Frustrated by cheaters?

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 3, 2015

Focus on your own studies. Yes, these students may have better luck with tests in school, but it will bite them in the backside in the end- there is no cheating when it comes to NCLEX. If you have evidence that this is happening and not just word on the street, report it to a trusted instructor.

EmxoRenee · Dec 3, 2015

At my school, as well as many others in my area that I know of, this is considered "academic dishonesty" and is punishable by being given a zero for that assignment, or even being dismissed from the program. This is considered cheating, and is not taken lightly in nursing school, since you are expected to really know and understand concepts. They want to see what you've really learned, since you knowing accurate information can be the difference between life and death in our chosen future profession!

That being said, it is the responsibility of the professors and instructors to enforce this standard and make sure no cheating is going on. At my school, we are not allowed to keep our tests once they are graded in order to keep this from happening. I'm not sure if that is the case or not at your school. It's completely fine to go to people further along to ask for advice on managing stress or study tips. It is NOT OK, however, to ask them to provide information that gives anyone an advantage over others in the class, or to straight up provide answers! If you have proof this is going on, you could discuss it with someone you trust, such as an instructor or nursing adviser. It's up to you whether you want to divulge names of people involved, or just make them aware its happening so they can monitor the situation better.

Whatever you decide to do, just try to remain focused on you and your studies. I know it's super frustrating when people cheat, but in the end they are hurting themselves! They won't be able to cheat on the NCLEX or once they are working as a nurse! Just keep working hard and be proud of yourself that you did your best and remained honest! Good luck!

OcMurse93 · Dec 4, 2015

Sounds to me like they're not going to pass the NCLEX anyway. I would let your professor know, especially if you have proof. If they manage to somehow pass the NCLEX, i can only begin to imagine the kinds of shortcuts they would be taking when people's lives are involved.

USMCRN2015 · Dec 4, 2015

Trust me, we had a bunch of those in my class. As well as those that "appealed" and got their grades changed (i.e. 63/73 (which is passing)) and guess what? We graduated 7 months ago and they are on their 3rd or 4th nclex attempt....and I've been in my RN job for 6 months. It WILL catch up to them.

NurseEmmy · Dec 4, 2015

If the upperclassmen are giving them answers they're idiots. Why give someone an advantage that you never had.

I am more than happy to share tips, maybe a hint or two about what professors like/dislike/test like, but I won't say this is the answer to question number 3. Learning the material is what will help you pass NCLEX and do well in your job. Try to not worry about them. Unless you have significant proof, bringing allegations will only make you seem like a trouble maker.

KarenMS · Dec 4, 2015

I doubt the upperclassmen remember what was on the test word for word, they probably only remember general topics, which wouldn't really give them that much of an advantage. I'm just not sure how this is cheating, unless I'm missing something. Now if you said they were getting copies of the actual test, then I would totally get it of course.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2015

a lot of girls in my class run to the upperclassmen to ask them what they remember from the tests before we take them. Some of them even get full study guides the upperclassmen have used on their exam when they took it.

How is this cheating? It sounds like good networking skills rather than cheating.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Dec 4, 2015

Unless I am missing something I don't think this is cheating at all. Unless the upperclassmen actually have a copy of the upcoming tests that they are passing along, which I highly doubt. Passing along a study guide is not the same as passing along actual test questions. The study guide would help, but the actual studying is still done by the current student.

We had a group of helpful upperclassmen when I was still in school that freely passed along their study guides and gave some insight as to what the instructors were looking for but they sure didn't have access to the actual test questions and of course didn't remember the tests word for word so while the help was appreciated it sure didn't constitute cheating.

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 4, 2015

I have noticed the entire semester that a lot of girls in my class run to the upperclassmen to ask them what they remember from the tests before we take them. Some of them even get full study guides the upperclassmen have used on their exam when they took it.

Just reread the OP, and I have to say that I don't see this as cheating at all, unless copies of tests or verbatim questions from the tests are being passed along. Sounds like upperclassmen helping underclassmen who have sought them out.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2015

My own frustration for this post is how quickly some students think their fellow classmates are cheating if they are doing better than them just because of __________. In our own class, one student felt the urge to talk with the nursing department as well as broadcast to other students that some of us had an unfair advantage because we were using Lippincott's Q&A Review for the NCLEX RN as part of our study tools. When I pointed out the said student that I strongly recommended the book **twice** (once prior to the semester, and once prior to the specific class for which the student complained) in our class FB group for which the student is a part of, the student complained stating that I should have stated the professors pull some of their questions from the said book.

My suggestions to the OP is as follows: (1) There's an old saying about minding one's business. (2) Learn to network and make friends with students in every single semester, and (3) understand that anyone who does cheat (for real vs. imaginary) will find it hard to pass the NCLEX (they are only hurting themselves).

fatrabbit · Dec 5, 2015

At my school, pretty much everyone does this. It's actually encouraged. We have a mentor program where upper-classmen help us lower-classmen with things like study tips, how to answer NCLEX questions (all of our exams are NCLEX style questions), and past study guides. It really helps us focus our studying and gets us thinking like nurses right away. Also helps that our whole cohort shares these tips with each other via our Facebook page (and create google doc study guides that everyone contributes to). This isn't cheating because exam questions change. I guess our program's theory is that in the long run, you'll have more success reaching out to more experienced nursing students, and when you become an RN, to more experienced RNs. Seems to work with our program since we consistently have a 98% NCLEX pass rate.