Academic integrity in an online registered nurse to baccalaureate in nursing program.
BACKGROUND
The number of nursing programs offering online courses continues to expand. This is a relatively new method of instruction that has not been extensively evaluated. Academic integrity in the online classroom is one area of concern. This study compared academic integrity in both an online and a traditional classroom registered nurse to baccalaureate in nursing (RN-BSN) program.


METHODS
A comparative descriptive design was used to evaluate academic integrity in the two RN-BSN cohorts.


RESULTS
The traditional classroom RN-BSN students reported higher levels of cheating compared with the online students. Self-reported cheating behaviors were higher among younger students in the traditional classroom.


CONCLUSIONS
This study did not support contemporary concerns that cheating is more prevalent in online courses.
Hart
Leigh
L
Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL 32211, USA. lhart@ju.edu
Morgan
Lesley
L
D032781:Codes of Ethics; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000941:ethics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004518:Education, Professional, Retraining / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D009862:Online Systems; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*