) Do these students have integrity? ? ? ? ? ? ? These students do not have any integrity. They are not

) Do these students have integrity?

            These students do not have any integrity. They are not honest to themselves, to their teachers, and peers. Also, they don’t have strong moral principles. Academic dishonesty is considered a global issue and it is increasing at a rapid rate (Shoaib and Ali, 2020). Students should study like all their peers. Some students learn faster than others or are more intelligent than others, but by putting in extra effort, work, or/and energy, students can achieve good grades and standards similar to their school mates. Every student should know the importance of ethics when it comes to school.

2) Do these students have the character to become good nurses?

            No, these students don’t have the character to become good nurses because they can commit dishonest actions in clinical practices. Unethical acts and misconduct have a direct impact on patients (McClung, 2021). These students will lack knowledge in school, which leads to a negative consequence when taking care of patients. They might falsify vital signs or assessments during their work hours. The question we should ask ourselves is: “Will these nurses report an error during their workdays, will they fulfill their job correctly, will they lie on their colleagues…? A good nurse should have integrity so he or she can be trusted and respected.

3) Should the instructor allow them another chance?

            No, the teacher should not allow them another chance because they cheated on numerous assignments. It is not fair for the other students. If it was their first time, maybe they could have had another chance. Some students who have been following the rules and being honest in school get enraged when they learn that their peers have good grades that they did not merit. Students should know that cheating has consequences, and they should accept them. Academic dishonesty and misconduct should be taken with strict punishment so that that the students' acts serve as a lesson for other students.

References

Shoaib, S., & Ali, A. Z. (2020). Other side of academic dishonesty: A Teachers’ Perspective. Bahria

            Journal of Professional Psychology, 19(2), 61–74.

McClung, E. L. & Gaberson, K. B. (2021). Academic dishonesty among nursing students.

            Nurse Educator, 46(2), 111–115.