Why should we care about academic integrity in nursing students?

Abstract

Integrity, honesty, and respect are essential values for nursing students. Yet, in recent years the rise of breaches in academic integrity has become alarming. The era of increasing advances in the capabilities of smart technologies may be facilitating rather than deterring students from academic integrity breaches in their work and assessments. This issue raises questions for nurse academics on how they can best ensure that nursing students align their behavior with the expected nursing’s professional values, both during their study years and beyond. This discussion paper aims to examine contributing factors leading to breaches of academic integrity amongst nursing students and determine why we as nurse academics need to both remain alert to these factors, and vigilant about identifying and managing such breaches. Existing factors that may influence academic dishonesty are discussed concerning students; nurse academics; curriculum design; and the apparently growing cultural shift in ethical reasoning. With increased insight into these influencing factors, nurse academics need to take responsibility and prepare students to take on the highest standard of moral values to ensure safe and effective patient outcomes. We need to become more aware of and understand nursing students’ perspectives and adequately prepare our soon-to-become nurse graduates. We are charged with supporting, guiding, and teaching our students to develop skills within a culture of integrity. Ensuring an integrity activity smorgasbord in our practice can counteract the increased risk of academic dishonesty in our undergraduate nursing programs.

Academic integrity in first-year nursing students: An intergrative review

“…Bultas et al [8] view the onus of AI as the responsibility of the educator. However, Emmanuel et al [4] found that academics have been found wanting in areas of AI, relating to the pres-Published by Sciedu Press sure felt when student evaluations are scrutinized. Hence more leniency may be shown when it comes to breaches in AI.…”

“…[2] While Guerrero-Dib et al identified that introducing first-year nursing students to the values and practices of AI facilitates student achievement of high standards of excellence and learning [3] Emmanuel et al further recognised that early focus on AI can lead to students developing good ethical perspectives. [4] AI is an integral part of all university degrees. It is postulated that breaches in AI, in nursing, are increasing, especially with the increasing use of and reliance upon modern technology in the academic arena.…”

“…It is postulated that breaches in AI, in nursing, are increasing, especially with the increasing use of and reliance upon modern technology in the academic arena. [4] Breaches of AI can give students unwarranted advantage in their academic work. Types of breaches include but are not limited to: cheating, plagiarism (intentional or unintentional), recycling of previously submitted work, and collusion.…”

“…Following our investigation relating to why should academics care about AI, [4] we attempted to uncover the extent to which practice in AI among first-year nursing students is occurring, through an integrative review of the literature.…”

“I’m not an investigator and I’m not a police officer" - a faculty’s view on academic integrity in an undergraduate nursing degree

“…Integrity is a core expectation of professional nursing practice, with nurses highly regarded for their honesty and high ethical standards (Emmanuel et al 2021). Globally, nurses are often voted "the" most trusted profession in public confidence surveys, rating higher than doctors, dentists, police officers and schoolteachers (Gallup Inc 2020;Ipsos Reid 2018;Roy Morgan Research Ltd 2017).…”