An examination of influential factors of academic dishonesty and ethical decision-making among community college nursing students

Abstract

Academic dishonesty remains a pervasive, multi-discipline dilemma which has been reported as having the propensity of resulting in longstanding consequences beyond academic settings. Previous research has suggested that students who participate in dishonest behaviors while attending institutions of higher education have greater tendencies to engage in dishonest and unethical behaviors within professional settings. Notably, schools of nursing are not exempt from academic dishonesty and the ramifications that have been associated with such misconduct. Although academic dishonesty has been examined from various perspectives, and in numerous contexts, current studies that compare relationships between peer and faculty influences on academic dishonesty and ethical decision-making patterns are lacking, particularly among community college nursing students. This study examines relationships between influential factors of academic dishonesty and ethical decision-making patterns among nursing students attending community colleges. The results from this study revealed a statistically significant correlation between attitudes towards academic dishonesty and ethical decision-making patterns among nursing students attending community colleges. The findings suggest that community college nursing students' ethical decision-making patterns increases as their attitudes towards academic dishonesty increases. Also, notable differences regarding ethical decision-making patterns of community college nursing students were indicated in this study. There were differences between male and female students' ethical decision-making patterns, differences between first semester and fourth semester students' ethical decision-making patterns as well as differences between nursing students employed in healthcare and those who are not. This study also revealed the need for additional research to further examine relationships between nursing students' familiarity with the American Nurses Association's Code of Ethics and faculty model behavior as influences towards academic dishonesty and ethical decision-making patterns.