Cheating in nursing school

Published

Myself and 4 other students saw cheating. It was reported to the dean, advisors, the director and the teacher was supposed to be notified. Nothing was done.

We take our exams online on our laptops and during the midterm two students had Google up searching for the answers. One also had her class power points up. These students received a 98 on their exams. It's really easy to look up and see this in front of you especially when you hear typing and not the clicking a multiple choice answer.

I wasnt actually the one who initially reported it but I did tell my advisor. What bothers me isn't that they even cheated exactly. Hard to explain but what bothers me is that the school was notified and no action taken. Like what is all this talk of integrity and doing the right things if the school doesn't uphold to that and allows cheating.

I understand one word against another and no proof too. Just I thought there'd be some acknowledgment to the class as a whole or change in test taking.

Not going to let this bother me much, I was just disappointed at the school ignoring it.

Do you see cheating in your nursing program?

When I found out that the cheaters in one of my courses were rewarded with the chance to retake the exam they were caught cheating on, it changed my opinion of the instructor who decided to inform the entire class about this action. When we talked about it afterward, everyone agreed that his handling of the problem was inadequate and not fair to those who didn't get extra time to prepare. So, to this day, I have thought a little less of that instructor, and I know that he wouldn't have lost any sleep over learning of my inconsequential opinion. His class, his choice to apply the rules as he saw fit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I would guess that anybody who's ever attended a class that takes tests, has witnessed cheating in some form.

Any class, any school any grade.

There was cheating in my nursing class. As I believe witnessing and keeping silent is as bad as cheating myself, I reported it.

Nothing happened and I never reported again. I did what I thought was right, and threw the ball in the instructors court.

I was outraged at the time, but I barely remember what that feels like.

As I've aged I've witnessed thousands of forms of cheating that are rarely punished. Not just in a classroom. People who have no integrity cheat in other areas of their lives. I've become numb to a different society.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
When I found out that the cheaters in one of my courses were rewarded with the chance to retake the exam they were caught cheating on, it changed my opinion of the instructor who decided to inform the entire class about this action. When we talked about it afterward, everyone agreed that his handling of the problem was inadequate and not fair to those who didn't get extra time to prepare. So, to this day, I have thought a little less of that instructor, and I know that he wouldn't have lost any sleep over learning of my inconsequential opinion. His class, his choice to apply the rules as he saw fit.

I have a professor with this same policy. I reported classmates taking exams together, and the only punishment was retaking the exam. Apparently, this is how he has always "dealt" with cheaters, despite going on and on about integrity, ethics, etc. Very frustrating since it is not much of a deterrent. If you don't report cheating, though, you can get in trouble if they find out you knew, so my new policy is to just report and forget about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have a professor with this same policy. I reported classmates taking exams together, and the only punishment was retaking the exam. Apparently, this is how he has always "dealt" with cheaters, despite going on and on about integrity, ethics, etc. Very frustrating since it is not much of a deterrent. If you don't report cheating, though, you can get in trouble if they find out you knew, so my new policy is to just report and forget about it.

This is just it! I don't really care about the people who cheated. But I really felt like they talked to us so much about as a student nurse and then as a possible future nurse to do the right thing, treat people with dignity, have integrity, etc. that it seemed hypocritical with this. If we can get in trouble for not reporting it then I'll just always mention it to my adviser but not be caught up or concerned about it, only about how I'm doing. I guess too I feel like it's unfair because I'd like a higher grade too and I do study hard but that's ok.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think it time for the op to mind her business. The incident has been reported to the school and as a student that where your job ends. It up to the school to make further action. A group of student were accused of cheating in my cohorts and they are still attending the school. What happens to them in the future is none of my business, I'm just there to face my studies and I advise you to do the same.

This is the nursing program I am in however. And I think sometimes it's up to the student body to speak up and make changes. I'm not saying this time, maybe I never will, however we have voices and should use them when we witness something wrong. I'd never mind my own business if I saw someone getting hurt or mistreated. Cheating isn't a big deal to some people, and me I was surprised by my school's lack of action and I would like to see "practice what is preached" in place. However I'm not doing anything more about this incident.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

If you're not happy with the school's decision, you need to contact the school's accrediting body and/or the state board of nursing who approves the program.

However, beware that this very much puts your education in jeopardy. If your school loses accreditation then that can impact your chances at employment.

It may just be best to move on. I know that's not what you want to hear but I've given you pretty much the only other option.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
So although this is good advice and will result in less annoyance for the OP I do understand them feeling indignant. There was blatant cheating in the nursing pre-reqs like A&P and micro at my school and no one seemed to give a crap. It disgusted me, still does but I soon learned the schools will avoid any type of conflict with students. We are a society of wusses now imo and to protect my own sanity I have to let that be explanation enough and try to ignore it.

Like I said the original poster reported the students to the school authorities. I do not condone cheating but in order for the school to take action the school must have factual evidence. The op does not have full details on the investigation so she cannot come up with the assumption that the school is did nothing. At my school , they did not have actual evidence to take action against the students t.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just remember GPA means nothing to the NCLEX. Also my mom teaches for a nursing program and I know from her stories they do not discuss with cohort what actions are taken. You can't know for sure nothing was done.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

I had students who cheated in my class, 2 sets of students, turned in identical copies of class project complete with typos & incorrect front page with incorrect APA format, same size/incorrect fonts. The dept head made up some "test" for them, did not want to flunk them or kick them out. A few years later, one of the cheaters was interviewing for a job in a smaller hospital where I was working PRN during summer to help them out. The unit manager, who had been one of my students brought "Mary" down the hall & said, "She is interested in working here, was she in your classes?" I said yeah she was, then got up went into a patient room and closed the door. She did not get the job.

Another cheater sent me an email, apparently got into NP school, wanted help writing a paper for roles class! Sent back reply, no can do, can't help you, has to do with integrity. When I last checked, he did not have NP license in this state but he might have moved on. Karma?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was just kind of complaining about it and letting out my surprise really. Not that I wanted to do anything or cared THAT much. No sleep lost over it here!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

Even though they have told you case closed, I am fairly certain that the cheaters are going to be watched more closely. At my school, many of our tests were still done on paper. We had to remove everything from our desks, including drink bottles. These all had to be put along the wall so we couldn't even try to peek. Okay, I went to another school too and even though those tests were on computer, the nursing department had their own computer lab. There, too, we had to do the same thing with our belongings.

We had a few cheaters too, they had worked out some kind of signal. Well, one passed NCLEX on her second try and the last I knew, the other had not passed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We take our tests in a school computer lab. The instructor can see, from her computer, everything we are doing. If you open a second window the test shuts off. This applies to ATI and our regular exams.

There are some people who have decided that taking the at home quizzes together is acceptable. I don't agree and have told them so when asked to participate. I didn't argue with them, just declined and said I felt that it wasn't honest or fair and that I wouldn't want to be held accountable for that kind of behavior.

It ended up being a double win for me. Those students no longer ask me for answers and I was not part of the group who lost the privilege of taking quizzes at home.

Cheating will only hurt them in the long run.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion