Is this cheating, helping, sharing, cooperative work?

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

I don't mean to sound like a spoiled sport, but I've noticed a few threads (in various specialties) where people pose questions that sound to me like assignments. I've also seen a few that say "I need to interview a (fill in the blank) nurse for an assignment". If that is your assignment, fine. But some do not specify this. I was wondering what you educators think of this. For example if you saw the exact question of a term paper you assigned on this bb, what would you think?

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Not an educator, but i see your point, and i wondered about this myself.

When i had to do my "nurse interview", i went to the place i work at, went up to a nurse and asked if i could interview her and when would be a good time. I wouldn't do it online, because you don't know 100% that the person on the other end is really who they say they are.

Just my 2 cents.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I am a former faculty member and currently in nursing staff development.

To me, it depends on the specific type of help being requested. Sometimes, it seems as if the student is simply asking us to do the work for her ... and I don't respond to those requests. However, if it appears that the student has done the homework and is making a real effort to do the assignment ... but just has a few issues that he/she would like a little help with, then I don't mind helping.

I think there is a difference between "using your resources wisely" and "exploiting/abusing possible resources."

Good question. I will be curious as to what other posters will say.

llg

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

The thing I find amazing, is that people are responding to these posts. Maybe I'm just biiter, because as an undergrad, I did not have the benefit of this community!!!

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I'll respond, but not with a direct answer. I'll give clues like "what do you think would be PRIORITY in this situation" to help them figure it out on their own.

[pmchap]

Cheating? - only if someone where so smart/clever/silly to respond to a question which then became an answer which was turned in as a answer word 4 word.

I would hope that those posting questions would realize that the information that they get here is of limited value by itself - they would still need to validate the information by doing more research (ie doing more digging than posting on a BB)

I would put the BB in the relm of helping/sharing - we are all providing our own opinions - some of which are worthy of editorial publication in peer reviewed journals / others well - we all have a waste paper basket (hopefully the posters of questions are able to figure out which is which). Again - my point it everything that you read, hear or see must be measured for it's value and use.

Did that make any sense? - I am getting sleepy :roll

ps - in my mind collaboration is one of the essential skills of being a nurse - so shouldn't we be supporting it?

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

cheating? - only if someone where so smart/clever/silly to respond to a question which then became an answer which was turned in as a answer word 4 word.

i would hope that those posting questions would realize that the information that they get here is of limited value by itself - they would still need to validate the information by doing more research (ie doing more digging than posting on a bb)

i would put the bb in the relm of helping/sharing - we are all providing our own opinions - some of which are worthy of editorial publication in peer reviewed journals / others well - we all have a waste paper basket (hopefully the posters of questions are able to figure out which is which). again - my point it everything that you read, hear or see must be measured for it's value and use.

did that make any sense? - i am getting sleepy :roll

ps - in my mind collaboration is one of the essential skills of being a nurse - so shouldn't we be supporting it?

sure it makes sense (maybe has given others some food for thought). you have to take everything from where it comes, and with a grain of salt. i'm a little cynical. i've seen some lazy people in my day (as we all have i'm sure). and there are people out there who have no sense of ethical responsibility, so i'm always just a little careful.

in regards to the collaborative remark: i do agree with that as well. as a grad student, there is a lot more of that. and it's still taking time for me to get used to it. when someone says to me 'let me know if you need help, i'll show you my paper from when i took the class', i sometimes don't know how to answer. and yes, we definately should be supporting it a little more in practice (at work, that is).

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I think many students are given the assignment and this web address to find an online nurse to talk to. Others ask questions about a test they've taken. Others are asking a questionon an assignment that's obviously open book or take home. But they are not in a classroom sitting next to someone stealing their answers during a test.

Not an educator, but to me it's kind of like an open book test, or getting on the phone and calling a fellow student, or group study.

I don't have a problem with it. As I said I'm not an educator, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Sometimes it's quite obvious that someone is fishing for answers to a written essay or paper assignment. I don't respond to those kinds of questions.