Rampant Cheating

Lawnurse · Apr 1, 2005

Since this is the pre-nursing student forum, I'm guessing you are one of the 2,200 competing for 120 spots.

Are you okay with these seats going to people who cheat while you get a thin envelope saying better luck next time?

I know there's no doubt in your mind that cheating is wrong. It's not appealing to be the whistleblower, but think about what is personally at stake for you - your seat the nursing school class!

Seems to me like not reporting the cheating would be kind of like not studying for any of your tests...you know it puts your chances of getting into school in jeopardy - but there IS something you can do about it!

Good luck. Consider anonymous reporting or going to your school's ombudsman to maintain privacy.

(((hugs)))

Maggie Mae · Apr 1, 2005

I saw alot of cheating at my school, and yes I did report it. The instructor couldn't beleive that anyone would cheat. To make a long story short, the cheaters had trouble passing the NCLEX, and some had difficulties on their jobs coping with the people and the stress.

danu3 · Apr 1, 2005

Time has changed a lot. In the 70s and 80s, I don't remember that cheating is like all over the place. Now a days, it is so bad that in my school there are cheating policy. During exam, we put all our backpacks in the hall or in front of the prof like as if we have bombs or something. Then the exams are not the same for everyone, usually around 3 or so different exams so that there is no way for a person to look at another person's exam and cheat. Plus we have exam seating assignments. And the prof will walk up and down throughout the exam.

moonberry · Sep 24, 2006

Cheating is definitely wrong. But I do not disagree with some of the replies. I think it is more important for a student to realize that cheating is wrong and would not bring any future. As nurses, we should be empathetic, sympathetic, and forgiving to a certain extent. Just because someone cheated on an exam doesn't make one completely unethical. When we are young, sometimes we do not make the smartest decisions.. this doesn't mean we don't deserve a second chance.

These students should not be kicked out of school.. but rather learn that they have done something wrong and never fall into the same pithole again.

smk1, LPN · Sep 24, 2006

If you are sure of what you have seen, then make an appointment to talk to the instructor about what you have seen. You can even say you don't want to name names, but _______ has been happening and she/he needs to be aware. This should take care of it. Yes, it is true that most of those people would probably fail out of nursing school if they have no foundation in A&p/chem, but they also took a seat away from someone who earned it. They need to be stopped in there tracks. We had a few girls in A&P that would sneak out a cheat sheet during lab tests. She was reported and expelled. others would move the microscopes etc... so others would not see what the pointer was really pointing to leading to the wrong answers. wouldn't it be nice if adult people would actually act like adults.

chelli73 · Sep 24, 2006

The OP made a good point that everyone seemed to kinda overlook--COMPETITION--to get into a nursing program. Some people will do just about ANYTHING to get what they feel they need or want. That being said, I think everyone cheats a little in life IN GENERAL! Don't flame me but cheating is going on all around us on a daily basis, and I for one agree w/ mercypot, I would not report anyone for cheating. It is way to hard to focus on being fair and just in my own life--I sincerely DO NOT have the time to check out anyone else's actions. God sees ALL!!!!!!!

maryshome8 · Sep 24, 2006

Hi -
Just curious if anyone else sees rampant cheating going on at their school. I witness it in my Chemistry class all the time.
Its so lame. Adults pulling out cheat sheets and writing answers and formulas on their desks.
I am taking A&P I next semsester and when i asked around for Professor recommendations people said, "oh, try to take so-and-so, everyone cheats and gets A's".
Ummm...kinda scary. Correct me if i'm wrong, but wouldnt a nurse actually need to know some of the things taught in A&P to be a good nurse?
Anyway, my school is an ultra-competitive community college - something like 2,200 students trying to get into 120 nursing spots. Perhaps that is what is driving lots of people to feel they have to cheat.
Anyway, was just curious.

Report it to your instructor as well as the department head and to administration if that doesn't get it done. It's not fair for someone to get a grade the easy way when you have worked 10x as hard for the same thing.

LaceyRN · Sep 24, 2006

We had a few girls in A&P that would sneak out a cheat sheet during lab tests. She was reported and expelled. others would move the microscopes etc... so others would not see what the pointer was really pointing to leading to the wrong answers. wouldn't it be nice if adult people would actually act like adults.

This would happen ALL THE TIME in my A&P lab exams!! The teacher would place a pin in the disected specimen or a piece of tape on the model and someone would move it! It was soooo infuriating! I would ask the most questions during lab exam and would have the teacher come over to fix it if I was unsure and it had been moved. Very Disgraceful.

MB37 · Sep 25, 2006

Keep in mind that many schools have an honor code, and they may consider anyone who did not report cheating equally culpable as the cheater him/herself. You don't have to go out of your way to check up on your classmates, but if the person right next to you is doing something really blatant, you may get in serious trouble yourself if you don't report it and someone implicates you. Hopefully you can keep it anonymous, but if the school pursues expulsion and the student fights, you may have to testify before some kind of honor committee. The first college I attended had a system exactly like that, so look at the fine print before you turn a blind eye to what's going on. Other people cheating can hurt you in more ways than one.

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2006

I tutor in the local nursing program. Many students have told me that there is a lot of cheating going on. They have complained about it but the school seems unable or unwilling to deal with it. I do believe that if you have absolute proof of cheating you need to report it. I know I have. However, I tell the students that their first job is to educate themselves. Better to spend time studying and learning than trying to be a cop. Cheaters never prosper.

leeae85 · Sep 25, 2006

I just graduated from an LPN program in July, and there was one particular cheater (that i know of) in my class. She would cheat on quizzes that were a COMBINED 5%!! I am in no ways for cheating, but come on, the girl didnt even have common sense-she got caught & kicked out the program for cheating on something that wouldnt have really made her grades go up!

2 girls in my class saw her cheating & they seperately went to the teachers (they didnt know they had both seen her cheat). In the end the girls names who caught her leaked out somehow & baiscally the whole class was mad at THEM! It was a whole bunch of drama, but they still said they would turn her in if they had to do it all over again.

mermaid36 · Sep 25, 2006

As of yet have not noticed it in my classes but that does scare me-how can you be a healer if you cheat? Who wants to be afraid to get care? I think I'd be on the report-the-cheater side. It's too big a deal.