Academic Integrity in Nursing
Academic Integrity in Nursing Honest and ethical conduct is a crucial component of the nursing profession. It applies to both the nursing students and practitioners in different clinical settings. The dishonest behavior by nurses in the classroom and clinical settings limits the individual’s learning and the ability to provide safe, effective and quality care to patients. Academic dishonesty in nursing is not a new phenomenon. However, the incidences of the malpractice have become rampant with the technological advancements offering the nursing students diverse methods of cheating on tests and assignments. The vice thrives due to a variety of individual, faculty and systemic factors. An analysis of the key reasons for academic dishonesty and the viable strategies that nursing students can use to avoid academic malpractices is crucial to safeguarding the integrity of the nursing profession.
Factors Leading to Academic Dishonesty
Theart and Smit (2012) interviewed nursing students from an institution in Western Cape to determine the key causes of academic dishonesty. The authors established that the pressure to achieve academic success, time constraints, challenging course requirements, high competitiveness and the lack of skills and knowledge on proper citation contributed to the prevalence of academic dishonesty among nursing students. About 84 percent of the study participants cited the pressure to achieve academic success as a major factor in a student’s decision to engage in an academic malpractice. Institutions of learning and employers assess the student’s knowledge, skills and abilities based on his grade. Therefore, a good grade is the key to acquiring the desired educational and employment opportunities. A student will cheat if he perceives that he has a limited chance of getting a good grade. The second most prominent factor leading to academic dishonesty by nursing students is time constraints. About 74 percent of the study participants cited the lack of adequate time to study as a significant factor influencing a student’s decision to cheat.
According to Gaberson and Oermann (2010), both the graduate and post-graduate nursing programs are very rigorous. Students enrolled in particular nursing programs may have to spend more t……….
