Do you snitch on cheaters?

[Ms. Nurse Assistant]

I'm a very observant person, always sit in the back of the classroom because I find it to be the most comfortable and it always allows me to see everything ppl are doing (i dont sit in the back for that very reason). I've noticed quite a few students cheating on tests, I never say anything at all. I tend to notice that the students who always schedule classes with their friend/siblings and sit together in every class tend to cheat on quizzes a lot. I don't know how the professors don't see this. In one of my classes, four students who were all friends would always sit together in class and you could obviously see them passing over notes and looking at each others tests on the exams. I never said anything, didn't feel it was my place. The teacher even started to notice and the only thing he would say was "look at your own exams" over and over again.

Anyway, when you see students cheating do you feel the need to let the professor know about it? or do you stay quiet & figure they'll eventually meet their own unfortunate fate and get caught?

[whodatnurse]

I LOVE IT!!!!

Ditto!

And I just want to add that while there may be an abundant supply of succeed-at-all-costs types running around, I'm glad to know there ARE folks out there who place a higher value on personal integrity.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

What are proctors?? Are they people that come in and spy basically??

[libnat]

do you snitch on cheaters?

nope, i mind my own business.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

What are proctors?? Are they people that come in and spy basically??

proctors are people that give the examination. Most places the teacher just gives the exam.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

ok thanks. Never heard that term before.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

nope, i mind my own business.

so when you become a nurse and see another nurse do something wrong to a patient your just going to "mind your own business"? in most schools, part of the honor code is reporting cheaters, so it becomes your business; just as it will be your business to report bad nurses.

[libnat]

two different things.

how does someone cheating hurt you? do you feel slighted because they are getting an unfair advantage vs you who doesn't cheat. most people snitch because of this alone and wrap it in an honor code to make them feel better about their totally altruistic motives.

either way, i don’t cheat, i don’t care if someone does, it doesn’t affect me.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

The way some programs are dealing with cheating is to do away with putting emphasis on exams and have students do projects and oral presentations that carry more grade weight. It's harder to cheat with those. Many instructors are doing take home exams where they encourage the students to discuss the answers to the questions among themselves. It is the discussion that induces the learning which is what the instructors ultimately want. The grade is secondary. It is the students themselves who are engaged in the competition.

[CuriousMe]

two different things.

how does someone cheating hurt you? do you feel slighted because they are getting an unfair advantage vs you who doesn't cheat. most people snitch because of this alone and wrap it in an honor code to make them feel better about their totally altruistic motives.

either way, i don't cheat, i don't care if someone does, it doesn't affect me.

nope, don't feel slighted by folks cheating....truly they are just cheating themselves....i think they'll find it much harder to cheat through the hessi or nclex and then where will they be? i've earned every one of my grades and would rather fail than cheat.

i would report (cause snitch is really such a childhood concept....only on the playground does reporting wrongdoing have a negative connotation...in the real world, not only is it the responsible thing...it's usually the law) someone i saw cheating (not talking about gossip, etc.) because it is an issue of honor. i signed an honor code and if i don't uphold it....it's as bad as me cheating myself.

pretty clear cut.....i don't understand the whole concept of only telling if it "hurt" me....if i saw someone rob a bank, that wouldn't hurt me, yet i would still report it. if i witnessed someone assaulting someone, i'd report it. if i witnessed a nurse stealing narcotics...i'd report it. you see, none of those situations would directly effect me. but reporting is the right thing to do.

[ShortStackRN]

We had a problem recently in my class with students being accused of cheating and it was a NIGHTMARE. Our policy doesn't state anything about us being responsible if we know that it's going on, but what it DOES state is that if we accuse someone of cheating and they get brought up before the board on the issue...if we or the instructors cannot provide proof the accuser will be held equally responsible and faces possible expulsion for the accusations. In your situation you have SEEN it so maybe it would be a good idea to "mention" it to your instructor and give her a heads up that you think you may have seen notes being passed and such. Just be careful what you get yourself involved in and remember that someone who cheats in nursing school is only cheating themselves. They will never pass the NCLEX or cut it as a nurse...Good luck with whatever you decide!!

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

Unless there was a way I could prove that they were cheating, I'd probably just keep my mouth shut. The way I see it, they are only hurting themselves in the end. Cant exactly cheat on the NCLEX, so hopefully they will get weeded out by that one.

[OhBoy123]

hahahah no i would not report them.