get through the program.
Would you say anything? Or stay out of it and hope it eventually catches up to them?

Don't worry too much about it, it will eventually catch up to them in the form of Board Exams at the end of the program. If they cruise trough the program there is a big chance they will fail the exam.

Also maybe the intention of the professor is to give a chance for students to get some grades at the beginning so they can work better for a high grade, who knows...

danielle2000, MSN, RN · Feb 11, 2015

Wow, I agree at this level of nursing you would think honesty is the best policy. In my advanced health assessment class we take online quizzes but they are in the classroom and we review before we take our quizzes. For the most part many do well. It will only hurt them when it comes to the actual board certification.

TammyG · Feb 11, 2015

I definitely would let the school know, you don't have to name any names, but just let the prof know that you are aware that many students consulted each other and reviewed forbidden materials during the test. If you are worried about being outed, then talk to a counselor or the dean of students rather than directly to the professor and ask for anonymity.

Personally, I would not join them in cheating. Then you are just as immature as them. The argument that "everyone is breaking the honor code, so will I" is a very bad one and usually does not lead to anything good. But at the same time, you are being penalized by following the code, and that is not right either. Hopefully, the school will make future tests in-classroom.

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Feb 11, 2015

As mentioned above, unless you have solid proof, I would not say anything. Also as mentioned above, the "proof in the pudding" will come when they cannot pass boards because they do not have a sound pathophysiology background to understand disease processes. When my husband was in med school, he would come home sometimes so discouraged because other students would have "aced" the test and towards the end he found out many of them were cheating. Long story short...guess who didn't pass their board exams and are not practicing physicians? It is not worth your time and energy to fight this...you need to concentrate on your own studies first and foremost!