Is this cheating?

[BCurtis]

I just want honest opinions on whether or not you would consider this to be cheating. Advice, suggestions, etc. welcome.

So it is obviously far from possible to offer classes one time for every student in the program to take together. The issue is is that there is always a class taking an exam before another class. The issue with that is that some teachers do not have the time to make multiple tests.

Some students have taken this opportunity to find out what the exam is like, and what is on the exam. Other students (not me) are giving students exact questions from the exam. Is this fair? Obviously the other classes are getting higher marks because they know what is on it, what EXACTLY to study, and EXACT questions.

In my eyes... this is cheating. This is Nursing school... not some underwater basket weaving 101 class. You need to know the material.. all of it, and you need to learn it and retain it to be able to apply it. If you are just getting the questions from the exam from a student who took the exam before hand, you are hurting yourself, and your potential future patients. This has just about ruined friendships for me because I'm not giving my "friends" the information they want for when they take the test. So now I'm only a friend when they want information.

Any input? I'm pretty fed up. I'm not jealous by any means. I work hard, and I get the grades I deserve. I've aced all exams to this date so far. I just get hounded by people.. "what was on the exam?" and I'm tired of it. I don't take an easy way out and I'm rather appalled that people in Nursing school would. I'm in Nursing school, stressed studying because I need to know this information and I'm expected to hand people an easy grade by telling them what was on the test instead of studying? Wth is wrong with people?!

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

In an effort to combat that form of cheating (among others), my program has developed an exam security protocol. We are not allowed to discuss the content or nature of any quizzes or exams with any other student, period. Doing so is grounds for expulsion from our program. Exam reviews are scheduled by the lead instructor for the course - normally half an hour before and half an hour after a specified class. It's first come, first served, with a maximum of four students at a time allowed to review the exam in the presence of an instructor with one of four numbered keys. If you can't make it to exam review, you have to schedule an appointment during the instructor's office hours. The academic honesty policy is included in our handbook and in every course syllabus, and we have to sign a document specifically pertaining to the "no talking about exams" portion of the policy.

Sooo, yeah. That definitely constitutes cheating in my world.

I think it's all good and dandy saying you can't talk about it, but really? Do they really think the die hard cheaters won't meet at Starbucks? This always irked me. I would get so mad that instructors wouldn't change tests. However, it all comes out in the wash. I know a NOTORIOUS cheater, I mean NEVER opened a book (she admitted it after graduation) and what happened? She failed NCLEX. Karma.

[LLL01]

Yes, I 100% would consider this cheating. Anytime you have an advantage on a test and whatever advantage isn't offered to everyone (ie teacher saying everyone can use notes on a test) then I could consider that cheating.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Yes! absolutely this violates the principles of academic integrity. These will be the nurses in the real world that will likely not report that they have have administered an incorrect dose,not take responsibility for their actions in the workplace and not know the appropriate nursing action to take. They are cheating themselves,their future patients and their future employers. It is actually quite disgusting. Stick by what is right..it will serve you well and you can actually be proud when you earn your degree and RN license

[Kimynurse]

Be the student, and the nurse you want to be.

Karma will take care of the rest.

[tripp3horn]

Yes, it is cheating. And at my school my instructors have said that if we know of any cheating going on that it is our moral responsibility to let them (the instructors) know of the cheating. They compared it to witnessing dishonest behavior while working.. would you want somebody who cheated during nursing school to be your nurse?

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[Sadala, ADN, RN]

We've been spoken to about that exact behavior and told that if we engage in it we will be kicked out for academic dishonesty. If people ask me about a test, the most I will ever say is something like, "Yep, it was something." Then I walk away.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

We had to sign a paper that stated that we were informed that talking or writing about any quiz, test/exam etc with anyone at any time (students in the class or not) is considered cheating and we would be 'punished' as such.

Even talkin amongst ourselves right after we did a quiz or test was prohibited. There was none of the "oh question 9 really confused me...I thought it was B...what did you put?" outside the class.

To me, the situation you are discussing is 100% cheating. And my question is why would anyone who put time, blood, sweat and tears into studying for an exam...then turn around and give all the answers to someone else so that they may obtain the same or better grade with ZERO effort??

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

Absolutely cheating. And kudos to the boneheads who are giving the questions (and possible answers) away. While it shouldn't be a competition to see which section does better, it is clearly making the earlier sections look less competent and prepared for the exams.

[cathering, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

I hate when this happens to me! I understand what difficult position ure in since u seem to be losing friends. But ur moral/ethical instincts are correct! Follow ur instincts and shrug it off. In the end they'll get what they deserve. Kudos to u for getting the points the RIGHT way!