Two students caught cheating......

NursePru · Apr 21, 2004

They should at the very least fail the course. I don't understand people who attempt to cheat. You put way too much on the line, not to mention you really don't learn anything. I cheated once in second grade by writing words for a spelling test on my desk in pencil. I got caught and the teacher made a huge spectacle of it in front of the class and I got a zero on the test. At the time I was mortified, but looking back I am sooo glad the teacher did that. I've never considered cheating an option since then. After that I always did my work honestly and studied when I needed to. Had I kept getting away with it I can't say that I wouldn't have still tried it. Moral of this story is, whether it's in second grade or nursing school--the cheating needs to be stopped ASAP w/ these students. The more people get away with it the more they will do it. I would hate to see these students falsify info on the job one day to save their own butts. And it will happen, if they don't suffer the consequences. Getting a zero on the test is way to lenient--we are adults now.

BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN · Apr 21, 2004

My question is this...did the lender of the paper know the borrower was going to copy it? I ask this because many years ago (after working very hard on a paper) I loaned it to another student thinking that she wanted to look at it to get a feel for what other people had written. Turns out she copied my paper and turned it in as her own. Fortunately, the teacher knew me, and knew that I wouldn't cheat, so she only knocked 5 points off my paper (probably for stupidity :chuckle ) and gave the other person a zero.

My point is, if the lender didn't know that the borrower was going to plagerize (did I spell that right?), why punish both?

Thedreamer · Feb 22, 2007

Wow, what to say to this.

I worked my hiney off for almost three years to get my AS in nursing and actually GET into a nursing program. My program is very intense in the sense that we are in class 2 days a week for 8 hours of lecture a day and a TEST every class meeting. We also have two clinicals a week that are from 7am-4pm. If you go below a 70% average you are out of the program.

That being said, I believe an honest time spent studying and alot of hard work is what makes a nurse able to be the best they can. A dishonest student is going to be a dishonest nurse, and will end up in front of a commitee one day for anything from stealing drugs, multiple medication errors or worse, killing a patient because they were ignorant.

With that in mind, Id have those students expelled so fast... In the work place there is no room for that kinda childish behavior and there shouldnt be in nursing school. They signed an agreement stating they would be honest students. They broke that agreement, therefore forfeiting thier right to be in the program. Id rather have an honest student sitting next to me then one that cheats.

This kinda thing really hit home with me. last week In clinical while I was with my patient, one of the girls in my class actually went into my bookbag, took out my Davis drug guide book and decided it was better for them to keep it then return it. I reported the theft to my teacher but by the time I realized it was missing most of the students had gone home. The book has yet to turn up. Thats the same kinda dishonest crap that motivates someone to cheat on a test, or steal drugs from a dying patient. That kinda person needs to be cut from the proffession of nursing before they have a chance to hurt themselves or those around them in the real world.

moongirl · Feb 23, 2007

well, at my school they wouldnt have a choice. they would get the boot, with no option to reapply. From what I understand,there would also be a slim chance of ever being accepted into another program in the area d/t integrity issues.

which also brings to mind.. if they would cheat over a stupid 5%.. what else would they do. That is why it is called zero tolerance

muffie, RN · Feb 23, 2007

fudge a blood pressure

break sterile technique and keep going

what next...

Freedom42 · Feb 23, 2007

Sorry, an F for the class is not enough in my book. These two clearly knew the possible penalties before they decided to lie, cheat and show contempt for their instructor and their classmates who actually did the work.

If you're in a professional program and you're caught committing intellectual theft, I think you should get an F for the class and be expelled. Period. There should be no opportunity for liars and cheaters to reapply to the program later on, and the reason for their expulsion should be noted on their transcripts.

Schools that want students to grasp how descipable plagiarism is must do so by making examples of those who think it's OK to represent someone else's ideas or work as their own. If I sound like a tyrant, I am -- on this subject. It's a slippery slope: You start by ripping off someone's paper once and it just makes it easier to keep on trying. And as someone who does do the work, I resent people trying to achieve the same success I do by lying their way through an assignment.

Now don't get me started on classmates who can't figure out how to shut off their cell phones...

Freedom42 · Feb 23, 2007

Schools that want students to grasp how descipable plagiarism is must do so by making examples of those who think it's OK to represent someone else's ideas or work as their own.

Better still, schools should demonstrate that plagiarism is despicable!

smk1, LPN · Feb 23, 2007

If you had an assignment worth 5% of your total grade, and you did'nt finish it or forgot about it, would you copy someone else's assignment and turn it in as your own work knowing there is a zero tolerance cheating policy and you signed an integrity statement at least three times stating you are aware of the rule?
What do you think should happen to the students? Only three choices. 1. get a zero on the assignment (remember it is worth only 5%), 2. fail the class, 3. get kicked out of the program with the option to reapply at the next application period?
My thinking is....worth less than 5% and they cheated...what are they going to do in a major situation? I think they should be kicked out of the program. We all knew full well going into our program about the rules and the consequences. I know I may seem cold, but it is about morals, judgement, and honesty. If you do not have those basic qualities....then stop wasting space that could be filled by someone who can handle the stress of the situation.
One girl in my group feels that they should only receive a zero on the assignment. She thinks the other two options are two harsh and the students
should be given a second chance.
Anyone else have this happen in their school? What became of the cheaters?

First I would find out if the student who ctually did the assignment knowingly allowed the other student to copy their assignment and turn it in. The student that copied the assignment should be dismissed for dishonesty and plain stupidity. (Did they really think that the teacher wouldn't notice to identical assingments being turned in?) The student who did the work should be dismissed if they were in on the cheating.

shoegalRN, RN · Feb 23, 2007

I would opt to kick them out of the program. In my school, there is a zero tolerance policy for cheating. In this field, I just don't think you can "slide by". Too many lives are in your hands. If you are gonna cheat in nursing school, are you gonna to cheat once you become a nurse? By that, I mean are you gonna to falsify vitals, pass the wrong meds and not document it, say that you did something for the patient (bedbath, empty bedpan, etc) when you actually didnt? I worry about these types of people that take short cuts in life because the bottom line is that it benefits them and that's all that matters. So, in my opinion, I say kick them out, especially when you got people in the program who may be studying their butts off who really want to be there and just barely make the 75% passing mark.

shellsgogreen · Feb 23, 2007

hmm.. here's what happened in my school ; two or three people were suspected of cheating, and they were caught and tossed out. as far as we know, they have not been extended an invitation to reapply. our rules are pretty strict and cheating is just not tolerated. but they do ensure they can prove it.

sort of makes you wonder how many others out there who are doing this without getting caught and actually do make it through to be rn's. scary thought for me to consider their future patients being taken care of by them.