You caught Cheaters... what would you do or have you done?

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this seems like a good topic to post. i was taking a very difficult exam today and two people who were obviously cheating were doing so within earshot of me and others. so, i told them to stop for two reasons.

one, i could see that they were not going to stop themselves. they were engrossed in going from one question to the next without slowing down. in addition, the exam was long and there would be no way those of us around them would be able to concentrate with their constant "what did you get for...?" questions.

the second reason i stopped them was because i am an instructor/professor (not of this class) and it is my professional ethical obligation to stop cheaters and report the students i catch cheating. besides that, cheating is my number one pet peeve! :angryfire i have more respect for students that flat out take an "f" for being unprepared and who later ask for help then those who cheat and think they will learn the information later!

some of you are like me and already have a professional code of ethics you must follow so i would be interested in hearing what you think. i am also wondering what students who are not bound by codes of ethics would honestly do because i have heard different responses from those i know. most have said that they would mind his/her own business if it was not going to effect him/her negatively. so, i think this will be an interesting conversation.

my question to this group of future nurses (and current nurses) is what would you do or have you done in a similar situation? what's your take/spin ladies and gents?

i would have told. right then if it was a large class or if the girls weren't easily recognized/i didn't know their names. especially if it was a pre-req class. competition is fierce and their is no way i would risk losing my spot in the program to someone who blatently cheats.

We have weekly quizzes in our micro lab....today I was taking my quizz and the girls across from me who don't study were stretching their necks trying to peep onto my paper....well, I picked it up so that they couldn't sneak anything off......it tickles me how they are struggling because they don't study, they have excuse after excuse after excuse. I work my butt off, I'll be darned to have them "steal" from me :specs:
I've had several girls in my A&P I try to do that to me. (Now in A&PII, I sit with "smarter" people.) I really hate that, but it's so hard to prove. However, if I heard people blatantly sharing answers during a quiz or test, Iwould go up to the professor "to ask a question" to inform him of this. It's not right to cheat or be so distracting during an exam. Cheaters simply don't belong in the nursing program.
I've had several girls in my A&P I try to do that to me. (Now in A&PII, I sit with "smarter" people.) I really hate that, but it's so hard to prove. However, if I heard people blatantly sharing answers during a quiz or test, Iwould go up to the professor "to ask a question" to inform him of this. It's not right to cheat or be so distracting during an exam. Cheaters simply don't belong in the nursing program.

And what gets me the most is that these two knew that I knew....I looked right straight at them when I picked up my paper. I'll keep my eyes on them , that's for sure. At this point I am a bit humored by the whole thing, however if it gets worse I'll tell them off!!!! Bunch of loosers :chuckle

Specializes in Surgical/Telemetry.
We have weekly quizzes in our micro lab....today I was taking my quizz and the girls across from me who don't study were stretching their necks trying to peep onto my paper....well, I picked it up so that they couldn't sneak anything off......it tickles me how they are struggling because they don't study, they have excuse after excuse after excuse. I work my butt off, I'll be darned to have them "steal" from me :specs:

Same exact thing used to happen in my micro lab. I probably should have reported it, but I ended up getting creative about covering my answers and not "hearing" whispered questions. Sometimes, for all of the effort that people put into cheating, it seems that it would be just as easy to study!

Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry.

Just last week, I had my first med calc exam. The first thing my prof said was that anyone who cheats shows that once they are in the hospital setting, if they were to make a mistake, they wouldn't be honest enough to report it and the pt would pay the consequences. If those people needed to cheat for X or Y reason, they won't be very good nurses to begin with.

Now, as for what I would do, I would subtly take another seat away from them and keep going about my business. I don't think that I would actually take the time to say something b/c ultimately it would come down to my word against theirs if no one else saw or says anything about the matter. It seems to me, though, that you were very uncomfortable about this situation, so you should have said something to them and then to the prof or whoever was in charge. One question, though. Why was no one "patroling" the aisles? Usually when an exam is going on, at least one or two profs stroll the aisles.

I would definitely turn them in. It's not fair that some of us are working our little butts off trying to do it honestly. Plus, what if you didn't and later down the road you end up in the hospital and guess who's taking care of you? Would you feel comfortable with their care or the care they would give to your family member?:uhoh3:

Keely

Same exact thing used to happen in my micro lab. I probably should have reported it, but I ended up getting creative about covering my answers and not "hearing" whispered questions. Sometimes, for all of the effort that people put into cheating, it seems that it would be just as easy to study!

:chuckle You are sooooo right!!!!!!!

Specializes in LDRP.

I would just let the instructor know that you have heard talking during the tests and its bugging you. Let her handle it--dont point fingers and stay out of it otherwise. That way, you are doing the right thing without being a "tattletale." Yeah, and switch seats if possible.

I would just let the instructor know that you have heard talking during the tests and its bugging you. Let her handle it--dont point fingers and stay out of it otherwise. That way, you are doing the right thing without being a "tattletale." Yeah, and switch seats if possible.

Who cares about tattletaling.....this isn't Kindergarten or a popularity contest. This is college, people pay hard money for those classes and demand fairness!

Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
just last week, i had my first med calc exam. the first thing my prof said was that anyone who cheats shows that once they are in the hospital setting, if they were to make a mistake, they wouldn't be honest enough to report it and the pt would pay the consequences. if those people needed to cheat for x or y reason, they won't be very good nurses to begin with.

now, as for what i would do, i would subtly take another seat away from them and keep going about my business. i don't think that i would actually take the time to say something b/c ultimately it would come down to my word against theirs if no one else saw or says anything about the matter. it seems to me, though, that you were very uncomfortable about this situation, so you should have said something to them and then to the prof or whoever was in charge. one question, though. why was no one "patroling" the aisles? usually when an exam is going on, at least one or two profs stroll the aisles.

i do not know if you are talking to me or one of the others. as for me, i did ask them two to stop and i reported it (i am a professor and obligated to do so). as for "patrolling the aisles", he did so but the two stopped talking then started again when he moved to a different aisle. i could not move away from them because like many of you, i am in a class that is over enrolled and in demand.

Who cares about tattletaling.....this isn't Kindergarten or a popularity contest. This is college, people pay hard money for those classes and demand fairness!

I'm 48 years old - I'm not afraid of being called a "tattletale". Sheesh.

Stand up and do what is right.

steph

Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry.
i do not know if you are talking to me or one of the others. as for me, i did ask them two to stop and i reported it (i am a professor and obligated to do so). as for "patrolling the aisles", he did so but the two stopped talking then started again when he moved to a different aisle. i could not move away from them because like many of you, i am in a class that is over enrolled and in demand.

i didn't get the fact that you were a professor from your original post. and i thought you had moved from your seat. sorry if i misinterpreted your post. as for talking directly to you, i was talking about the situation in general.

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