I caught a cheating classmate

[eclinicgal]

This morning, we had a Microbiology exam and I saw the girl beside me googling the questions on her Blackberry under her desk. I had already finished and turned my exam in (the reason I could look around). It immediately made me fume inside because I study and have somehow managed to obtain two degrees without EVER cheating! I didn't hesitate to get up and walk up to the professor and tell him that she was cheating. She's fortunate I didn't holler out, "Are you cheating?" immediately upon seeing her with her Blackberry, to be honest.

I abhor cheaters, and it drives me nuts thinking that there are people in this class that will study hard, go to tutoring, and struggle to EARN a C, whilst she may "fake" her way to an A.

The trouble is, I'm not sure that the professor was able to observe her doing it himself and at this point it's a she said-she said situation. I guess I want to know what I should do if I see it again?

Should I call her out in front of the entire class?

Thanks,

Jen

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

suggest that phones, pagers, etc., be collected and put at the front of the room. and the professor is responsible for monitoring his/her examination. perhaps s/he should get a grad student to walk around and keep an eye on things.

[/username, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't do it in front of the entire class, but absolutely made it known to the professor because the integrity of the exam was compromised.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

Maybe my view on the situation is a bit different, but I wouldn't worry too much about the cheater. They may get away with it for a while, but it will catch up with them eventually.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Keep reporting it. It is up to the professor on how he/she wants to pursue disciplining at cheating student. I agree with you...I want to EARN my grades, not cheat to get them! It infuriates me when people try to short-cut & circumvent the system for a grade. It's an insult to those who work hard for their grade!!!

I'm sure the prof will deal with it in private with this particular student.

[NeoNatMom]

NO!!!!! The last thing you want is for there to be drama on top of your dedication to studying. If I were you I would be casual and go to the professor. But simply tell him/her to keep an eye out for the following exams to make sure this doesn't keep happening. Like you said, its a she said situation and if he /she gets a heads up, then your instructor will be able to handle everything with no cost to you in the classroom. You never know then you will cross paths with this cheater again....I don't think it's right, but I cheated to graduate from high school. Yeah, it was wrong, but now I definitely study because if one day I cheat, it could cost someone their life! Just know, there will always be cheaters, but if they don't have the drive to do the 'easier' part of becoming a nurse, they will soon realize that they won't make it very far to*graduating*anyways. It is an uphill battle.**Keep your cool and everything will be just fine.

[GodsSon128]

why are you snitching? just worry about yourself if its not affecting you

[NeoNatMom]

True, but at thecsame time if this lingers far enough it could effect a patients well being. Or even see if this girl needs help studying. You never know but there are mature ways to go about this.

[momtojosh]

"why are you snitching? just worry about yourself if its not affecting you "

agreed!....

[lyndsyalyce]

She already explained why she is snitching, because it is affecting her and she studied for her hard earned grade so why should this wanna-be nurse have her chance? Jen reporting her IS having the situation catch up with her. There are 3 classmates that like to cheat in my class and numerous people have reported them because that is what the instructor wants. They've already told us that they like to let the cheaters go all the way to the end of the semester or program and then kick them out. Although, you can't cheat in clinicals either so it will catch up with them there too.

[aprilrazz]

I was in a similar situation a while ago. But in this case several people noticed and took it to the instructor. The instructor walked towards the back of the classroom and saw her do it (she had a notebook sitting on her lap). I'm not sure whatever became of the incident but this particular person washed out after that class anyway.

This is also the same girl 4 weeks into clinicals came up and asked me to take a blood pressure so honestly I'm glad she's gone.

[CinDRnyc]

Maybe my view on the situation is a bit different, but I wouldn't worry too much about the cheater. They may get away with it for a while, but it will catch up with them eventually.

Totally Agree. There will always be cheaters no matter what school or class you are in. Obviously they don't know the material thus is why they are cheating. They will eventually fail e.g. taking the NCLEX

If it were me I wouldn't bother saying anything only b/c then you have someone you have to watch your back from UNLESS they wouldn't know it was you who snitched, then you could tell the professor to watch out for phones.

Just my 2 cents.