Sorry this is long - I'm just very disgusted. We were told on day one - if you are caught cheating - you'll be out of the Program. Although I'm 40, I'm obviously very naive, because I couldn't imagine anyone in Nursing School risking everything by cheating - considering what we all had to do to get in.
Our class has lectures in a very small cramped classroom - so when we have to take tests, we go into a large conference room and sit 3 or 4 around big tables. Even though we are a little bit spaced out, it's very distracting to be sitting at a table with people nervously shaking their legs (which shakes the entire table), sighing heavily, moaning in disgust, tapping their pencils, coughing non-stop, (the list goes on). Personally, I wish we could each have a little cubbie to sit at (the type they have in libraries for privacy) - Nursing Exams require a lot of concentration and it's very hard to do that with so much going on around you. Our school doesn't have those type desks, so we make due in this large room.
Last week after a test a fellow student told me she wasn't going to cheat off me again because she only made a 64. I thought she was kidding and told her she must not be good at cheating because I got a high "B". She said - well, the ones I was able to get off your paper were the only ones I got right. Although she's much younger than me, we're in a couple of classes together, talk a lot between classes, have lunch once in a while - so I was totally disgusted with her for not only cheating off my paper, but also putting me in jeopardy. I don't cover my paper (like I said, didn't think anyone would be cheating) - so if an Instructor had seen her looking at my test, to them, it might have looked like I was helping her out.
For our test today I sat at a different table with just one guy. I didn't name names, but mentioned I switched seats because I found out someone was cheating off my paper. He said I should report it to the Instructor. Told him this particular student had a "D" average and might not make it anyways, but I'd think about it after the test.
To make a long story (longer I guess) - After the test today, the Head of the Nursing Dept. came in and said she had quite a few complaints about a few students cheating. She said she'd be talking to the students accused of cheating, but they couldn't kick someone out if an Instructor doesn't see it happening first hand. The student that turned one of the cheating students in today - told me who it was and I was totally shocked. It's an 18 year old who is constantly bragging about her high 90's grades. She's the one who always asks "what did you get, what did you get - the test was so easy, I got a 95". Let's just say - "she's not the sharpest tack in the box", spends most of her time in lecture "doodling" instead of taking notes, claims she never studies much, so most of us had no idea how she was pulling in such great marks.
Apparently, she's been sitting next to the brightest student in class during the tests and copying off her paper - lots of people have seen this happening during the last few tests, got mad and several turned her in today. I try my best to stay focused during tests and never take my eyes off my paper - so I was totally clueless to what was going on. For those of us who spend many, many hours reading, studying, etc. and get B's and C's - it's sickening to think a couple of our classmates have cheated their way to the top of the class. I'm a very trusting person and honestly, it breaks my heart to know some of my classmates would take advantage of those of us who are taking Nursing School and our future career as Nurses deadly serious.
Has this happened in any of your schools and how do you and your Instructors handle it? Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.. Sue
You really can't control anyone else's actions...you can influence them, and you can react or respond to them. I think it is great that you moved to another table! I'm sorry that you were so unfairly accused of cheating, but you can "disprove" that by future example. Cover up your exam every time you take a test, sit in different spots. Make sure your instructor knows by your behavior that you are not a cheater.
For distractions, I wear earplugs. If your instructor permits it, I would highly recommend it. If I'm really nervous I bring in a stick of chewing gum or a piece of candy. It provides an outlet for my "figeties" and restlessness.
I had an unfair, inaccurate accusation directed at me this term also, got a warning and almost got written up. I made sure that my behavior from that point on was the exact opposite. People listen to what you do as well as what you say. Sometimes more. I think as nurses we are being trained to observe behavior and make conclusions...your instructors are very good at it. Sometimes they miss the mark and come down too hard. But that is okay....because folks, this is not just nursing school this is BOOT CAMP FOR NURSES!!
We used cover sheets at my nursing school, but I would have even if the instructors didn't ask for it. People have to do their own work or they'll never make it in the real world.
But I liked my solution when I taught school. I had two versions of the same test; same questions, just in different order. Each test was labeled A or B (so I'd know how to grade them); and I gave them out so that no student sat next to someone with the same test. As the students finished, I sorted them into A or B piles and then used the correct key to grade them.
Easier to keep people honest; students really couldn't complain that one test was easier than the other because they were the same, just in different order.
i dont know if anyone has ever cheated on a test around here. we take classes in the huge auditorium (no classroom is big enough for 60 of us). so during tests, we have to sit in every other row, with at least one seat between us.
Well we all sit so cramped up I guess anyone could cheat if they wanted to, but I don't know that any cheating has occured. We do have cover sheets, but most people don't use them. I guess our instructors really trust us cos they don't even usually stay in the room when we are taking our tests. But I agree cheating doesn't do anyone any good.
we haven't had problems with cheaters so far since i've been in school, but here's a thought...
cheating may get them a passing grade in their lecture, but it won't help them pass their NCLEX : ) and what good are their grades going to be without their nursing liscense? lol i wonder if the cheaters ever think of that.
In our program we are split up some go to the lab some stay in the class. We have an instructor right on top of us at all times & are told keep your eyes on your own test. We are also given diff. tests with the same questions in diff. order. I would not dare to even attempt to cheat I just don't know why you would. I guess the ones that do cheat don't care if they learn or not just want the easy way out too bad they don't realize when this will only take them only so far.
There were a couple of known cheaters in my class back in 92 and 93 - they managed to graduate BUT ...one of them never passed boards, the other two managed to pass boards but neither of them are licensed now - both of them had their licenses revoked within 2 or 3 years of graduation.
Go figure...
They get what they deserve in the end, just pray they dont take any patients down with them. THAT is the real reason cheating needs to be reported.
Whether your instructors require it or not, always use a cover sheet to protect yourself. The cheaters don't care who goes down with them because its all about them and nobody else.
This is a touchy subject for me personally. I was best friends with a girl I was in nursing school with. We had worked together at the local hospital as nursing assistants, and oddly, found ourselves becoming really good friends when we entered the same nursing program. During anatomy and physiology, after an exam, her and I both got called into our instructor's office. She said she wanted to know what was going on and which one of us it was that was cheating. I was furious, and had no idea what was going on, until I looked at our papers and the similarity in the two answer sheets. I told the girl that she had better fess up, because one of us was going down, and I wasn't going to be that one, because I had done nothing wrong. But she didn't, and my teacher said well, I know who it was, and since they won't come forward and admit it, I guess I have to turn both of you into the school administrator and let it go from there. Before she could get to the administrator, I was in his office, because I was not going to be kicked out of school for somebody else's dishonesty. There was really no way that I could have cheated off of her because she sat behind me and to the left. The question was since we were such good friends, did I let her cheat off me? I was completely oblivious to the fact that she was cheating off of me. Friends or not. To make a long story short, the administrator told me that I was clear because my grades had all been satisfactory and I was not struggling a bit, I also made notecards for nearly every test, and I had made them for that test as well, proving that I had studied, and whatnot. My teacher had also saw the girl move over a little bit, making it clear that I wasn't openly letting her cheat. She got terminated from our program that same day. I didn't, was just told to be more aware of what was going on around me during a test. That, to me, didn't make sense, how can I focus on taking a test, if I'm looking around to make sure no one is focusing on me, ALSO, wouldn't I be possibly accused of cheating if I kept looking around to make sure no one was cheating off me? Long story, sorry for that. Just to show that cheaters get what's due to them, BUT you also have to be aware, because you never know what desperate people will do, and they don't think of the consequences they could equally impose on you. After that day, during a test, I took my chair over to a computer desk completely separate fromt he class, and took my test from there. There was speculation once again in my class from a girl that sat right beside me, who I was also friends with, and the girl to her right, who she was also friends with, but since I had pulled my chair to the outside of the normal class setting, I was clear, and ti was between those two as to who was cheating and rather or not the other was openly letting them.
Last semester we had some cheaters! :angryfire Some people spoke to our professors and they just seperated us for exams. This semester they aren't cheating, so it's much better, and they're actually doing just fine in their classes. Anyone who cheats in nursing school is only cheating the patients. They should not be nurses, but what can you do? Unless the teacher sees you cheat, they can't kick anyone out. All we can hope is that these cheaters do not ever pass boards! :angryfire
Just last week, someone was cheating off of me in A&P! I went up to the front of the class to ask my instructor a ? and as I started to walk away, she called me back. She had sent me an email but decided to show me then since I was up there anyway. Basically she said it wasn't blatant enough that she could do anything, but that there was a LOT of shifting eyes and suspicious actions. I try to cover my paper as much as possible but it's not easy, the way the tests are set up. We sit in very close quarters, also. I am a high A student and though I don't brag, when someone asks how I did, I will just say "Well" or if it's a friend, I'll tell them. I am definitely trying to find a new seat for our next exam. Since some people have dropped the course, hopefully, I'll be able to find one by myself. I'm just irritated that the teacher hasn't made a "blanket statement" to the class. *Sigh*
We had students openly cheating last quarter, it was difficult but I reported what I saw. This quarter we take the tests at the same time in a large auditorium, every other row, one seat between each of us, and we must write out and sign a statement on each exam that the work done is ours and no one elses and that we will report anyone we know of cheating. It added a bit more stress at the first of the quarter, but has made things much better in the long run.
Can you take your test seperate from the rest of your classmates? Our school has a learning assistance center where students can take their test. It is much quieter than a large auditorium and there are people in our class that are too easily distracted around the large group. One of my friends has seen his test scores improve by 10% since he is taking them in there.
FuturenurseCA&O
34 Posts
You really can't control anyone else's actions...you can influence them, and you can react or respond to them. I think it is great that you moved to another table! I'm sorry that you were so unfairly accused of cheating, but you can "disprove" that by future example. Cover up your exam every time you take a test, sit in different spots. Make sure your instructor knows by your behavior that you are not a cheater.
For distractions, I wear earplugs. If your instructor permits it, I would highly recommend it. If I'm really nervous I bring in a stick of chewing gum or a piece of candy. It provides an outlet for my "figeties" and restlessness.
I had an unfair, inaccurate accusation directed at me this term also, got a warning and almost got written up. I made sure that my behavior from that point on was the exact opposite. People listen to what you do as well as what you say. Sometimes more. I think as nurses we are being trained to observe behavior and make conclusions...your instructors are very good at it. Sometimes they miss the mark and come down too hard. But that is okay....because folks, this is not just nursing school this is BOOT CAMP FOR NURSES!!
Have a happy turkey day... :)