Massive Cheating Going on in Class...

[luvs2readlotsRN]

Would you tell the instructor?

I'm taking my last pre-req at the community college that I normally attend for nursing. We have 11 quizes that add up to a test grade. The instructor hands out the quizes and as folks finish them they turn them in. All the while she sits at a desk and if folks have questions about what we are doing for the evening, what we did the night before etc. she is basically occupied..Consequently, one table of 10 folks far from the instructor have been passing each others quizes among them, sharing answers etc.

I am fed up with the blatant cheating and the fact that the instructor doesnt seem to ever be catching them, or catching on. I asked the instructor(after class)if we can help each other with the quizes and was told "Of course not!"(thought she might get the hint!). Should I speak to the instructor after class and tell her of the blatant cheating that is going on? I guess this just grates me as I am studying my a** off and making an A, but several friends who are having to work almost full time and go to school are struggling with this class, while this group of cheaters make 9's & 10's on every quiz!

PS...Also pisses me off that this group is all from the local BSN program and are "slumming" it taking this pre-req at our CC and never stop asking me how I could "just go to the community college for nursing"!!!

[cherokeesummer]

Thankfully I have never seen anyone cheating during nursing school but in our school it is part of the honor code, if you see someone doing that you are required to report it. I do agree that the NCLEX is the final testimony of their knowledge but you know some ppl get lucky and are good test takers, regardless of knowledge and could still pass so I think period, if they are cheating and you know it, then go ahead and report it. Sure you might get looked down upon by the cheaters but who gives a damn? I know it would be hard on me to report it b/c I'd feel like the bad guy but really and truly if they were one of the lucky ones that made it through the NCLEX even tho they didn't seem to know much during school, then they could be caring for you and if they are willing to cheat then they may be willing to lie about something in report, meds, etc. Just a thought!

[celery]

I wouldn't have said a thing. I would have been glad if another student had complained to the instructor and all the students got caught...

But I would not have said a thing myself.

Also, I would not treat the student who reported the others like crap for the next four years.

BTW...if I was one of the ones cheating, why would I report myself, as a previous poster suggested?

[luvs2readlotsRN]

Thanks to all who have posted. I appreciate the support. Yes, I have reported the students to the instructor(via email). Our first "no cheating" quiz is set for Monday. I'll let you know how it comes out, we get the quizes back by the end of the lab.

At first this was a hard decision to make, but I realized(as many have said)that it isnt fair. Also, as someone pointed out, what's to say people like this wont fake assessments, lie in report, lie about what they do in charting etc. Again, thanks everyone!

[luvs2readlotsRN]

Well, tonight we had our first quiz...with no cheating going on at the infamous "gang of 10" table. The prof just parked herself at the front of their table and stayed there the whole time.

She caught up with me after class, when everyone else had left, and told me "Your point was well taken. Grades at that table dropped 50-60%". She said she would be paying attention from this point on and that she mentioned this to the Dean as well(he teaches our lecture section)and he will be watching more closely on his tests too.(I never did see any of them cheat on the lecture test; just the lab tests).

I'm glad I said something. Thanks to all posters for your support!

[*Blessed2BaNRS*]

I am glad that things worked out. Most times they don't! I have talked to 3 different instructors about cheaters, and not one time was anything done. All of the syllabis say that if you are caught cheating, you get an automatic zero, but only if you are caught by the instructor. I would think that if you have 3 or 4 different people coming to you saying that so and so was cheating, then the next test you sit right there on them and their grades drop drastically, you ought to know that they were cheating. But still these people are able to pass the class with A's and B's. Somehow, something else needs to be done. Cheating is such common place now days that nothing is really done about it. And it is just so aggravating that people can cheat their way thru school and take an honest person's place in the program, where they don't have a chance in h**l of passing, because they never do their own work. Guess you can tell that this is a pet peeve of mine, huh???

[beccajo4915]

On the thought of cheaters... I have one semester left of nursing and know of about 2/3 of my class of 25 that have cheated one way or another in class. I have informed when I "witnessed" it, but most of it was word of mouth. My thoughts are... 'Would I want someone taking care of me or a loved one that cheated in class or lab? I know that NCLEX will cut out some of them, but others will pass... even with cheating. I guess it all comes down to integrity and honesty... I would want an intelligent, competent nurse taking care of me, not one that knows how to cheat or "beat the system".

[MB37]

Anyone who is against reporting cheaters should read the other recent thread: Final INVALID for whole class b/c cheating (I don't know how to link). That student didn't personally witness cheating, but it's very possible that some students did and either didn't report it or waited too long. Now their whole class is suffering as a result. Props to the OP for having the guts to say something, I know it's hard to do. I'm glad I've never had to - we always have multiple exam formats and proctors walking the rows, so if anyone wanted to cheat in my program they couldn't. I guess they have had problems in the past, and I don't mind at all if they're strict.

[beepeadoo]

Outstanding!!! Congrats I'm not a Goody-Goody but as a nurse I have no tolerance for this kind of thing. Keep in mind the Gallup poll putting nurses at the top of the list for ethics... why? well one reason is we keep each other in line. That's exactly what you did. Congrats!