Vent..Cheating Students..and my bad test grade!!!

~FutureNurse~ · Oct 20, 2008

Thanks guys. I have been stuyding already. Our next test is a month away and I am preparing now.

As far as "creating an illusion of cheating" uhm, no. There is NO illusion when the girls discuss how they are going to cheat--and I can hear it with my own ears.

Really I don't care if they cheat, because like someone else said you can't cheat on boards. I just don't want my teacher to think, that because I am sitting next to them that I am cheating too. I am going to go meet with my teacher and talk with her about my test, and let her know that I have been studying, but I guess not enough. I am going to ask for some suggestions from her, and let her know that I do care about my grade.

Thanks!!:redbeathe

Ladypie · Oct 20, 2008

Thanks guys. I have been stuyding already. Our next test is a month away and I am preparing now.
As far as "creating an illusion of cheating" uhm, no. There is NO illusion when the girls discuss how they are going to cheat--and I can hear it with my own ears.
Really I don't care if they cheat, because like someone else said you can't cheat on boards. I just don't want my teacher to think, that because I am sitting next to them that I am cheating too. I am going to go meet with my teacher and talk with her about my test, and let her know that I have been studying, but I guess not enough. I am going to ask for some suggestions from her, and let her know that I do care about my grade.
Thanks!!:redbeathe

Many honor codes require that you report any cheating that you are aware of. If you don't, they claim you can also be punished. I don't know if this actually happens, though.

Usually I would not care if people cheat, but do their higher grades affect any curving of grades for the class?

DA314 · Oct 20, 2008

I want to talk to my teacher--but I dont want to sound like a 1st grade tattle tail!

I had report another student for cheating. I did not feel like a tattle-tale. I was really mad that she had the audacity to cheat, when I studied really hard. She had answers written all over her hands! (BTW I did better than her anyway!) I told the teacher, and I'm surethe next test they will be watching hre carefully!

morte, LPN, LVN · Oct 20, 2008

Many honor codes require that you report any cheating that you are aware of. If you don't, they claim you can also be punished. I don't know if this actually happens, though.
Usually I would not care if people cheat, but do their higher grades affect any curving of grades for the class?

thank you! this is one of the concerns, indirectly addressed in the OP..and one "self serving" reason it should be reported

txnursingqt · Oct 20, 2008

Many honor codes require that you report any cheating that you are aware of. If you don't, they claim you can also be punished. I don't know if this actually happens, though.
Usually I would not care if people cheat, but do their higher grades affect any curving of grades for the class?

At my school the same thing applies. If you are found to know that cheating is going on then you are also held accountable for not informing the instructor. Our instructors are very strict about cheating and you can notify them by email on blackboard and they will keep it confidential. I think it is very important to turn in cheaters because not only is it not fair but it can be very distracting like the poster described.

I don't feel that you look like a tattle tale, but like a honest student conscerned about future nurses not learning the material!!! Just my :twocents: .

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2008

There's a lot of good points here...but here are my .02.

A) If you know that the other women are cheating, I would just bring it up as "You know, x and y say that they are cheating on exams...and I know I have no proof, but I wanted to bring it to your attention so you can pay closer attention to those two."

B) Studying-wise...I would get a good NCLEX review book with a CD, and then do the CD with whatever subject your test is over....Also, you have to pay attention to the main points or things your instructor talks about more than once....

C) When you're taking the test, MOVE! You admit you're worried about them...don't let them psych you out. NS tests are different from any other class. You have to decide what the question is really asking, and then you have to eliminate the answers that do not apply...then you can choose a better answer. (things like abnormal VS, ABCs, etc...)

Good luck with it all!

Bobylon · Oct 20, 2008

Don't give up, it's definitely doable. In addition to suggestions already posted, I'd recommend, when testing, to VERY CAREFULLY read the questions and possible answers as to how they're exactly worded, and not what you "think" it reads......I've found our instructors reword questions and answers to trip you up if you're not reading carefully. I've found this to be almost as important as having the knowledge itself, many times, in our tests. Lots of folks in my class do the 3"x5" index "flash"cards, but find it redundant, myself. Find a study method that you're comfortable with and works for you, and read all testing materials very carefully !!! Good luck on future tests....you CAN do it :cool:

As far as cheaters, yes, that would be maddening ...as far as I can tell, noone has gotten away with it in our class - I think one student was let go for that reason, but have never heard for sure, so it's hearsay, as far as that goes. Don't resort to cheating, as you're only cheating yourself (and future patients). Hang tough, you'll be fine :)

-B

anewday · Oct 20, 2008

You should just study harder. The other student's who are supposedly cheating have nothing to do with you. In my nursing program it seems that the students who aren't making the grade are the ones that are going to the instructors behind closed doors and pointing fingers at everyone but themselves. I don't condone cheating, but I also believe that there are some students who make the course even harder for everyone else by creating this illusion of dishonesty and cheating even when it doesn't exist. At one point in my course we had online modules that we completed at home and on our own time for a grade. These modules took hours to complete and the timed exams were somewhat tricky but extremely manageable. Because of a few complaints (from students who were not putting in the time and subsequently not making the grade) the modules were scrapped and now we have to come in to take these same exam quizzes in class with less time. Forget about those other students and focus your time and energy on passing the remainder of your course.

Great advice. I totally agree. I find that a lot of students in my class are concerned about what everyone else is doing and not doing what they need to do. The cheaters will get caught eventually. Focus on you and what you need to do to pass your class. Good luck, the grade you need to get is certainly attainable. :wink2:

margaretptz · Oct 21, 2008

In my school we are bound by the honor code to report any cheating we are aware of. We would be in just as much trouble for not reporting as the students who were cheating would be. You might want to check and see if your school has a similar code of ethics.

It is true that it is giving your instructor a false impression of how the class is doing as a whole.

justme1972 · Oct 21, 2008

Ugh, so we just got our 2nd test back today. I made a 70 on it. I don't know what I am doing wrong? I go to class, I read every chapter twice, I look over every hand out we get, I answer all the objectives...I just don't know what else I can do. I feel very sad right now. From here on out, I have to make an 85 on every exam to pass. That is doable, right? I need some honest encouragment.
It also makes me SOOOO mad that the 2 girls who sit beside me, both made 84s..of course they cheat the entire time. I know they do, because the openly talk about it before the exam. Ugh.... can I recover from this???

....and you are not reporting this why?

Integrity starts in class. Suspecting that they are cheating is one thing...I wouldn't report someone for that...but if you KNOW that they are cheating, then find a way to anonymously report it.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Oct 21, 2008

Those of you who wouldn't report a cheating classmate: Would you report a nurse that was diverting narcotics?

WDWpixieRN, RN · Oct 21, 2008

Move, move, move. If this is a possibility, I would go for it.

If there's some kind of class/school policy against it, I would definately explain to the instructor ahead of time why you felt you needed to change seats in this class. A simple, "I am uncomfortable in the company of certain classmates" might be all it takes.

In my class, it was the "talkers". Gab, gab, gab all during class. And our instructors must have been half deaf at the front of the class as they appeared to never hear them. I finally moved to the other side of the room one morning. Lol....my friends I left behind were none too happy with me for "ditching" them, but my blood pressure was greatly decreased on a daily level for no longer having to deal with this frustration.

Good luck!!