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 . 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.
There is nothing really "to get" here, Newboy. Your supervisor is simply lazy. She doesn't value education and is just trying to buy a credential without doing the work. As others have said, "Just say, 'No.'"
If you feel she is not just being lazy, but really struggling ... maybe you could offer her to help a bit by reviewing her draft of the paper or reviewing the basics of APA with her. But don't go beyond that.
In fact, if I were in your shoes, I would seriously consider notifying the school. Really. If you choose to do that, be sure you explain your situation up front so that they know she is your supervisor and that you are vulnerable for retaliation by her if she finds out who "ratter her out." But I am sure most people here will disagree with me on that point. They'll say you should protect yourself and stay out of it. That's how cheating has become so common these days. Too many people who know about it don't speak up.
Another option is for you to talk to your Human Resources Department about it -- admitting that you wrote one paper -- saying that your conscience is bothering you and that you don't want to do it again -- saying that you are worried about her pressuring you to help her cheat and are worried about retaliation should you say "No" and/or report her to the school. Getting your side to HR first might give you some protection if she decides to retaliate if you don't continue helping her.
Good luck with whatever you decide. I would probably talk to someone you TRUST at your hospital (hopefully someone in HR or above her in the hierarchy) as a first step.
I'm sorry, OP, but I'm shocked that you went along with this. It's incredibly deceitful to the school and incredibly unfair to your manager's employees to ask/beg/coerce them into doing this.
I've never considered myself a tattle tale, but this situation begs for an intervention. And, I'm more than a little worried about your participation in this fraud. If she gets caught, you are a willing participant. And the ways in which she could get caught are numerous. I don't think your problem is how to say no to her. It's more along the lines of how do I best bring this situation out in the open while doing whatever I can to protect myself. My guess is that your only hope at some sort of protection is to be the one who goes to the school or HR first.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
No sympathy re: APA formatting. There are software programs out there now that do it for you 100% and are 100% accurate.
As someone currently in school, the idea of people cheating to get the same thing I am working my butt off for really ticks me off. I would strongly encourage you to make an anonymous report to her school. This is so disgraceful it is unreal.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
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.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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.
LOL...she'd better pray her prof. doesn't check her paper for plagiarism. It's easy to do that now; there are programs that can check for it. If she gets caught, she can kiss that MSN buh-bye.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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.
If she does her paper in Word, there's an APA generator she can use; all she has to do is enter the resource's information and it will automatically format it for her.
I would not have written a paper for her in the first place because it would have been a conflict of my values of honesty and integrity. However, if I were in your situation, when she asked me to write a second paper, I would acknowledge that it can be difficult to write BSN papers, but going forward I cannot not in good conscience write a paper for her. I would offer to tutor her on how to write and format academic papers so that she can learn how to do them for herself.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
The easiest way not to aid a cheater is not to start, but that ship has obviously sailed. In the future, simply tell her no. There's a difference between helping/explaining and writing the paper- you crossed a line big time that way, and while as yet unknown, you may face difficulties of your own in the future because you participated. At this point, it would probably be best to notify the school in addition to refusing to participate in further academic dishonesty.
I would strongly encourage you to make an anonymous report to her school. This is so disgraceful it is unreal.
As much as I would love to do that, especially since she isn't rightfully earning her degree, I just want to say "NO" and stay out of it. Justice works in mysterious ways. I just don't want any further participation in it.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
As much as I would love to do that, especially since she isn't rightfully earning her degree, I just want to say "NO" and stay out of it. Justice works in mysterious ways. I just don't want any further participation in it.
You can try to say no and stay out of it but if and when she is caught she may name you as an accomplice - how will you deal with that? My dad used to say that sometimes you do the right thing for no other reason than it's the right thing to do.
The BSN program I am in has plenty of resources to help with writing papers. They don't do the research or write the papers but they will help you go through the document and make sure you have the APA Style correct. There's a big difference between paying someone to type up your research and having someone do a project for you.
I am curious to know why someone with an MSN is employed in a subordinate position to an RN without the BSN.
As to the original question, how not to succumb to her pleas for help, say:
"No. I can't believe you would ask me to write your research project. It's unethical. If you want a BSN you are going to have to do the work like everybody else. Don't ask me again"
Is it accurate to infer, from your use of the phrase" succumb to her pleas", that this 60 year old woman has been relentless in manipulating the staff to write all of her papers for her?
Does she really deserve to be in a management position or does she manipulate others into doing all of that work as well?
I agree with the others who advised you to go to upper management and put a stop to this once and for all.
. I need to tell her no, but I'm not really sure how.
llg, PhD, RN
13,469 Posts
There is nothing really "to get" here, Newboy. Your supervisor is simply lazy. She doesn't value education and is just trying to buy a credential without doing the work. As others have said, "Just say, 'No.'"
If you feel she is not just being lazy, but really struggling ... maybe you could offer her to help a bit by reviewing her draft of the paper or reviewing the basics of APA with her. But don't go beyond that.
In fact, if I were in your shoes, I would seriously consider notifying the school. Really. If you choose to do that, be sure you explain your situation up front so that they know she is your supervisor and that you are vulnerable for retaliation by her if she finds out who "ratter her out." But I am sure most people here will disagree with me on that point. They'll say you should protect yourself and stay out of it. That's how cheating has become so common these days. Too many people who know about it don't speak up.
Another option is for you to talk to your Human Resources Department about it -- admitting that you wrote one paper -- saying that your conscience is bothering you and that you don't want to do it again -- saying that you are worried about her pressuring you to help her cheat and are worried about retaliation should you say "No" and/or report her to the school. Getting your side to HR first might give you some protection if she decides to retaliate if you don't continue helping her.
Good luck with whatever you decide. I would probably talk to someone you TRUST at your hospital (hopefully someone in HR or above her in the hierarchy) as a first step.