To tell or not to tell?

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Dec 19, 2016

In my experience those that tell often get burned by the flame even though they did the right thing. I would just mind my own business and worry about my education.

allnurses Guide · Dec 19, 2016

Tell the faculty.

It is not good for you, the other students, the patients, or the program to have that kind of thing happening.

It's an easy fix for the program: stop using those questions, let the students find out on the next exam.

cyc0sys · Dec 19, 2016

Justice means minding one's own business and not meddling with other men's concerns. ~ Plato

macawake, MSN · Dec 19, 2016

You could possibly mention that her test questions were often found on this site on her end of semester review. Because truly this is a problem with your professor and the way she is creating her tests, not with your peers.

The second sentence in the above quote sums up my feelings on this. I expect that professors are internet-savvy enough/cognizant of today's technology to find out what information is available on the world wide web.

This is hopeless to police anyway. Unless students tell class mates, and they in turn tell the professors it can be easily concealed. And a student telling on another student isn't something I personally would consider proof. How would a professor/school admin determine which students have availed themselves to the the quizlet information prior to taking the exam? Without spy software on the student's personal computer/tablets it can't be done, and I hope it'll never come to that.

I think it's also difficult to decide if this really qualifies as cheating. Depending on the volume of questions available it can be argued that learning the answers to questions this way, is just as hard/ time-consuming as studying the "traditional" way. Of course there is the risk that the student doesn't learn the rationale behind the answers but has only memorized the answer. As far as answering the questions they'll be just as capable as the student who understands the rationale but they might not be able to apply their knowledge/independently solve a similar, but slightly different problem. Of course, that's far from ideal.

Anyway, knowing that the information is out there, my advice is that professors don't use the "quizlet" questions/questions provided by the authors of student litterature as exam questions. Perhaps use them for inspiration, but formulate your own unique questions. It will take a bit more time and effort but to me it's the only thing that makes sense. Knowing that questions included in a textbook will never be kept under wraps for long with today's technology. I believe that we all need to adapt to the reality that we live in this case a dose of pragmatism is required :)

OP, your thread isn't the first time I've seen this problem mentioned on AllNurses. It would surprise me if most professors aren't already aware that the questions can be found online.

DeeAngel · Dec 19, 2016

They are using an available service. Stay out of this, keep your opinion to yourself and resist your urge to run and tattle to teacher.

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 19, 2016

You're right, I have thought about that. They'll just be screwed in the end. However, I'm just a little worried about the patients who will have them as nurses. I am not sure what to do yet. I'm still debating.

I haven't read to the end of the thread yet, so I apologize if this has already been mentioned. Many schools have an "academic integrity" policy wherein if you know cheating is taking place and you do not report it, you are culpable as well.

tsm007 · Dec 19, 2016

I would tread lightly with reporting this. If they did anything about it as far as punishment they would probably punish the entire class. No way to prove which students used Quizlet and which didn't. If I did anything I'd ask the teacher what the school's policy was on using Quizlet questions that are created by other people. See what the teacher has to say about it. I honestly find it more troubling that school still use test banks for so much of their tests knowing darn well that these can easily be purchased or found online. I don't really believe this is a patient safety issue. There are a lot of safety measures in place with students working with pts. I think it is more you being ticked off about some people doing things the easy way. Really, truly they are only hurting themselves. These will be the same students that fail nclex or the exit exam and can't figure out why since they did so well on their test scores. Focus on your goal. I understand you being irritated, I really do, but I wouldn't report it.

SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN · Dec 19, 2016

I wouldn't just because I do think it could possibly put a spotlight on you if faculty thinks you are just a pot stirrer. They are only doing themselves a disservice, let them be and carry on.

Extra Pickles · Dec 19, 2016

I don't know if I'm misunderstanding something but as I see it if the students are using an online study tool that legitimately posts questions available from the publisher of the textbook, and the instructor is the one who is copying those questions word for word, then isn't the instructor at fault here for not designing an original exam but instead using already-published materials as a shortcut to making a new test??

It isn't cheating if the publisher makes quiz and study questions available to use online for the purposes of studying, and a student finds the same question appearing on her exam. Is the student expected to get the question wrong if she knows the answer because she studied the question and materials to go with that question ahead of time? Of course not, right?

If anything, the instructor needs to know that her students have found out she's been using shortcuts to avoid spending time making up tests, and that if she keeps using the identical wording her students will have to think less to answer her questions correctly. Other than that, how can we fault the students for learning the material that will be on the exam??

Extra Pickles · Dec 19, 2016

when it comes to the NCLEX we don't know if these students will do well or not. If they get questions right on the exam because they knew which questions would be asked but did not learn why, then they will do badly on the nclex. But if they learned the rationales behind the test questions and when they got them correct know why they got them correct, then they will do well on the nclex. problem sits with the students and how they prepare, as has always been the case.

DesiHonor · Dec 19, 2016

I have never been a cheater... nor allowed others to cheat off of me. And I fail to see where there is a problem with students conducting research and finding the questions/answers (even if they are word for word) on the internet. Even as concerning as it may be if it were a critical thinking question that requires some amount of understanding.

I've had professors practically give "pre-tests" that were an extent of the true exam questions.

I'll bet the professor has chosen her quizzes/exams from the questions that are available online. Said professor should be internet savvy enough to understand how easy it is to look things up.

Let others fall on their face in the long run.

freework · Dec 19, 2016

i would tell. 1 less student making it out of nursing school means 1 less person to compete with for work. the job struggle is real.