Southpinellas: Exam results raise red flag

St. Petersburg College administrators are investigating what they suspect could be a widespread case of cheating on a nursing exam this month.

Administrators said Friday they are trying to determine whether students got a copy of the test before it was given. They have not determined what the consequences of any cheating could be.

The test, administered April 9 to 130 students, is given twice a year as a final step before nursing students graduate with an associate's degree.

The state of Florida does not require the test, but the college makes students take it before they graduate to help prepare them for the required national licensing exam.

Of the students who took the test on April 9, 51 percent scored 90 percent or higher, according to the college. That's nearly three times as many as scored that high previously.

"There's a predictability on these test," said Sydney McKenzie, the college's lawyer. "And what we found was way outside that model."

To determine whether their suspicions were correct, administrators compared the April test scores with those of the previous class of nursing graduates. Of the 175 students who took the test in December, only 18 percent ranked in the 90th percentile or higher.

"When we saw they the current class were scoring significantly higher that was really a red flag," said Jean Wortock, dean of nursing at the school.

Administrators also analyzed how the class had performed on tests taken earlier in the semester.

"We found the April test scores were clearly elevated in comparison to some of their other scores" Wortock said.

A tip from a student about a practice test being circulated also added to speculation over the test scores' legitimacy. The student told administrators that some questions on the real test had been on the practice test, McKenzie said.

A new test was administered to students on Thursday. Those results have yet to be made public. The school's graduation is scheduled for May 7.

Administrators haven't decided what would happen to students if the college determines that they cheated on the test.

One possibility is that the students would receive a zero in the class associated with the test - nursing care management - making them ineligible for graduation.

St. Petersburg College's nursing program was instituted in 1954. The program now has about 600 students and is based out of the Caruth Health Education Center in Pinellas Park. The nursing associate's degree program is four semesters long and is intended to prepare students for the National State Board exam, which is required to be licensed as a registered nurse.

The test in question is provided by Assessment Technologies Institute out of Kansas City and consists of 180 questions, including multiple choice, short answer and fill in the blank. Students are given three hours to complete the exam.

Soon after speculation began over the April 9 test results, the college began working with the testing company and the faculty to help determine what happened.

"We're using all the information to determine how the test was obtained and who was responsible and who benefited," McKenzie said.

In her 31 years at the college, Wortock said it was the first time the school had undergone such an investigation.

"I'd love to say it's going to be the last" she said. "We're putting every possible initiative in place to ensure this doesn't occur again."

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Comments on this article

by Patty	04/28/07 10:00 AM
The numbers do not lie. When more students pass then statistically possible and there is a report by a student of cheating, it is the legal and ethical responsibility of the college to stop the test and investigate. I want to trust SPC graduates!

by Anonymous nursing student	04/27/07 04:48 AM
The reason why no student has talked publicy about this, is that the schools lawyers warned them what will happen if they went to the medais about this, When the students graduate and sit 4 the NCLEX you will hear from them publicy about this issue.

by Soon to BSN, RN	04/26/07 07:01 PM
As a practicing RN, who is graduating from the BSN program at SPC in May, I am appalled to hear that someone would do this. The program at SPC and the instructors are phenomonal. It is too bad for those honest students, who worked so hard.

by Friend of a student	04/25/07 11:38 PM
My best friend is in this class and has been made ill..literally ill..over this issue. The college is by no means handling the situation well. How would a student get a copy of the test? Hmmm...from those higher up? Who do they blame? The students!!

by Sad situation for ALL	04/25/07 11:35 PM
I am in another program at SPC and know beyond doubt that none of my instructors would EVER assist in cheating. They have impecible morals. This situation is making all the health students look bad while not one has been spoken to or heard from!

by brenda	04/25/07 05:39 PM
i don't feel that the students who didn't partake in this cheating should have to suffer with the stupid one's, and also in speaking for the student's I really don't feel that if students spend all that time in school that they should have test out.

by brenda	04/25/07 05:35 PM
i don't feel that the students who didn't partake in this cheating should have to suffer with the stupid one's, and also in speaking for the student's I really don't feel that if students spend all that time in school that they should have test out.

by Nurses are trusted	04/25/07 09:21 AM
Nurses are trusted to provide care for the most volnerable populations. Why would you cheat to get credit for not working hard. This is disrespectful to your other classmates who deserve the title, respect, and trust! How will patients be treated?

by Nurses have a Duty to Report	04/25/07 01:55 AM
NURSES have a duty to report to their supervisor if they suspect or know of a wrong doing... whether it be another nurse (or student) performing a task that falls out of our Code of Ethics or Nurse Practice Act. STUDENTS & FACULTY PLEASE REPORT ALL!

by Interested reader	04/24/07 10:46 PM
I would like to see a follow up story about this, with more than just the schoolò019s lawyers, I would like to here the studentò019s opinions that were affected by this, that way it will not look like the times is being biased. Does anyone agree with me?

by Lionel	04/24/07 07:38 PM
Since when is using a practice test cheating. Why isn't the Assessment Technologies Institute under fire for not changing test questions on each exam given ??

by SJ	04/24/07 01:38 PM
Not everyone who did well cheated. Imagine the stress leading up to the 2nd exam - knowing I had to do as well as I did on the 1st in order to be exonerated. Those hurt the most are those who earned their high scores but were treated as if guilty.

by Oleta	04/23/07 10:00 PM
Zero tolerance is zero tolerance, so school must prove who cheated and proceed accordingly. If cannot determine cheating, go by results of 2nd test. Is grade given for test that is an NCLEX practice exam?

by Frustrated Student	04/23/07 07:46 PM
250 characters is not nearly enough space to begin to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth about this travesty. I thought that the news was supposed to report the truth and look at the story from ALL sides, apparently this was not done!

by SMC	04/23/07 07:45 PM
Maybe you should do a follow up story to see how students did after the second test? The public might be surprised to see the comparison of test scores. There actually are some SMART students in this world.

by someone smart enough who doesn't need to cheat	04/23/07 07:24 PM
{{by cheater if your not cheating, then you are not trying......everyone does it, get over it. aaaright!!!!! }} Lol,I can see why this person needs to cheat in life, he can't even choose the correct version of "your vs You're", Hilarious!

by S. E.	04/23/07 08:31 AM
HOW DARE YOU HUMILIATE MY SON & THOSE OTHER STUDENTS WHO HAD NO PART IN THIS SCHEME!DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO HIS FUTURE IN NURSING HERE IN THE TRI-STATE AREA! SHAME ON YOU! HOW ABOUT GIVING PRAISE TO THOSE WHO EARNED IT!!!!!

by cheater	04/22/07 10:17 PM
if your not cheating, then you are not trying......everyone does it, get over it. aaaright!!!!!

by Mark	04/22/07 09:51 PM
I have two roommates in this program that had to deal with this.NOT everyone cheated and this article makes it seem that way.They had to reschedule the last part of their schooling to accommodate the new testing.It was a very stressful situation for

by Tommi	04/22/07 09:49 PM
It is my understanding from one of the students that the answers were supplied by the interim instructors who are filling in for teachers that have left the institution. I feel, under these circumstances, that a retest should be enough.

by jim	04/22/07 08:40 PM
If the testing company is not coming up with new test questions and or test templets then who's fault is that? The blame rests with the incompetent testing company, not with students who studied everything they could before the test.

by Another Non Cheater	04/22/07 08:10 PM
I thinks it's disgusting that some students cheated on a test that is non-for-credit. However, some of us spent hours and hours studying from NCLEX review books and test banks, which have questions that are much more difficult and better written.

by Melinda	04/22/07 08:08 PM
As scary as health care already is, would anyone want a nurse who passed by cheating in charge of their health for even 5 minutes?

by Melinda	04/22/07 08:04 PM
Gerald read the statistics. These are not just 'higher' scores...the increase is beyond phenomenal. Additonally there are apparently credible accusations that the test was leaked. Investigating this the right thing to do.

by peggy	04/22/07 06:19 PM
Doesn't SPC have a HIRRE policy Honesty Integrity Respect Responsibility and Ethics students in the nursing program at PHCC have to sign this policy on every peice of work handed in

by Gerald	04/22/07 05:29 PM
Higher percentage of test scores can indicate a better crop of students who studied harder. To condemn all as cheaters because of the action of unknown individuals is sterotyping of the worst kind and not worthy of thinking adults. It is Juvenile.

by Non cheating student	04/22/07 03:14 PM
As a nursing student who did not cheat I cant condone the actions of those who did. But the colleges handeling of this has been a travesty first to try and cover up, then to punish all . How was the test breached, it wasent done just by students.

by Gilbert	04/22/07 12:39 PM
I am in college part-time now; I recently failed a class for the second time. I am now enrolled in that class for the 3d time. The point is this, I would never feel comfortable achieving success by cheating. The test scores maybe correct. Lets wait.

by Lindsay	04/22/07 09:55 AM
Plagiarism and cheating are so rampant now because administration does not enforce existing policies. SPC earns my respect for pursuing this. I was frustrated by the apathy in my MBA program when I reported it with ample evidence. No one cared.

by Lee	04/22/07 09:44 AM
Why didn't anybody in Jeb's office draw these conclusions? "There's a predictability on these test," said Sydney McKenzie, the college's lawyer. "And what we found was way outside that model." Even the lawyer figured it out!

Exam results raise red flag

Unusually high scores on a nursing test first brought joy, then roused SPC's suspicion.