I caught a cheating classmate

Jackfackmasta, ASN, RN · Mar 1, 2012

In my physiology class there were 2 students who would cheat. They had 1 calculator and both would use it while the smart one did the calculations an afterwards the other made it look like they were using the calculator but just reading the answer. They also sat really close together.

I got sick of it and went up to my professor who is really nice and had her last semester and asked her if she would want to know if someone is cheating and she was like Yes! Who? I told her and they were separated. Ironic thing is one wants to be a doc and other a nurse. I have no sympathy over what I did.

I would not say it in front of the class but after. I would do it again in a heartbeat.:hrnsmlys: I work to hard for my grades.

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Mar 1, 2012

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.

Why would you ignore it? I think its important to bring it to the professors attention. Sorry but cheaters are dirt bags. I'm pretty sure most schools take cheating very seriously, with a risk of getting kicked out of the program. All the OP has to do is bring it to the teachers attention, wether he catches her or not remains to be seen, but they will aware that she is doing it and may pay closer attention.

If they could search her phone that would be interesting, but I highly doubt thats legal, lol.

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Mar 1, 2012

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.

Yes there will always be cheaters, but why let it continue when someone else could be in that spot who actually wants to try hard?? You can report it discretely, its not difficult.

Merlyn · Mar 1, 2012

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

Is that your job or the teachers? Your job is to pass the test. She may or maybe not get caught. Life is unfair. Just worry about yourself.

nguyency77, CNA · Mar 2, 2012

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

Seriously? Do you want these types of people even going to clinicals? If they cheat on a Micro test, I can only imagine what they'd do in clinical.

"Oops, I forgot to give 401-A his pain meds... I'll chart it anyway, hehe!"

EDIT: Tell on her discretely. Last semester in my biology class, we had lab groups of four. My fiancee and I were in one with these two other girls, both of whom were cheaters. The TA that ran the lab was pretty clueless, and she had no idea they were reading my quiz answers the whole semester. I just waited until the lab final, and then I told her. She then made them sit in two separate corners to take their test, and needless to say, they bombed the final and failed the class.

GodsSon128 · Mar 2, 2012

you guys are right...I grew up in an environment where I was taught "see no evil, hear no evil." I now understand that I will have to abandon that way of thinking when coming into the nursing field. thanks for the feedback it makes sense

frankie,RN · Mar 2, 2012

i know that this is a worst-case scenario. but, you have tobe careful in todays world. there are people who get violent in schools now. we used to refer to it as "going postal".i just dont think it is worth it anymore to report cheaters. what if they found out it was you who reported them. what if you reporting them gets them kicked out of the program. what if they come after you. too many what ifs for me.

just saying..

Merlyn · Mar 2, 2012

i know that this is a worst-case scenario. but, you have tobe careful in todays world. there are people who get violent in schools now. we used to refer to it as "going postal".i just dont think it is worth it anymore to report cheaters. what if they found out it was you who reported them. what if you reporting them gets them kicked out of the program. what if they come after you. too many what ifs for me.
just saying..

I agree. People get shank (knifed) everyday for lesser things. Don't be a policeman to the world. In a perfect world the cheater will get caught, and everything will be fine. But this is not a perfect world. Your job is to past the test, not to police other students.

xInspiredx · Mar 3, 2012

I wouldn't really risk it during the exam, because as some people have already mentioned, it could disrupt other students & it could question whether or not you were cheating (by looking around). I would just write an anonymous e-mail to the professor, so that more careful measures could be done for the next exam.

kaysmom2 · Mar 3, 2012

I only read the first page so I don't know what has been said. I will say that although it is bad and you are upset that you studied I don't think it's your position to call out a student. Just think of all the possibilities it could lead such as an investigation with the student and now you have to be involved all because you told. It's not right or ok but I would let the school do their job. And i'm sure that student is not the only. As someone said those kind of students only get so far it will catch up. You can fake a test but you won't be able to fake through nursing school or if it's something else...entrance exams.

Plus you might just end up getting yourself in trouble. The teacher may accuse you of having wondering eyes...you never know!

NeoNatMom · Mar 3, 2012

Might I add to the wondering eyes comments that it can make you seem as though even if you're finished, you could be the one they accuse of supplying the answers. Think if you were a mom and your child asked you the same question. What would you tell your child to do?

caliotter3 · Mar 3, 2012

I was asked by my boss to speak to the authorities about unlawful activities one time. I asked him if I would have to testify in a court if it came down to that. He said yes. I told him that I would not say anything because I did not want to be found behind a building with my throat slit; we were discussing that type of behavior in a part of the world where that kind of behavior went along with the illegal activity that I witnessed. You always have to consider your own personal safety when it comes to "doing the right thing". You cannot assume that another nursing student is benign. Sometimes it takes a lot less to set someone off.