Three examples of plagiarism are copying text without citation, paraphrasing without citation, and submitting another's work as your own. Plagiarizing as a student affects the integrity of a baccalaureate degree by undermining academic standards, affects the public perception of nursing by compromising ethics, and undermines evidence-based practice. To ensure academic integrity, Julia will learn proper citation and develop research skills to find credible sources.

1. Discuss Question
List three examples of plagiarism and discuss how plagiarizing as a student affects the
integrity of a baccalaureate degree, the public perception of the nursing profession, and
evidence-based practice. Describe two things you will do to ensure academic integrity in
your work.Please read below for more information.IntroductionAcademic nursing research
is crucial to providing quality nursing care because it gives the foundation for evidence-
based practice (EBP) that is often the catalyst for changes that impact patient outcomes.
Learning to navigate databases to acquire sound evidence is the foundation for writing
academic prose that illustrates the learner’s grasp of concepts. It is equally essential for RN-
BSN students to learn to format academic writing properly, as well as understand how to
avoid plagiarism and its repercussions. In addition, learning how to write without
plagiarizing upholds the principle of trustworthiness that is a central element to the
professionalism of nursing. Understanding academic research, literature review, scholarly
writing, academic integrity, and academic dishonesty are the framework for a baccalaureate
education, which also contribute to the professionalism of nursing. Additionally, learning to
research relevant nursing topics forms critical-thinking skills necessary to provide excellent
patient care.Case StudyJulia, a 52-year-old nurse, returned to school for the first time in 30
years to get her bachelor’s degree at the prompting of her employer. Unfamiliar with
writing papers, she had difficulty settling into the academic world. With the help of the
university librarian and an online academic writing tutorial, she finished her first three
online courses. Because she did not know how to find applicable articles or how to format
her papers properly, she barely passed her first course. After completing the third course,
the school contacted her to discuss one of her papers. After investigation, the university
determined that Julia’s paper was largely plagiarized. An incident report was filed, placing
Julia on academic probation. Devastated, Julia admitted that she was not certain what
plagiarism truly was, but she certainly had no intention of doing anything dishonest. Julia
said that many of her colleagues have spoken about getting papers and advice online and
did not see the harm in it or consider it cheating. After thorough counsel from the faculty,
Julia learned that the repercussions of such behavior go far past failing courses. She began
to understand that plagiarism has a stark impact on the nursing profession and that
dishonesty in academia can lead to dishonesty as a professional nurse. Such behavior
jeopardizes patient care and can threaten the nursing license that she worked so hard to
earn. Julia committed herself to learning how to avoid plagiarism and finding guidance on
constructing strong academic papers for the rest of her baccalaureate education to help her

2. uphold and model the principles key to the nursing profession.Academic WritingAcademic
writing is the analysis of material and the ability to express understanding in an eloquent
and informative way while properly acknowledging sources (Hunker, Gazza, &
Shellenbarger, 2014). Nonacademic writing does not use scholarly sources to substantiate
claims made within the writing and is written at a more informal level that is easy for any
reader to understand. Basics of academic writing, such as style, formatting, spelling,
grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary, are often considered common knowledge. These
concepts are also worth reviewing if they have faded from memory. In order to feel more
prepared to tackle writing assignments with confidence, students often state the need for
frequent review of such topics, particularly in the area of applying style and formatting
according to the APA Style Manual (O’Brien, Marken, & Bennett Petrey, 2016). In fact,
O’Brien, Marken, and Bennett Petrey (2016) discovered that the incorporation of mini
studies on basics of writing throughout the length of a course led to improved writing and
improved overall student perception related to writing assignments. This echoes the
significance of exposure to the fundamentals of scholarly writing to set up students for
success early in the academic process.A well-written, scholarly paper requires more than
basic structure; it also needs an educated description of the topic that reflects the student’s
critical thinking and comprehension (Borglin, 2012). Such comprehension is a stepping
stone to formulating an evidence-based argument to support clinical reasoning in nursing
practice and advocate for changes. Another key to this process is the students’ ability to
evaluate relevant articles to support and substantiate the claims within their writing.
Locating relevant articles is not sufficient; students must also be able to examine and fully
understand the articles’ purpose and how it supports their writing (Hunker et. al., 2014).
Blended together, these components contribute to the development of scholarly writing
that is expected of students attaining a baccalaureate degree.Tools for SuccessThe proper
use of online databases is crucial to obtaining relevant data that can be used to support the
students’ work. Grand Canyon University (GCU) has an online library system that allows for
ease of access to such databases, including CINAHL and Ovid. The GCU Student Success
Center contains a wealth of knowledge, providing detailed step-by-step processes
instructing students on how to conduct effective database searches. Locating credible
articles is crucial to substantiating claims made within pieces of academic writing.
Information literacy can be defined as the learner’s ability to search for, access, and evaluate
peer-reviewed articles (Brettle & Raynor, 2013). Peer-reviewed articles are research
studies that have been evaluated by experts in the field prior to publication.Becoming
information literate is a crucial skill for students to master early on to lay a framework for
success throughout the baccalaureate program. Throughout the program, students will be
challenged to expand their knowledge and expertise by investigating new research and
demonstrating their understanding of key concepts through scholarly academic writing and
elaboration of ideas in discussion forums. When the basics, such as information literacy, are
learned early, the process of academic writing becomes seamless and achievable. Not only is
this helpful throughout the program, but it also contributes to the nurse’s ability to
understand EBP and its impact on patient care. By learning how to evaluate articles for
relevance and credibility, baccalaureate students will have the opportunity to understand

3. EBP changes they see in their daily work during and after their baccalaureate
experience.Searching DatabasesAll nursing databases can be found in the “Find Journal
Articles” and “Find Databases by Subject” section of the library under “Nursing & Health
Sciences.” CINAHL Complete, PubMed, OVID Nursing Essentials, Cochrane Library, Nursing
and Allied Health Collection, and ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source are
recommended nursing databases; of these databases, CINAHL is the most widely
recommended. The strategy when conducting research is to first identify the main concepts
or keywords in the topic. Enter each concept in a separate search box. Then, add synonyms
where possible to retrieve more search results. There are three Boolean operators that are
used when searching in most library databases: AND, OR, and NOT. AND is used between
each search box to connect different concepts. When using AND in a search, it will return
results that use all keywords. OR is used to add synonyms, or similar keywords, to the
search. Using OR in a search will return results that use at least one of the keywords
provided. NOT is used to exclude keywords. Using NOT in a search will exclude the keyword
provided from the results. When searching databases, using the truncation symbol (*),
commonly referred to as an asterisk, can also be helpful in narrowing down search results.
Truncation is used to include all possible endings on the end of the root word. For example,
complian* will return results with the keywords compliance and compliant. Nurs* will
return results that use the keywords nurse, nursing, nurses.Scholarly writing requires
students to support their research with current evidence published in reputable sources.
When searching a database, students should click on the box limiting the search to only
peer-reviewed journals. Students can limit search results to specific ranges of publication
years as well. Typically, it is best practice to use articles that are no more than 5 years old;
however students should check with their instructors to learn of any course specific
requirements in terms of acceptable publication years.Common Research Topic
ExamplesTopic: Hand hygiene compliance to reduce the rate of infection1st Search Field:
hand wash*2nd Search Field: AND compliant*3rd Search Field: AND infectionAnother way
to search for this topic could include the following terms and operators:1st Search Field:
hand hygiene2nd Search Field: AND adherence3rd Search Field: AND infectionTopic:
Preventing diabetes through patient education1st Search Field: diabet*2nd Search Field:
AND prevent* OR reduc*3rd Search Field: AND educat*Topic: Nurse shift reports to
increase patient safety1st Search Field: nurs*2nd Search Field: AND shift report* OR
handoff OR hand off OR bedside report*3rd Search Field: AND safe*Review of the
AbstractAfter searching, the student can begin looking through the results to select which
articles are most relevant to their topic of interest. Reading the subject line of each article is
not enough to understand whether the article has the type of material the student may
need. This is when reviewing the abstract comes in handy. The abstract gives a brief
overview regarding the article’s content and design. In this way, students can get a basic
understanding of whether this article is a good fit to support their topic.Figure 1.1Abstract
ExampleWriting and EditingOnce the appropriate articles are found, they must be read and
reviewed for topics and facts that can be used to support the paper’s main points. Finding
just the right words to express ideas on a given topic can be difficult, particularly when
unsure about how to best explain challenging concepts, properly cite sources, or correctly

4. format the information according to APA style (O’Brien, Marken, & Bennett Petrey 2016).
The greatest guidance possible for a student is to use every resource offered to help make
the writing process easier. GCU’s Writing Center offers resources for students preparing to
write an academic paper, including a step-by-step overview of writing academic papers, and
example papers for reference. Learning to write scholarly papers enables students to
demonstrate their understanding of concepts while growing in their ability to communicate
effectively. Students concerned about the amount of writing required in a baccalaureate
program can rest assured that most students acclimate to the challenge and are eventually
able to write excellent academic prose.Frequently reviewing and editing content helps
students ensure that they are developing readable content that conveys the information as
intended. Tools such as Microsoft Word’s grammar and spell check can help students to
catch typos and grammatical errors; however, repeatedly reading and reviewing the
content will ensure errors are located and fixed before submission. Reviewing the content
also ensures that topics and paragraphs flow and transition from one to the next. Peer
review is also an excellent way of fine-tuning completed work and eliciting ideas that can
make for a more well-developed paper. The expertise of knowledgeable peers can give
students a new perspective on the topic, broadening their understanding and helping to add
depth to their prose (Doncliff, 2016).Example of a Well Written ParagraphThe evidence
regarding the effectiveness of clinical education models for undergraduate nursing
programs is notably limited due to a lack of high quality studies and a lack of important
student learning outcome measures. This systematic review found limited evidence that the
clinical facilitator model is preferable to the preceptor model based on students’ preference
and learning outcomes. It is evident that CEU model provided greater engagement and an
enhanced learning environment compared with a standard facilitation model. However, this
finding should be applied with caution due to the quality of the included studies. There is
clearly a need for well-planned high quality studies to examine the effectiveness of different
clinical placement models to provide best evidence-based practice in nursing education.
(Jayasekara et al., 2018)FormattingFormatting documents according to the APA manual is
crucial for students. APA is a writing style developed as a best practice for academic papers
and is commonly required for use when writing papers in collegiate programs (Purdue
Online Writing Lab, n.d.). Students should use the GCU library resources and GCU’s APA
Style Guide, located on the Student Success Center. The APA manual includes information
on how to format elements of a paper, such as headings, spacing, and indentations, as well
as how to correctly reference, cite, and paraphrase sources of information. Omitting
citations and poorly paraphrasing sources happens frequently and often leads to
unintentional plagiarism. Plagiarism is a growing concern in education and has high
incident rates in nursing education (Smedley, Crawford, & Cloete, 2015). Though colleges
are using plagiarism prevention platforms, such as Turnitin, to check students’ work for
plagiarized material, plagiarism remains a significant issue.Academic HonestyThe issue of
integrity is central to the world of nursing. Nurses are looked to as esteemed members of
health care and society. Nurses are trusted to provide holistic and professional care to
members of the community who are at their most vulnerable. In fact, according to an annual
Gallup survey (2016) that looks at public trust in professionals, nurses have been ranked

5. Number 1 as the most trusted profession for 15 years in a row (Norman, 2016). Integrity
and honesty are crucial elements in upholding that reputation (Glasper, 2016). These
defining characteristics are built during the education process. With that in mind, it
becomes clear that academic integrity is the pathway to professional integrity as a nurse
(Glasper, 2016).It is essential to understand and recognize academic dishonesty because
academic behaviors lay the framework for upholding professionalism as a bedside nurse.
Lack of integrity and dishonesty has been shown to lead to poor decision making at the
bedside, which leads to poor patient outcomes and decreased patient satisfaction (Morgan
& Hart, 2013). In fact, studies have found a direct correlation between not upholding
academic integrity and dismissing professional policy in the workplace (LaDuke, 2013).
This link cannot be overlooked, as it directly correlates to attributes required and expected
of professional nurses. Additionally, it supports the thought that ethical behaviors are
learned early on and affect behavior at the bedside, directly impacting patient care and
outcomes (Coffey, Zitzelsberger, & Anyinam, 2014). For instance, if students see no fault in
committing plagiarism throughout their educational journey, they may see no fault in falsely
documenting assessment data or details of a patient interaction. The repercussions of
omitting sensitive assessment data within the patient chart could lead to a complication
going unnoticed that could ultimately lead to harmful complications for the patient.Going
back to the case study at the beginning of the chapter, it had been many years since Julia
was in school. She was working full time as a bedside nurse and going to school, all of which
added stress and pressure to her personal and professional life. This could also be a
determining factor for why plagiarism occurred. Typically, in cases of plagiarism, the
student is extraordinarily remorseful and fully committed to rectifying the situation.
Despite these alarming statistics and inquiries, providing resources to students to help
avoid this dilemma becomes the correct focus.Patient with Acute Kidney InjuryAt the end of
the shift, a nurse was working to complete patient charts, including one patient’s hourly
urine output. The nursing assistant emptied the patient’s Foley catheter but did not record
the number or tell the nurse what she projected the urine output to be. The nurse is tired
after a long shift, so she decides to make up a number so she can finish charting and get
home. She lies and documents the total urine output for the shift as 500cc. The physician
making rounds notes the output and sees no issue. When the nurse returned to work the
following night, the patient is being placed on hemodialysis. The nurse from the previous
shift told her the patient’s urine output was critically low, only 5–8cc per hour all day, and
the patient’s blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels continued to rise despite best
efforts to aggressively rehydrate him.The situation could have had a much different
outcome if the nurse had taken it upon herself to document the appropriate assessment
findings accurately instead of lying. Though seemingly rare, such circumstances may occur
more often than realized. These outcomes lead to a lack of trust from the public and
diminished perception of the nurses’ professionalism.PlagiarismPlagiarism is the use of
another’s words or ideas without clear identification of the source (Price, 2014). Plagiarism
can occur intentionally and unintentionally. Intentional plagiarism involves a person who
knowingly copied the work of another individual and purposefully omitted credit to the
original author to take credit for the ideas. Unintentional plagiarism usually involves

6. ignorance and poor writing, paraphrasing, and referencing skills (de Souza, 2016). In
general, cheating is seen as common among college students, and many do not see it as
wrong (LaDuke, 2013).Studies have shown that plagiarism, particularly among nursing
students, is a growing concern and has a host of repercussions that do not solely affect the
education process. Nursing is a profession based on ethics, integrity, and trust; committing
plagiarism is a direct insult to such an esteemed profession. Plagiarism can affect student
performance and impact EBP created to affect change in patient care (LaDuke, 2013). Such
behaviors are contrary to the Code of Ethics for Nurses, which summarizes the importance
of maintaining and modeling exemplary behaviors such as honesty and integrity.Table
1.1Plagiarism ExampleSourceHeinich, R., Molenda, M., Russell, J. D., & Smaldino, S. E. (1999).
Instructional media and technologies for learning. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-
Hall.Original Source MaterialConstructivism is a movement that extends beyond the beliefs
of the cognitivist. It considers the engagement of student in meaningful experiences as the
essence of learning. The shift is from passive transfer of information to active problem
solving. Constructivists emphasize that learners create their own interpretations of the
world of information.Plagiarized VersionConstructivists do not hold views entirely opposed
to those of the cognitivists. The position of constructivists extends beyond the beliefs of the
cognitivist.ReferenceHeinich, R., Molenda, M., Russell, J. D., & Smaldino, S. E. (1999).
Instructional media and technologies for learning. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-
Hall.Correct VersionConstructivists do not hold views entirely opposed to those of the
cognitivists. The position of constructivists “extends beyond the beliefs of the cognitivist”
(Heinich, Molenda, Russell, & Smaldino, 1999, p. 17).ReferenceHeinich, R., Molenda, M.,
Russell, J. D., & Smaldino, S. E. (1999). Instructional media and technologies for learning.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.Note. Adapted from “How to Recognize Plagiarism” by
Indiana University Bloomington, School of Education, 2014. Copyright 2014 by the Indiana
University Bloomington, School of Education.Why Do Nursing Students Plagiarize?Studies
have found that plagiarism among nursing students is usually the result of their
unfamiliarity with writing and the pressure they feel to get work completed while balancing
a full plate of responsibilities (Morgan & Hart, 2013). Research has discovered that up to
“94% of nursing students have seen another student cheat,” (LaDuke, 2013, p. 402). Other
studies have indicated a connection to online programs and the lack of face-to-face
interaction as a direct factor in upholding academic integrity (Morgan & Hart, 2013). Also,
the amount of work expected within the nursing program is staggering; one study indicated
that, “in nursing, there is a higher proportion of essay material required for students to
produce than in other types of healthcare courses,” (de Souza, 2016, p. 19). Most RN-BSN
students continue to work full time, attend classes, and balance a full family/home life,
which can lead to an elevated level of anxiety that could then lead to unethical academic
behavior (Hidle, 2014). These elements all contribute to the rise of unethical student
behaviors in nursing education.ParaphrasingOne of the most significant contributors to
plagiarism is the ineffective use of references and paraphrasing (Hunker, et al., 2014).
Merriam Webster defines paraphrasing as, “a restatement of a text, passage, or work giving
the meaning in another form” (Paraphrase, n.d.). Paraphrasing is putting something found
within a source into one’s own words versus directly quoting the work. While the use of

7. paraphrasing may seem straightforward, it has become apparent that its misuse can be a
big contributor to plagiarism (Rogerson & McCarthy, 2017).Paraphrasing is a useful skill
and can beautifully convey the writer’s understanding of a topic; however, changing a few
words or using synonyms and expecting the result to be considered paraphrasing is
insufficient. Proper paraphrasing involves synthesizing the given material and being able to
reiterate in a way that exemplifies its meaning as well as giving credit to the original author
with proper citation. Summarization is similar, requiring proper credit to the original
work’s author but may reflect a more basic overview of the material (Eberle, 2013).Table
1.2Poor vs. Correct ParaphrasingOriginal Quote“New tracks aside, the challenge is at the
bare minimum to bring light and air into this underground purgatory and, beyond that, to
create for millions of people a new space worthy of New York, a civic hub in the spirit of the
great demolished one, more attuned to the city’s aspirations and democratic ideals”
(Kimmelman, 2012, para. 10).Poor ParaphraseBesides replacing the railroad tracks, the
toughest part is to at least bring air and light to Penn Station. Millions of people in New York
are deserving of a new civic hub, constructed in the same essence of the one that was
leveled so many years ago. Moving forward with such a development ties in with the city’s
enthusiasm for beauty and architectureEffective ParaphraseOne of the biggest issues facing
Penn Station’s revitalization is developing a brighter, airier space. It is an abysmal
“underground purgatory,” (Kimmelman, 2012, para. 10) and with so many New Yorkers and
tourists traveling in and out of its doors every day, it should be reconstructed to better
reflect the endeavors and passions of the city.Note. Adapted from “An Example of an
Effective Paraphrase” and “An Example of a Poor Paraphrase” by EasyBib. Copyright
EasyBib.Students should also take caution when searching the Internet for tools or websites
that may help develop paraphrasing material. The explosion of technological advancements
and ease of access to these types of programs has made the opportunity for cheating or
plagiarizing more appealing to students (Rogerson & McCarthy, 2017). Often these types of
sources lead to plagiarizing and high similarity scores when papers are submitted to
plagiarism prevention software such as Turnitin (Price, 2014). The best practice is for
students to comprehend fully what scholarly writing involves and work to master the skill
of writing scholarly papers, including accurately paraphrasing and avoiding plagiarism of
material (Hunker et al., 2014). Avoiding plagiarism begins with understanding what it is,
the consequences of the offense, and how it impacts the nursing profession.Online Learning
PlatformsAs technology continues to advance and shape the future, it is evident that
education will be affected along with it. Online learning has become commonplace, and its
development continues to grow exponentially as the demand for flexible higher education
choices continues to flourish. With that in mind, students must be mindful of the risks that
online education delivers. Access to a large variety of sources through the Internet makes
plagiarism and unethical academic practices easier than ever before. While acts of
intentional plagiarism are less frequent, it is not uncommon for students to attain work
from each other and even opt to purchase papers from sources providing such services.
While the thought is reprehensible to some, the prospect of passing courses and getting
through what may be considered an obligatory degree may prompt these behaviors. These
acts are not only dishonest, but also a direct reflection of personal morality and the overall

8. integrity of the nursing profession (Ganske, 2010).Plagiarism Prevention SoftwareAs
universities acclimate to the growing trends seen in education, there has been an influx of
the use of plagiarism prevention software, such as Turnitin. These programs aim to reduce
the incidences of plagiarism by comparing material submitted to existing works to catch
gross negligence before students submit their assignments. While these types of programs
are helpful to avoid large errors, they are not to be used in place of individual edits and
review. These platforms are notorious for their inability to identify basic synonym
replacements, as well as an inability to determine the use of an online paraphrasing tool
within the work, both of which can constitute plagiarism (Rogerson & McCarthy, 2017).
Students should understand that there are limitations to technology and review their work
and have it peer reviewed for clarity and errors that can be edited before final
submission.Nurses are members of a profession in which being an expert is essential to
providing thorough care (Glasper, 2016). Plagiarism and/or inappropriate use of
paraphrasing may indicate a lack of understanding of the material, suggesting that the
student may not fully grasp the concepts presented (Eberle, 2013). This, in turn, could lead
to a population of nurses who may have achieved a baccalaureate degree without fully
appreciating or applying the knowledge they worked so hard to attain. Also, the inability to
thoroughly evaluate and understand presented concepts may lead to an inability to
appreciate latest EBP and its implications for nursing practice.