Academic dishonesty among Italian nursing students: A longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Ethics
• Higher Education Studies

Background:

• Ethics is integral to nursing education, yet academic dishonesty is prevalent among nursing students.
• Existing research indicates similar rates of deceitful behavior in nursing students compared to other disciplines.
• This study addresses the need for longitudinal data on academic dishonesty in nursing programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate academic dishonesty in Italian nursing students longitudinally.
• To understand the development and normalization of deceitful behaviors in a university setting.
• To explore the long-term implications for ethical standards in nursing.

Main Methods:

• A non-experimental longitudinal design was employed.
• Participants were recruited from a Nursing Science Bachelor Degree Program at a major Italian university.
• Data was collected as part of an ongoing research project initiated in 2011.

Main Results:

• Nursing students become accustomed to academically deceitful actions over time.
• Students tend to perceive their dishonest behaviors as acceptable and normal.
• This normalization increases the likelihood of continued and subsequent deceitful actions.

Conclusions:

• Academic cheating behaviors can stabilize during higher education.
• The findings highlight the importance of establishing rigorous ethical standards early in nursing education.
• Longitudinal perspectives are crucial for understanding and mitigating academic dishonesty.