Encouraging Academic Integrity among Nurse Practitioner Students Enrolled in Online Courses

This article reviews academic dishonesty in online courses with recommended strategies to reduce cheating on exams, written assignments, and clinical documentation. Prevention strategies, based on a four-stage model for institutionalization of academic integrity as proposed by Gallant and Drinan, are discussed. Academic integrity policies, along with consistent enforcement by faculty and support by administration, help discourage cheating and promote academic integrity among nurse practitioner students. The promotion of academic integrity is an ongoing task that must be infused across the curriculum. It is of utmost importance as the student’s attitude toward cheating is likely to follow them to the workplace.