Published Mar 28, 2008
casurfer
10 Posts
I am a rn student. Before my final exam, I went through my books, cd, and notes and I made myself a study guide and I included test questions that I remembered from previous tests along with a whole lot of other info.. There was alot of test questions that I got wrong. I studied that weekend with a friend.I then asked my teacher if I could look at the previous tests to see why I answered those tests questions wrong. She said okay and said that the questions on the final would be different from the previous tests. She was in the room at all times while I was previewing the tests. I made myself a study guide based upon information.While in a study group, I shared my information along with everything else.We all remembered a lot of test questions and they wanted a copy of my notes b/c they were to the pont. I was called into the office and the director and teacher said that one of the students said that I copied down the test. This is not true b/c the teacher was in the room at all times. They said that my notes were in chronilogical order, this was plagerism, and I stated that it would make sense that they were b/c I took down notes from her study guides. They did not believe me and was going to expell me but insted they dropped my grade letter. They said if I do anything else at all, they were going to expel me. I'm I wrong b/c this is how students study. They remember what is on the test and use that for a reference. If I thought it was wrong, why would I pass out my study guide? Please let me know what I should do? Thank you.
*ac*
514 Posts
I don't know, but when we went in to review previous tests, we were not allowed to make any notes at all. No pen or pencil could even be in sight.
mauxtav8r
365 Posts
Ditto here. Our tests were all on computer, with a silent review immediately following the test. If a student had to ask about a test question, the student had to remember the question and make an office hours appointment days later.
I'm really sad this happened to you, but I'm really sadder for the future nursing students at your school. All because of this misunderstanding, they will live like we did at my school with zero access to tests.
I don't think you intended to cheat, but if you were allowed to take notes off the tests, why wouldn't they just give you tests back?
onyx77
404 Posts
I don't think that she took notes from the tests themselves, but from the studyquides as she stated. She was remembering content from the past tests. I've been out of school for a couple months now and can still remember some test questions from my first semester!
The only thing that I would have done differently in OP's case would be to not write the stuff down. I know that hard copies make the best reviews, but it helps a lot to discuss past test questions even within a studygroup and nothing needs to be written down.
Our instructors had power points for all of their lectures and when I studied I made flashcards of almost all of them - I quess in OP's case that would be a big no-no also! With what OP's given in her post I don't think that the punishment fits the crime. (so to speak!) Now, if there is more that we don't know about - that's a different story!
santhony44, MSN, RN, NP
1,703 Posts
I think I would appeal. Unless there's information that's not in your post, it doesn't sound as if there was any intent to cheat.
If the questions on the final were different from the previous tests, what's the issue? And if they were the same questions, then why was the student allowed access?
MiaKeaRN
178 Posts
We are allowed to review our tests, but are absolutely not allowed to write anything down.
I don't think you did anything wrong, but this is the perfect example of why I don't share any of my notes with other students. You were being kind in offering your notes, and someone took your kindness and turned it around. I'm so sorry that they did this to you.....I don't know how much more you can appeal it since your instructor was in the room while you reviewed the tests.
PMHNP10
1,041 Posts
assuming the story is exactly how you describe it...so I can understand...a student says you copied test questions
then you say a teacher and the director wanted to expel you for copying tests questions
so was it the same teacher who wanted to expel you who allowed you to supposedly copy the test?
if so, shouldn't that instructor be disciplined for allowing you to copy test questions in her presence? I don't see how she could not tell you were copying with just the 2 of you unless she was looking off into the sky
and if you were copying test questions, why would a simple lowering of a test grade more acceptable than expulsion? you cheated...sorry for your poor judgement
if the teachers were 2 separate folks, simply go the the teacher in the room, and get her to clear this whole mess up; that should be no problem right? I mean the teacher was there; can certainly attest to the fact that you weren't busy writing down stuff right in front of her
something's not right
. . .She was in the room at all times while I was previewing the tests. I made myself a study guide based upon information.While in a study group, I shared my information . . .
To clarify, CAsurfer, this looks to me like you are saying that, you asked to look at tests and then made a study guide, while in the presence of a teacher, with the tests. Sound right?
This is a hot topic, and I know many students who are very bright but lost out in the game of school rules so are marketing majors now (no offense to marketing folks).
livingthedream, APN
144 Posts
I do take offense to this. I am in GENP now, but was a previous undergrad business/marketing. Marketing has nothing to do with cheating or "loosing out on rules". Maybe you should consider how technical marketing and other fields are before you make comments like this.
"Marketing is everything and everything is marketing" - Harvard Business Review
Everything we do is bought and sold. Everything we look at everything we use. Even in being a nurse, you sell yourself in interviews, you sell your skills with clients, everything is marketing.
donsterRN, ASN, BSN
2,558 Posts
After quizzes and exams, we're allowed to review. We are not allowed to write.
Livingthedream,
Please accept my sincerest apology. I have a business degree. I do know what I'm talking about. My point is that the disciplines are different, not that marketing or any other profession has a monopoly on unethical behavior.
My only point is that the careers of nursing and marketing are just different and that many former nursing majors find success with a total change of direction.
Nothing, nothing at all to do with cheating.
motivator
casi, ASN, RN
2,063 Posts
We are allowed to review but not write either. It was explained to me that there are a bunch of regulations on nursing school testing so once they develope a bank of questions for each test and pick and choose each year from the bank when they create tests. So if your notes would get to the incoming students it would give them an advantage. It also may mean they have to rewrite test questions.