Cheating in nursing school

[nursingforme2]

Hi there,

So, there's been cheating in my program. I am not quite sure what to do about it so here I am turning to you guys for help. There are students who have to take their tests at different times from the normal class due to special needs. We take our exams first and then they have to take their tests a lot later. The issue is that these people are asking other students for questions and answers that were on the tests. Since we take our exams first they have an advantage and are getting better grades then those of us who have tried really hard to get to where we are. I find this to be really unfair. I feel it's the students fault as well as the faculty just to let them know that maybe everyone should be taking their tests at the same to reduce the chances of someone cheating? How do I go about this anonymously? Using school computer with a new email possibly? Thank you

[AngelKissed857, BSN, RN]

At my school, everyone has to take the test at the same time. But there other thing is, I knows when I walk out of an exam, I probably couldn't tell you more than a couple if questions, and I tend to remember the ones I got wrong! Not sure this would be an effective way to raise your grade!

[Extra Pickles]

Getting locked in a room for 3 hours (NCLEX can be up to 9 hours) unable to go to the bathroom, get a drink, etc.

The typical student doesn't need to go to the bathroom or leave the room to get a drink during any 3 hour time frame, so not sure why that is an issue for those who take that long on an exam. The NCLEX exam doesn't deny you the ability to go to the bathroom or get a drink. There are breaks built into the computer program. Assuming your biological functions are not significantly different than the usual test taker you will be able to keep yourself comfortable.

The NCLEX is an exam that lasts a maximum of 6 hours. Do you know that you will have up to 9 hours to take it based on special accommodations? I didn't think there were any time limitation extensions allowed on this exam, but maybe I'm wrong.

The OP's concern isn't that those with special accommodations in place are taking their exams at greater convenience than other students. Her concern is that those students who are allowed to take their exams later than the rest of the class are getting answers to test questions from those who tested earlier. Different animal.

My thought is that students who give out exam answers to those who still need to take the test are stupid for doing so. And that students who think that they are coming out ahead by getting those answers are stupid as well. If competition within the class exists for grades for some unknown reason then those students giving out answers are shooting themselves in the foot. I honestly doubt that the same test is given to the students who take their exams significantly later than the rest of the class because professors don't live in a Bubble World, they know students will cheat. Having better grades as the semester goes on doesn't prove cheating, it could also mean that the testing accommodations are working (disadvantage in testing removed, level playing field, better grades later on).

Any students who are only passing because they are getting answers to test questions will be shocked to find that the NCLEX won't be fooled.

[WanderingWilder, ASN]

At my school the students that get accommodations for the test still take it at the same time as the rest of the class, they just do theirs in the student support center. I find it strange that your school wouldn't do the same thing. It won't look good for the school if students graduated based on cheating and then don't pass the nclex.

[Sandpiper12, ADN, RN]

Any chance their grades went up because they are now getting the accommodations to help with their special needs?

Also, it's probably better just to talk to them - and tell them it's not OK to be asking for test questions. Honestly I'm surprised people actually tell them what was on the test! I study way too hard to give away that info.

[April90]

This sound like my nursing program though mine is private so I doubt they'll do much if it was known. As long as the student give them a higher percentage of the "probability of passing nclex" then it'll look good on the school. They'll get all the good grades now from cheating but once they take the nclex or working as a nurse it'll come back to haunt them.

[db2xs]

If OP has concrete proof, then say something. If OP has suspicions only, then say something anyway. Apathy is worse than action. Otherwise, this kind of stuff keeps going on. If the two groups are taking two different tests, then fine, we can put things to rest. But be informed, and be the change that you can be.

[SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN]

This is not a problem I would take on. It's the other student's fault they are giving away answers, why in the world would one do that. My school also has the people w/ special needs take the test at the same exact time we do in a normal classroom. I don't know, I'm usually one to be upfront and not let people get away with unethical actions, BUT I have learned from watching others in school, that reporting these things rarely works out well for the student who reports and it always comes out who it was.

[nursingforme2]

Everyone is taking the same test during different times. And yes, I have personally seen them in action asking whoever they can to get more questions. They tried asking me too, but I did not give in! I know there's no proof, and I don't want to get anyone in trouble. I just thought it would be wise for staff to know. It's only common sense. These students are irresponsible, and they need to grow up.

[AngelKissed857, BSN, RN]

As long as you're not involved in any way, you're focus needs to be on YOUR education, not anyone else's. That just my opinion.

[db2xs]

BUT I have learned from watching others in school, that reporting these things rarely works out well for the student who reports and it always comes out who it was.

Then you're going to an unethical school.

"By choosing to not care, to not have an opinion, to not take a stance, you are part of the problem. Ignoring something doesn't make it go away. And you cannot rely on others to fight for the world you want to live in. It's on you. And me. And all of us to build the world we want to live in." -- Rebekah Bolster, "Apathy Sucks"

[emmjayy, BSN, RN]

Absolutely tell instructors if you have proof. Have you witnessed this exchange of info take place? Do you have group text/chat logs showing students discussing the matter? You must be able to back your claim up.

It does seem a bit silly that the school hasn't realized the cheating potential of the situation. At my school, we have students with special needs take their test starting an hour before the rest of us, but they take it on a completely different floor of the school and are not allowed to leave the testing room until after the test is finished for the rest of us due to cheating concerns.

[floatingrib]

Actually happened in my program last semester and it was frustrating because a lot of us didn't even know till the late in the semester. Before our final someone emailed our dean to stay anonymous to the professor and our dean came in for the final (our exams are online but for whatever reason this specific professor didn't choose a software that didn't lock the screens) and it totally ruined our curves. It was extra annoying because our professor wouldn't even walk around in this huge lab. But yea our dean came in and yelled at us for 20 min and during the final she walked around so people wouldn't cheat. So some random person mentioning it to her really made a difference.

Another thing you can do is vaguely mention it to the professor. Like not names, but to ensure it won't happen again if you don't want to name drop plus you won't be responsible for finding evidence to prove others were cheating. The professor will be more aware that students do care and may escalate and for the remainder of the semester they might change the setting up or make different exams entirely. For us the damage was largely already done, but we ended up having a curve on the final b/c people that were going to rely on cheating had super low grades.

But honestly about past exams almost everyone has access to those from previous semesters (but professors usually change them up).