Friends cheating.. what to do?

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I have quite the dilemma here. We have a med-surg final coming up in a few weeks, and many of the questions will be from previous exams. I don't know about your schools, but my nursing school does alot to ensure that no one has written record of test questions (for example, during a test review we aren't allowed to take any notes, we never get tests back, etc). One girl has somehow obtained copies of all the previous exams and is talking about distributing them to our classmates. The problem is, everyone involved are very close friends of mine who have always had great character and integrity and I am completely shocked they are doing this. There are tons of people who need to ace the final in order to even pass the class, but not these people. It is so unfair to those whose grades are hanging in the balance and it is just plain wrong. I'm afraid that if I tell the prof they will get in big trouble, and I'm the only person who knows about this who isn't participating, so I will lose many close friends. Any advice?

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Why don't you tell the prof. that her questions have been leaked so that she can re-do the test beforehand? Could you email her anonymously?

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Ditto the above. Do it anonymously. And I agree that if the poor souls whose passing depends on this test aren't let in on the big secret, it seems more than unfair that people who do not need the boost get the info. I'm a big advocate for the underdog. Furthermore, I believe the instructor should have just made the info available for all. That would solve any such problem.

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i don't think there is such a thing as an anonymous email, may be wrong, who knows.

first of all your friend needs to be advised that if she chooses to use the old tests, she needs to cover her own A** and not share with anybody and not to bring it to school. you need to CYA by not being around her when she talks about it aloud during school. I would def. let the teacher know so at the very least she can rewrite the test, but to also let her know so if word does get out that YOUR friend is cheating, you won't be implicated. There was a massive investigation in my school that took place last semester where there was a huge cheating ring going on in all levels of the nursing school. BAD BAD BAD situation, do not let your self be put in a situation where you integrity gets put into question.

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Go anonymous. Unfortunately, that's a really serious offense. At my school, that is considered a valid reason for expulsion.

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i would but out and mind my own business....

if thats what they want to do,so be it...its not you...karma is a b**ch...it will come back to bite them some day...

keep your head high and walk proud;)

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What if it became known that you knew about this and did nothing? Chances are slim on that, but do you want to risk that?

You can send anonymous emails. Just make a random gmail account or something and send it from a public computer....

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My nursing program had a policy that if you knew someone was cheating and didn't report it, then you're cheating too. Let me ask you this. What if you knew that your friend was double dosing a patient each day that she was takinig care of that patient. As a RN you're a mandated reporter. I hope you wouldn't keep your mouth shut. That's someones family member right there. I wouldn't hesitate to turn that person in. I'm sorry but these are patients lives are at stake. Someone with integrity wouldn't do what you're describing. If you don't want to report it, then pass on over the email to your professor and I will do it for you. Good Luck

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Wow; that's ridiculous

My school is EXTREMELY strict regarding exams; and god help you if have a exam in hand without being in smelling distance of a professor...totally grounds for expulsion.

Personally, I too know people who really need to do well on exams (me). For example I know these two girls who were plenty obvious cheating through the semester. One specific semester I had to unfortunately repeat a course because I was short one right answer on the final (we are only allowed to repeat one course). And I was fuming when here I was repeating a semester AGAIN for the most microscopic of reasons, while these two chicks are all giddy and happy and now are in the next semester.

I was angry for a while, but then i remembered that at the end of the day...they are going to be cheating their patients out of competent nursing care.

Report it anonymously to a professor or someone in the nursing office.

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Thanks for all the advice guys... lots to think about for sure and it helps to have outside perspective! I wish they would have never put me in this position, because it sucks. Choose your NS buddies wisely ;) Another lesson learned

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

Friends cheating is an oxymoron. One cannot exist with the other. I would not want any of those students as my nurse (that is, if they even get to ever earn RN licenses). No cheating possible on the NCLEX!

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Stay as far from these people as possible, if they get caught and you're with them you'll go down with them! Turn your cheek and stay far away, if these students are doing poorly and ALL of them do REALLY good, the teacher might pick up on the cheating anyhow. Good luck, you're doing the right thing by not being apart of this, it's so degrading!

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