How to NOT Aid a Cheater?

Published

Specializes in Mental Health Nursing.

*Puts on armor*

Eh, I'm going to get flamed for this, but here goes. My supervisor is going back to school for her BSN. She's been in school for about a year now, but hasn't done too many essays or papers. Why not? Because she has the nursing staff doing her school work for her. I have no idea how she manages to pass since different people have different writing styles, but whatever.

I'll admit, I wrote one paper. I'm against cheating and I cringed while doing it, but the "I'm 60, how can my school expect me to learn APA at my age" talk won me over. I have a soft spot for people like that (my mother was the exact same way but never got to finish school) but now my supervisor is asking me to do a whole research project :nono:. I need to tell her no, but I'm not really sure how.

I already told myself I will never help her cheat again, but now I need help telling HER that without succumbing to her "I can't do this, I need you" speeches.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I would mind my own business. And just say "no". No more or less.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

APA is not rocket science. I learned how to cite papers in high school. If she can't (won't) learn it now because she's too old, then she's too old to be in any kind of educational program. Tell her that, and then tell her you will no longer do her work for her. Let other people hear you say it, too, so she knows they heard her hear it.

Oh, and then when she whines and tries to guilt you again (she has your number, doesn't she?), do the, "And then what?"

You'll say "No, not this time."

"And then what?"

She'll whine at you.

"And then what?"

She'll get really mad.

"And then what?"

She'll ...

"And then what?"

"And then what?"

"And then what?"

Eventually, she will have to face the fact that she is busted and has to either drop her class or be a grownup and do the work honestly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well that's a new one. I don't feel super confident with APA format either, but that gives me more grief with references than the paper itself. It doesn't stop me from writing my paper. If I do mess up a couple things, so I'll lose a couple points, so what.

Just say no. I wouldn't be very nice about it, but if you must, I'd say you'd be happy to check the format for her- after she's written her paper herself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

I am really, really tired of people saying " Maggie will you write my paper for me? " If I ask what the topic is or offer to proof read it, they shut down.

I worked with a girl last week who said she was going to pay 600 dollars to an online company to write her online MSN capstone paper. She was quite okay with letting everyone know that too.

It's like academic honesty is an obsolete concept, at least among my current coworkers. I have been out of school for 20 years, and maybe I am out of touch, but back then, plagiarism was grounds for expulsion, no exceptions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
*Puts on armor*

I'll admit, I wrote one paper. I'm against cheating and I cringed while doing it, but the "I'm 60, how can my school expect me to learn APA at my age" talk won me over. I have a soft spot for people like that (my mother was the exact same way but never got to finish school) but now my supervisor is asking me to do a whole research project :nono:. I need to tell her no, but I'm not really sure how.

APA was the only easy thing about the research paper I wrote for my BSN. Out of the ten 50-60 hour weeks I spent doing mine going through a zillion abstracts and articles, statistical analysis and the result and discussion portion of the paper took up the majority of my time. The references were just a small part of it all.

Is it even possible for a person to cheat this way? I'm not sure if you do things differently (in the US), but when I did my paper we had seminars every two or three weeks with our professors so that they could check on the progress. It would have been very obvious if I wasn't intimately familiar with the work. When I was done I had to spend about two-three hours "defending" the darn thing. That event is open to the public and I was questioned in depth on the paper by class mates, my professors, random interested people and professors from other universities/faculties who my kind teachers had generously extended an invitation to :)

Anyway, just say no. In my opinion she should earn her degree. I'm actually a bit shocked that your supervisor had the audacity to ask this of her employees.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There's nothing magic or confusing about APA citations. I have no idea why people can't follow the directions and the exemplars as a matter of routine. As for buying papers online, it's not hard to do. As an editor, I often run things through plagiarism-detection software; believe me, the faculty can do the same.

Here's a cheat sheet for the three major citation models for the same article. Print it out and give it to her. Done. Note differences esp in punctuation:

MLA: Waters, Catherine M. "Understanding and supporting African Americans' perspectives of end-of-life planning and decision making." Qualitative Health Research 11.3 (2001): 385-398

APA: Waters, C.M. (2001) Understanding and supporting African Americans' perspectives of end-of-life planning and decision making. Qualitative Health Research 11(3), 385-398

Chicago: Waters, Catherine M. "Understanding and supporting African Americans' perspectives of end-of-life planning and decision making." Qualitative Health Research 11, no. 3 (2001): 385-398

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is academic dishonesty and grounds for expulsion. Someone will likely turn her in. Distance yourself from this as it is highly unethical.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OR...

do it and then in the references, cite yourself as the author. See if she notices :p

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Oncology, Alzheimer/dementia.

There is no way I'd do that for my supervisor, or have that expectation of anyone. Who does that? I wouldn't have any part in that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health Nursing.
There's nothing magic or confusing about APA citations. I have no idea why people can't follow the directions and the exemplars as a matter of routine. As for buying papers online, it's not hard to do. As an editor, I often run things through plagiarism-detection software; believe me, the faculty can do the same.

Here's a cheat sheet for the three major citation models for the same article. Print it out and give it to her. Done. Note differences esp in punctuation:

MLA: Waters, Catherine M. "Understanding and supporting African Americans' perspectives of end-of-life planning and decision making." Qualitative Health Research 11.3 (2001): 385-398

APA: Waters, C.M. (2001) Understanding and supporting African Americans' perspectives of end-of-life planning and decision making. Qualitative Health Research 11(3), 385-398

Chicago: Waters, Catherine M. "Understanding and supporting African Americans' perspectives of end-of-life planning and decision making." Qualitative Health Research 11, no. 3 (2001): 385-398

That's what I don't get. There are so many resources online that can help with understanding and utilizing APA format. It's not that difficult and it shouldn't prevent someone from writing the bulk of a paper. I usually write my paper first and worry about formatting last.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What will be next? Nice to help each other, but there are many avenues to be of assistance besides assisting one to cheat in school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion