cheating in nursing while taking a test.........

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I was reading in a magazine about a week ago about cheating in college. There are some colleges that looks at cheating as a crime and if you are caught, you will carry that record with you for life.

When I was in Level 2, there were about15 to 20 people who saw with our own eyes as well as heard, six ladies who cheated from the first test to the final during that semester. When the teacher who was over Level 2, during this time was told this, instead of her going to these ladies and confronting them with what they were doing and have been doing, she made a big ordeal about how the person who came and told what they saw and heard and a gave a speech that we were adults and in college. No the teacher did not say who told; but to this day, never once made a big ordeal about how cheating was wrong. Yes I do know who it was that told and yes I do know how that person felt when this teacher came in there and done what she did and how today, these same ladies who will be going into Level 4 were never once confronted or questioned. But this person, along with others who too saw and heard and who believes as I do, that cheating is wrong and should not be allow, some have failed and are repeating a level because they earned their grades the old fashion way....studying and depending upon their memory and knowledge.

I wrote this to see, do you agree with how this was handled and what is your opinion on cheating and do you think these 6 ladies who are going into Level 4, still should be confronted.

thanks,

teresa

[This message has been edited by domeproud (edited December 28, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by domeproud (edited December 28, 2000).]

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I can definitely understand your frustration with this event. The fact that they went through two levels already while cheating is definitely disheartening. I feel that what goes around, comes around...maybe the 4th level teacher will be a little more wise to this episode. I just pray that something happens where they are confronted before patients are harmed because of their deceitfulness.

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I,too, can totally understand your frustration with this unfair situation. In the class that preceded mine, apparently there were a few individuals who cheated pretty much all the way through upper division nursing. Interestingly, not one of these individuals passed the NCLEX, despite graduating with very high GPA's. I guess you could find solace with the fact that although these people are getting away with it now, they WON'T be able to cheat their way through passing boards, period. Best of luck to you as you continue to acquire a genuine education, and one that will see you through successfully passing NCLEX and will allow you to safely care for your patients! Shannon

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"The highest reward for man's toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it."-Johan Ruskin

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ShannonB25 raised a good point: NCLEX will prevent the cheaters from becoming nurses. However, that does not relieve the frustration you feel from studying hard to get good grades while others 'cheat' and achieve academic 'success.'

While working on my functional role asa nurse educator for my MSN, I had to do a great deal of teaching for 'clinical time.' Another nursing education student who also taught with me had a similar problem. I learned a lot about 'academic dishonesty' that semester. There are a few legalities to consider:

1. The burden of proof falls upon the shoulders of the prosecutor. That is, unless the professor saw the student do it, it is pretty much a 'my word against your word' type of scenario.

2. Without the professor him/herself catching the student in the act, if he/she approached the student about it [and, if you had the right sort of student], then the professor could easily find him/herself AND the college/university in the courtroom [if someone could sue for spilling coffee in their lap, imagine what sorts of things people will go to a lawyer over!!!].

I do not know if these reasons are WHY your instructor did not act. (S)he should have at the very least had a class 'commercial' in which they reviewed the academic honesty policy of the school.

Another though... if those of you who turned the students in from cheating were not listened to by the instructor, go over the instructors head to the office of the Dean or Provost or Vice-Provost of the university. THEY will not turn you away. It is one nice luxury that college based nursing programs have over the hospital

diploma programs. Diploma programs had the director of the program as the FINAL authority. In the college setting, beyond the program director, you have the higher authorities, like the ones I have already mentioned.

Insofar as your teacher's speech about you and your fellow students being adults... It all goes back to something that the wisest and greatest Nursing Home Administrator in the world once told me... She said: "Tim... No good deed goes unpunished!"

Keep studying hard, and remember, it will all pay off. As far as your 'colleagues' just remember, their stupidity will carry it's own punishment.

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I just want to say thank you to the ones that have responded so far to the topic I posted earlier today...."cheating in nursing while taking a test." I truly do appreciate the encouraging words that each have sent my way.

I just want to add to what I have already written/posted, concerning these ladies that have been cheating. From Level 1 through Level 3, they have cheated and have so far gotten away with it. When will they get caught?, is a question that I keep asking myself. No I am not wishing any bad thing on them, I am just thinking of the patients that they will be taking care of in the future. And due to their lack of knowledge a patient could be harm seriously. I just pray that God will intervene before they get out of Level 4, before they do cause harm to an innocent patient that has sought help from the medical field.

Thank you and God Bless,

teresa

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Surely by now I thought that there would be more nurses and especially nursing students who would be giving their opinions concerning this topic as well as empowering words to domeproud.

Cheating in nursing school is not ok and it should not be passed off, because of the lives these 6 ladies will be confronted with after they get out of school and pass the state boards. I just pray that God will intervene here before then.

Domeproud, you tell your friend that what he or she did was very noble and that it is not right that these ladies have gotten where they are at now in nursing school by being so dishonest. But understand, things can slip through the cracks but in the end justice will prevail. Lets just pray before these ladies get out of level 4, that justice will prevail, before they cause harm to innocent souls that will be seeking help from these ladies.

God Bless and my prayers are with you and your friend.

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"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 KJB

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