Classmates who cheat

[Maroon horse]

I guess I just want to rant. I don’t plan to turn anyone in.

But it really sucks when I get a hard earned 90 (or 86, like last night’s test) and most of my class is getting high 90s and 100s by cheating.

It’s so demotivating, and I wonder what my teachers must think of me. I participate in lecture, I can correctly answer questions during class (80% of my classmates are watching Netflix/YouTube/texting and not paying attention. I know this because I sit in the back row and can see everyone’s screen), yet I probably have among the lowest test scores in the class. Occasionally we’ll have a randomized test that apparently can’t be cheated on, and my score has been the highest in my class (the cheaters failed, or came very very close to failing).

There have even been questions on tests where the answer was WRONG, and when I pointed it out, instead of changing it our teacher said that because most of the class got it right it must be right.

There have been times when there has been a question that addresses something not covered by any of our material, and the answer again was : most of the class knew anyway, so you should too.

My seat-mate who (allegedly) avoided cheating all last term succumbed after being offered the test answers by her coworker who has recently graduated from our program. Hearing her smugly give advice (advice I had given to her last term! Advice that has nothing to do with her current grades, because her current grades are from seeing the questions in advance!) to classmates who don’t cheat is infuriating.

And yes, I know she and at least half of my class are cheating for sure. I’m not bitterly making excuses for having lower grades.

[paquetiko]

Are you learning? Do you feel like you are performing at the expected level? If so, then you will be fine. Like N95 masks, I am also out of *** to give re: "wah wah my fellow students are definitely cheating in school."

This is life. There will always be cheaters. Grades are not the end all be all, and it sounds like you're doing well, although you will be better when you realize an 80% test grade doesnt make you any better or worse than the person who received a 98%.

Some people SUCK at tests and some of those people WILL be better nurses than you, dear OP. Focus on yourself and being the best nursing student you can be. Lord knows nursing school is stressful enough without the added stress of worrying about what everyone else is doing, too.

[guest1158290]

I was kicked out of nursing school by a "friend" who backstabbed me. Almost at the end of the 1st semester we had our Math exam and were told if we didn't pass (missing two at most) then we were out of the program. We had two chances on the exam. I did not pass my first attempt and took notes on the problems that I had missed. I studied the problems as we were told the 2ns exam would be different. The friend had messaged me asking if I had figured out how to do one of the dosing calculation questions. I tested back yes and gave her a picture of my math notes. I go in a couple of days later and take my test and pass. My teacher tells me they need to speak to me. I go in and they accuse me of cheating on the exam. They say I shared test information and they have proof. I didn't understand as I didn't know any of the questions and the questions were indeed different on both tests. At this point, I was beyond stressed because of the exam but now this. I was heartbroken as I have worked for many years getting into the nursing program. They said I was being removed because in the handbook I signed that I would not share test information before, during, or after exams. I didn't even realize that I had done this. My intentions were pure and I wouldn't have tried to help anyone but she asked and of course, I didn't want to see anyone get kicked out over it. Me being kind and caring about other students and their well being got me kicked out. My advice is not to ever trust anyone in nursing school. I had to learn the hard way and my career is now over.

[LovingPeds, MSN, APRN, NP]

Don't kid yourself that your instructors aren't wise to what is happening. The problem is an instructor can't say or do anything without proof. We have to see the student cheat. We have to take the student's word that they came prepared on their own mental power unless there is suspicious activity during the test or we can prove they have had access to our tests. I've watched students make failing grades on two tests, high 90's almost perfect on the next three, then when I change to new questions fall back down to failing grades for the rest of the semester. We know. We just can't 'prove it'.

[TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN]

You can't just go by grades.  There were topics that I was horrible at and would get low grades, and topics that I did great at.  I never took notes, and would spend most of my class time coloring.

[StudentRegisteredNurseofAnesthesia]

On 1/22/2020 at 10:57 AM, Rose_Queen said:

Just remember that no one can cheat on NCLEX. Either they learn the material or they don’t. You’re already ahead of them by having learned it.

I agree!

[LovingPeds, MSN, APRN, NP]

On 10/6/2020 at 12:28 PM, TheDudeWithTheBigDog said:

You can't just go by grades.  There were topics that I was horrible at and would get low grades, and topics that I did great at.  I never took notes, and would spend most of my class time coloring.

You can't tell by grades alone. You have to look also at content, but grades reflect that knowledge of content. Say someone makes 98% on everything antepartum I give them on two exams and then on their intrapartum test using a new test bank they miss every single question that refers back to that same antepartum content they had a nearly perfect score on previously. What are the odds that they knew the questions versus actually knowing the content? You either know the content or you don't. You don't have that much of a difference between test questions on the same content if you know the content. They only other logical change is the change in test bank source for questions.

[londonflo]

On 2/9/2020 at 10:45 PM, PeekaPooh said:

it seems like it has been going on for a while from 1 semester to another and so forth.

 I would expect the cheating would eventually be suspected on either NCLEX pass rate or another high stakes test. If your school subscribes to Mountain Measurement: https://reports.mountainmeasurement.com/NCLEX

 they will get some data on specific practice areas where the majority of the students answered the questions (if this is a widespread problem among the class).  The report needs to have a certain number of students answer a question in order to give an accurate percent for correct/failure among the school population taking the test. It will not count those who pass in the minimum number of questions or fail at the minimum number of questions. This is an expensive subscription but it sure helps improve a curriculum if faculty pay heed to it. 

On 1/22/2020 at 10:50 AM, Maroon horse said:

Occasionally we’ll have a randomized test that apparently can’t be cheated on, and my score has been the highest in my class (the cheaters failed, or came very very close to failing).

Hopefully the faculty will scramble the test questions so there are two versions or more of the same test but the questions in a different order - like a version A, version B, and version C. This can defeat those who look left and right during the test when crammed in. Possibly our social distancing will also impact this. 

On 1/22/2020 at 10:50 AM, Maroon horse said:

There have even been questions on tests where the answer was WRONG, and when I pointed it out, instead of changing it our teacher said that because most of the class got it right it must be right.

A very odd action by a faculty member. Surely you have an opportunity to evaluate your faculty. Please note this bizarre fact even if it will not help your grades. The Dean may read the faculty evals and get to the bottom of this. 

If the cheating is happening by previous tests circulating, that will eventually defeat the students who depend on that method. Tests really are revised I would think when new faculty are assigned to teach content. Are you sure your classmates don't have a link to the 'test bank' that accompanies your textbook? Even though the publishers say the banks are secure, if you have $$ you can usually find one for sale. 

On 1/22/2020 at 10:50 AM, Maroon horse said:

(80% of my classmates are watching Netflix/Youtube/texting and not paying attention. I know this because I sit in the back row and can see everyone’s screen), yet I probably have among the lowest test scores in the class.

Just a suggestion: Try to move to the front (you probably will have to wait until next semester if everyone habitually sits in the same seats and this prevents you from moving to the front.)  In the past I have done informal data collection on the grades of those who sit in the back. More 'backseat sitters' receive a lower score or fail the course. I suppose it may reflect the interest of some in attending class. 

I did not realize this thread was so old but hopefully OP will still follow AN

[ThursdayNight, CNA]

Don't worry about them. When they're caught by an instructor, they'll pissed themselves.

[amoLucia]

londonflo - interesting test score analysis study.

[Maroon horse]

Hello, I wanted to update! Most of my class graduated. Valedictorian was the person who had been cheating the longest.
I took the NCLEX as soon as I was eligible and passed. The rest of my class (as far as I know) hasn’t taken it yet; the 10 or so I’m in contact with tell me they need several months to “study”. 
 

ETA: I wanted to add about my grades: I got As and Bs. I did fail one test. However, my classmates who were cheating always got 90-100s on every test. 

[amoLucia]

OP - NCLEX congratulations to you.

I hope you can take some solace/consolation/PRIDE in the fact that YOUR pts will have benefitted from your studious & honest endeavors. You are the better/best-est nurse out of your crew. And that most assuredly will benefit your pts.

In a way, I feel sorry for the pts of those other cheater-nurses.

Good luck to you personally & professionally.

[Maroon horse]

Thank you amoLucia! Yes, I am proud! 
I do feel badly for those classmates I’m in touch with because they are very, very nervous and some I believe feel hopeless at this point. It’s a lot of material to learn after the fact (much less teach yourself).