Cheating

JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2011

I believe you absolutely did the right thing. Most nursing students will work their bu##s off to make deadlines and when one or two people don't or can't, maybe they aren't ready for the very taxing program. The friend did this to herself and I would think of it this way; when you go to the ER with a family member, do you want the nurse who did his/her homework or the one who cheated. Our job is to recognize an emergency or serious issue ASAP. That's it, we are going to be the eyes and ears for our patients.

stunursegem · Jun 30, 2011

Thanks for the kind words...much appreciated.:thankya:

Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN · Jun 30, 2011

I agree, cheating has no place in school. I reported someone, and yes, there was some guilt, but I know it was the right thing to do.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jun 30, 2011

Integrity....pass it on.

Totally stole that from those cheesy commercials but it fits here. Good job

anakin322 · Jun 30, 2011

The fact that you feel guilty over this situation shows the amount of compassion and integrity that you have. You absolutely did nothing wrong. Your friend was silly for asking anyone to help her cheat. Like you said, if you had said nothing and the dean found out that you knew about it, you could have been expelled also. Although you guys are friends, you have no reason to get expelled for something that your friend did. I stand behind you 100%

redmango · Jun 30, 2011

Anyway...I was scared that someone would turn her in for trying to cheat and that the admin would find out I knew about it. At our school, even KNOWING about someone cheating and not saying anything is grounds for expulsion. So I contacted the dean and told her what was going on.
I'm just wondering...
So does that mean the other people she emailed are now close to expulsion because they KNEW about it but didn't go to the dean first??

hjknisley · Jun 30, 2011

During our interview to enter the nursing program we were asked what we would do if we caught a student cheating. Your actions were exactly the right answer. If you know, and do nothing, and that student is able to cheat her way through school, when she kills a pt due to incompetence you would have wished you would have taken action when you had the chance. Good job!

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 30, 2011

Anyway...I was scared that someone would turn her in for trying to cheat and that the admin would find out I knew about it. At our school, even KNOWING about someone cheating and not saying anything is grounds for expulsion. So I contacted the dean and told her what was going on.
I'm just wondering...
So does that mean the other people she emailed are now close to expulsion because they KNEW about it but didn't go to the dean first??
Good question. If no one else reported the incident, it does raise questions about the integrity of the group as a whole. But perhaps several people did report it. We don't know.
If I were running that school, I would use this situation as a teaching opportunity -- and have some discussions/activities to discuss it as a group. Since the student had not actually turned in the "cheated" assignment, I might give her the chance to stay in the program, but with some sort of penalty/warning that she needs to be on her best behavior from now on. This could be a great lesson for all involved if it is handled correctly.

Chinook2 · Jun 30, 2011

I would have given her the opportunity (ultimatum) to turn herself in. If she didn't within a very narrow window I would have reported her as you did. Perhaps her sending a retraction email to those she requested the answers from and coming forward to administration with a plea to help for stress would have minimized the damage she did to herself.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2011

Rest your little head tonight ... you absolutely did the right thing. People like that only bring down the group as a whole in the long run. Her lack of preparation should not be your problem. She's like a beggar on the street asking you for $1 that basically took you a while to earn on the job.

ckh23, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2011

I wouldn't feel guilty about it. Why should she get to coast by getting answers from people when you are busting your butt doing the assignments. She chose not to do the assignment until the last minute and then she was dumb enough to ask everyone to help her cheat. She made her bed and now she has to sleep in it.