Today I was labeled a "whistleblower and tattletail because I, along with numerous other students, witnessed a table of individuals cheating on an exam in our Anatomy and Physiology class which is a major pre-req into entrance into the nursing program. One of the individuals completed the exam and recieved it back, and took the test back to the table where she distributed all the correct answers to them, in which they in turn proceeded to change all their previous answers. In absolute boldness, one of the girls said quite loudly, "what is the answer to the last one?", and the first individual read off the answers to her. The proffessor does not proctor the exams. He simply hands them out and grades them as soon as you complete them, and then hands them back with the right answers corrected in. He does not wait until each student has completed the exam to pass out the results. Nor does he cruise the classroom to make sure that everyone is done before begining a new lecture. I felt that this was a major loophole that obviously a table of students had taken advantage of. In his syllabus he states that SUSPICION of cheating will result in failure of the exams.
Because at least 15 other students witnessed the cheating as well, we held a brief meeting about the issue and I told them I would address the professor since I was sitting next to the students and saw the entire situation. After class myself and another student asked to speak to the professor in confidentiality. The accussed students had caught wind earlier that they were going to be outted and had actually stuck around in the classroom to see who the individuals were. After they left, I told the proffessor what I and the other students had witnessed. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and told me there was nothing he could do since he didn't see it happening and that next time I would have to tell him while it is happening. He also stated "and if they cheated on the last exam it didn't help them much because they made a 55". They recieved a 98 (which is an A) on today's test that they cheated on. The proffessor regarded me with an "I could careless" attitude and proceeded to pack his things. He did not ask me any questions about who else was involved, raised no concern that he is passing CHEATING students with an A into a highly competitive medical program who are in direct violation of the Colleges Code of Ethics. As I left with the other student, we noticed that the accused were actually waiting on us to leave and procceeded to follow us and threaten us for telling on them. They cautioned that I had better mind my own business and continued with verbal harrassment to the point I had to use profanity to stop them from FOLLOWING ME TO MY CAR. This incident has been brought to the proffessors attention by more than one occasion and he has not taken any steps in changing the testing process.
There is going to be a pending investigation involving the students and the facult member who is now KNOWINGLY aiding them in their attempts to fraud the system. Nursing is a limited access program and is based solely on a point based system. Only sixty of 250 students are admitted each fall and to think that a group of UNQUALIFIED individuals are cheating their way to an open slot is a dissapointment to the College's Mission Statement. We do NOT NEED THESE TYPES OF PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH! These are not leaders, these are not nurses. How would you feel if the doctor who was about to diagnose you had cheated is way through medical school? We have got to crack down on academic dishonesty and stop allowing it to continue because it's easy to turn the other cheek. How would you feel if you sacrificed work and family to dedicate yourself into getting into the nursing program, only to find out that there weren't enough slots, and the people who got in CHEATED their way in.
I am sorry for the detail but it is the only way to explain the severity of the situation. As professionals in the field who have worked very hard to get where you are, what would you have done?
symptom of not being able to cut it, at whatever level.
And no, I never did cheat. I was the nerd on the end of the front row keeping my paper covered.
For all the self-proclaimed nerds: I noticed no one admitted to never falsifying documents, making a med error or covering up a mistake their whole nursing career. Can anyone of you confess that underoath? Im talking to the well seasoned nurses so newbies dont bother responding.
The truth of the matter is that you can't be that judgemental. So you all can just get off that high horse of yours. I live in the real world. No blood, no foul.
And as far as
Why are you so determined to champion the wrongdoers? I'd be willing to bet that even the cheaters would acknowledge that what they did was wrong (privately, or within a group of their peers). If a cheater does not believe that what s/he is doing is wrong, then why hide and sneak? Why not just get up with their test papers and go sit next to the class brainiak and openly ask for answers? Because even they know it is wrong. Doesn't stop them from doing it, but they know it is wrong.
So, do you not know that cheating is wrong, or are you just unwilling to acknowledge it? Sounds almost like sociopathic thinking.
Add me to the list of geeks and nerds who earned my degree without cheating, who self reports med errors, who doesn't call out sick on sunny days, who pays my taxes, who returns to the store when I discover an unpaid item in my cart, and who teaches my children to do the same.
I believe that character is reflected by how we behave when we know no one else is watching.
May you never find yourself coding, and be forced to rely on a nurse who cheated his/her way thru ACLS.
I know someone out there still disagrees with me. So here goes my last attempt to try to get you all to understand. Let's think of a possible real life situation.
For ex: Sally, an only child, has just experience the 1rst death in her family. Sally lost her only parent who was her father. She remembers her father being extremely proud of her for going back to College. She's going through the grieving process as well as experiencing financial problems. Sally has 3 kids and the kids' father doesn't help to support them. Two of three kids she have are experiencing trouble at school academically. The reason why she didn't study was b/c she was busy helping them with their homework. Although Sally is currently working full-time to meet ends-meet, she has recently received threat of an eviction and 3 red letters saying some utility will get cut off or car repossessed. She cheated but after she got the answers she went back over the test to understand the material. She cant justify the cheating but right now shes at a time in her life when she could loose everything. She could loose her car, house, fuure, kids and mind.
Let's say the cheaters were expelled b/c you reported that incident. She was expelled and lost her Faith. Was it worth that woman's children quality of life. Was it worth her living the rest of her life struggling to take care of herself.
Prioritize: Is reporting the cheaters for a pre-req test that important?
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
Oh, for the love of mike! Yes, it is that important to report the cheaters. In your example, SHE'S the one who dug her own hole, not the people who reported her. SHE'S the one who sacrificed her children's quality of life. No one held a gun to her head and forced her to do what she did. It was her own free will and choice. She could have gotten tutoring. She could have gone to the dean and asked to take a leave of absence from the program until she got her personal life back on track. The point is. . .if you want to work in the system then you work with the system not around it. Going around the system to suit your own needs is unfair to all the other people who are part of the system and waiting for the same service. The importance is that it speaks volumes about Sally's character and virtue. I don't think you will understand this unless you become a manager or a parent and find yourself in the role of having to make some serious decisions about hiring people or deciding who your children can associate with. Symptoms cannot be ignored. They are like arrows pointing the way to answers and solutions, dude! Cheating on exams is a symptom of a bigger disease that the person has.
May I add to your list of integrity. You've never ran the red light. You've never performed a rolling stop at a stop sign. Never had a speeding ticket. Never cursed anyone out even though they deserved it. You stated you pay your taxes. Do you claim only the persons you suppose to claim? You never sinned before so if you would had been born back in the bible day,when Jesus asked let him without sin cast the first stone, You would have thrown a bull dozer at that woman.
Oh let's go off subject for a min. So I can give refutation by logical analogy. Suppose I report a car traveling 85mph on the interstate. I dont know the reason behind the speeding but im just in an itchy mood. Im too scared to speed myself and jealous that the other car is getting a way with it. If you have gotten a speeding ticket before, What was it for? Well the speeding car was a nurse delivering her father who has a history of coronary heart disease and is experiencing respiratory distress to the emergency room. We all have laws and rules to follow. But you should have common sense enough to know that there are times when those laws or rules should be broken. Even though it's stil wrong.
Give me an employee who can combine common sense with nursing intervention anyday rather than some one who follows the rule book. Some of you have to be republican.
How many times has a Lpn or non-lices health care worker saved your @ss? Some of them may have cheated on a test but when it came down to it they put the patient at less risk than you. Cheating on one test hardly qualifies one to say You will be an incompetent unethical nurse. Bullsh**
Oh, for the love of mike! Yes, it is that important to report the cheaters. In your example, SHE'S the one who dug her own hole, not the people who reported her. SHE'S the one who sacrificed her children's quality of life. No one held a gun to her head and forced her to do what she did. It was her own free will and choice. She could have gotten tutoring. She could have gone to the dean and asked to take a leave of absence from the program until she got her personal life back on track. The point is. . .if you want to work in the system then you work with the system not around it. Going around the system to suit your own needs is unfair to all the other people who are part of the system and waiting for the same service. The importance is that it speaks volumes about Sally's character and virtue. I don't think you will understand this unless you become a manager or a parent and find yourself in the role of having to make some serious decisions about hiring people or deciding who your children can associate with. Symptoms cannot be ignored. They are like arrows pointing the way to answers and solutions, dude! Cheating on exams is a symptom of a bigger disease that the person has.
You must be one truely compassionate nurse. People make mistakes. When you are in the midst of all hell braking loose everyone would like to think that they can think rationally. Oh no I could never do that! Get off that high horse. Dont think so high minded. Everyone copes with stress differently.
I'm with Angie O'Plasty: Cheating on an exam is just a symptom of a much bigger problem with these students. They can't cut it. We know who these people are in class. They're the ones who don't do the homework, skip out on lab, don't study. They don't take anything seriously. They expect to just get by, and they do -- until they finally trip themselves up. They're the ones who got themselves in trouble by presuming that everyone else would be complicit in their dishonesty. Sounds to me like they just saved the nursing admissions committee the needless work of reviewing their applications.
I say kudos to the student who put her foot down. And I'm reminded of this Dorothy Parker-ism:
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
You must be one truely compassionate nurse. People make mistakes. When you are in the midst of all hell braking loose everyone would like to think that they can think rationally. Oh no I could never do that! Get off that high horse. Dont think so high minded. Everyone copes with stress differently.
I've just reported this post to the moderators. How about that for compassion?
Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
jolie
may i add to your list of integrity. you've never ran the red light. you've never performed a rolling stop at a stop sign. never had a speeding ticket. never cursed anyone out even though they deserved it. you stated you pay your taxes. do you claim only the persons you suppose to claim? you never sinned before so if you would had been born back in the bible day,when jesus asked let him without sin cast the first stone, you would have thrown a bull dozer at that woman.
oh let's go off subject for a min. so i can give refutation by logical analogy. suppose i report a car traveling 85mph on the interstate. i dont know the reason behind the speeding but im just in an itchy mood. im too scared to speed myself and jealous that the other car is getting a way with it. if you have gotten a speeding ticket before, what was it for? well the speeding car was a nurse delivering her father who has a history of coronary heart disease and is experiencing respiratory distress to the emergency room. we all have laws and rules to follow. but you should have common sense enough to know that there are times when those laws or rules should be broken. even though it's stil wrong.
give me an employee who can combine common sense with nursing intervention anyday rather than some one who follows the rule book. some of you have to be republican.
how many times has a lpn or non-lices health care worker saved your @ss? some of them may have cheated on a test but when it came down to it they put the patient at less risk than you. cheating on one test hardly qualifies one to say you will be an incompetent unethical nurse. bullsh**
huh???
i'm not sure how speeding/traffic violations can be compared to cheating on an exam.
traffic violations generally carry a fine. maybe something more if the violations are frequent or cause accidents.
in all of the schools i've attended, cheating on a test (or plagerism) = automatic "f" for the course. some schools punnish cheating/plagerism with expulsion.
because nursing school prepares one for a professional career, one should be expected to adhere to professional standards when taking nursing classes. this includes prereqs. cheating violates professional standards.
traffic violations do not violate the professional standards of nurses, unless you are drunk/impaired.
to the original poster: good for you for having the courage to go to your professor, and i hope you continue to have the courage to follow this through up the chain of command.
I've just reported this post to the moderators. How about that for compassion?
Why you shouldn't have....
Sorry to seem so passionate about my argument. I may come off as rude but the truth of the matter is that I'm RIGHT and in my opinion you premium members are wrong. Sorry if the truth hurts. Well you all have the upper hand so I guess this topic is closed due to whatever.
The only thing those cheating students did wrong was follow her to her car as an intimidation tactic.
Reebok- this is MY LIFE STORY BELIEVE IT OR NOT- right down to the three kids!! Well all except the cheating- the just is NO EXCUSE for that!!
You see- I left a VERY bad marraige a few years back. I had a very severe illness and was only making 5 grand a year- no public assitance, no child support. I would have rather died than stay with the ex! I was determined and DREAMT of going to college someday. I made it all happen too- but HONESTLY! I could never live with myself knowing I got a grade I did not deserve- the giult would cause me to punish myself forever!
I worked three jobs at times just to put food on the table. I worked hard with my three daughters and even volunteered at many agencies around town. My daughters were also involved. I sought out people who were going places or where I wanted to be and learned from them.
My mon is dead- ALS and thyroid cancer took her. My dad is not in my life and neither is the kids dad- It is 100% me. Top it off with a gram who has metastatic cancer, showing alzheimers symptoms and needs help with ADLS. I am the only family left so this is also my job. My twins are now in college and that is expensive!!
Oh I also spent almost a week in the hospital first 2 weeks of nursing school! Found out I have a pretty bad chronic illness that is life threatening. I am tired all the time and still having a million tests and treatment and my body and brain feel like I am 90. I still get up and go to school and am there for the kids and do everything by the book.
Someone once commended me for my choices- I did not understand what they meant. But now I do. I chose to do right and work hard. I chose to be a good role model for my kids. I chose to stay off drugs and booze to self medicate from my awful life. I chose to make it better one step at a time! I chose to not take the easy way out, but to do what it took to get over the hurdles.
And so can you.
I know someone out there still disagrees with me. So here goes my last attempt to try to get you all to understand. Let's think of a possible real life situation.
For ex: Sally, an only child, has just experience the 1rst death in her family. Sally lost her only parent who was her father. She remembers her father being extremely proud of her for going back to College. She's going through the grieving process as well as experiencing financial problems. Sally has 3 kids and the kids' father doesn't help to support them. Two of three kids she have are experiencing trouble at school academically. The reason why she didn't study was b/c she was busy helping them with their homework. Although Sally is currently working full-time to meet ends-meet, she has recently received threat of an eviction and 3 red letters saying some utility will get cut off or car repossessed. She cheated but after she got the answers she went back over the test to understand the material. She cant justify the cheating but right now shes at a time in her life when she could loose everything. She could loose her car, house, fuure, kids and mind.
Let's say the cheaters were expelled b/c you reported that incident. She was expelled and lost her Faith. Was it worth that woman's children quality of life. Was it worth her living the rest of her life struggling to take care of herself.
Prioritize: Is reporting the cheaters for a pre-req test that important?
May I add to your list of integrity. You've never ran the red light. You've never performed a rolling stop at a stop sign. Never had a speeding ticket. Never cursed anyone out even though they deserved it. You stated you pay your taxes. Do you claim only the persons you suppose to claim? You never sinned before so if you would had been born back in the bible day,when Jesus asked let him without sin cast the first stone, You would have thrown a bull dozer at that woman.
Oh let's go off subject for a min. So I can give refutation by logical analogy. Suppose I report a car traveling 85mph on the interstate. I dont know the reason behind the speeding but im just in an itchy mood. Im too scared to speed myself and jealous that the other car is getting a way with it. If you have gotten a speeding ticket before, What was it for? Well the speeding car was a nurse delivering her father who has a history of coronary heart disease and is experiencing respiratory distress to the emergency room. We all have laws and rules to follow. But you should have common sense enough to know that there are times when those laws or rules should be broken. Even though it's stil wrong.
Give me an employee who can combine common sense with nursing intervention anyday rather than some one who follows the rule book. Some of you have to be republican.
How many times has a Lpn or non-lices health care worker saved your @ss? Some of them may have cheated on a test but when it came down to it they put the patient at less risk than you. Cheating on one test hardly qualifies one to say You will be an incompetent unethical nurse. Bullsh**
Since you addressed this directly to me, I will respond.
I am not perfect. I have made mistakes and done wrong, and have been held responsible for my wrong-doings, ever since I was a little kid. I suspect that has a lot to do with my sense of values and honor as an adult. My religious faith teaches compassion for the sinner who CONFESSES, asks for forgiveness, forgives others, and does pennance, all of which is missing from the OP's situation.
Of course there are situations in which it is appropriate to "bend" the rules, such as the daughter speeding to get her ill father to the ER. There is no evidence that any of the cheaters in the original post had any extenuating circumstances that prevented them from being prepared for the test. If they did, it was their responsibility to discuss those with the prof BEFORE the test, not cheat their way thru the test and beg for mercy later (which they have not had to do, aparently due to the lack of integrity on the prof's part).
Please don't lecture me about employees who can combine common sense with nursing intervention rather than following the rule book. I've been there many times, and done just that. I've arranged for a family Baptism celebration for a long-term preemie, even though "rules" didn't allow it. It just took a little prior planning, something the baby's family was happy to work on. I've accompanied newborns to ICU to visit their critically-ill mothers, even though rules didn't permit it. Again, just a little prior planning with the ICU staff. The difference here is that the "rule-breaking" was PLANNED in advance so that it wouldn't place anyone in harm's way, a far cry from cheating on a test.
Jolie, BSN
6,375 Posts
For all the self-proclaimed nerds: I noticed no one admitted to never falsifying documents, making a med error or covering up a mistake their whole nursing career. Can anyone of you confess that underoath? Im talking to the well seasoned nurses so newbies dont bother responding.
The truth of the matter is that you can't be that judgemental. So you all can just get off that high horse of yours. I live in the real world. No blood, no foul.
And as far as
Why are you so determined to champion the wrongdoers? I'd be willing to bet that even the cheaters would acknowledge that what they did was wrong (privately, or within a group of their peers). If a cheater does not believe that what s/he is doing is wrong, then why hide and sneak? Why not just get up with their test papers and go sit next to the class brainiak and openly ask for answers? Because even they know it is wrong. Doesn't stop them from doing it, but they know it is wrong.
So, do you not know that cheating is wrong, or are you just unwilling to acknowledge it? Sounds almost like sociopathic thinking.
Add me to the list of geeks and nerds who earned my degree without cheating, who self reports med errors, who doesn't call out sick on sunny days, who pays my taxes, who returns to the store when I discover an unpaid item in my cart, and who teaches my children to do the same.
I believe that character is reflected by how we behave when we know no one else is watching.
May you never find yourself coding, and be forced to rely on a nurse who cheated his/her way thru ACLS.