Lisa S.

Let me make this perfectly clear. I never attended this school but I worked at the Orlando/Lake Mary campus so have a great understanding of what was occurring behind closed doors, therefore I'm relaying my personal experience. When making a decision to spend so much money with the hope of a better future, I would think it important to know with whom I'm dealing with on all levels. But let me stress, this is my personal experience so take it with a grain of salt. If it doesn't matter to you how others are disrespect and bullied behind closed doors... things you don't see... then this information probably doesn't matter to you and that's fine. I just feel lead to tell my story.

I was bullied and verbally abused both covertly an then full throttled openly by several employees on numerous occasions and witnessed the now current Director of Admission have crying jags multiple times for initially getting past over for a promotion. She constantly complained that she was lied to by upper management and complained of how bad she had been treated. That was her excuse for her unprofessional behaviors anyway. I also was subjected to a screaming and complete meltdown, foot stomping tantrum by this now DOA... I mean SCREAMING tantrums, and as God is my witness, still to this day have no clue why. I just sat there with my mouth wide open initially thinking it was some kind of joke. It wasn't. I also witnessed several employees abuse another new managerial employee they made very clear they had no respect for and was treated very poorly but he can speak for himself. I'm just still in shock that it was allowed to persist. Absolutely no intervention from upper management. Apparently this was OK because after numerous complaints to the Campus's President and HR, it was never fully addressed nor resolved.

When hired, I had over 10 years admissions experience and a college degree, but by complete accident discovered a new hire with no admissions experience and only a HSD was making significantly more salary. I mean A LOT more salary than I. I am female... he was/is male. Regardless, if sexual discrimination had anything to do with it I'll never know. I was then and now also what might be referred to as a senior. I was 62 then, I'm 64 now. I'll never know the reasons for this discrepancy in pay and if age had anything to do with it, but it is a tad bit suspect. It's discrimination no matter what the reason.

My treatment by these employees caused me such significant distress I actually sought medical care in the form of psychiatric help. I guess since it's been 2 years since this occurred, I'm still suffering PTSD or I would not take the time to discuss nor admit to the ill affects it had on me mentally and physically. My total health suffered.

Also again by complete accident I discovered that there is a possibility that a through background check on at least one of their employees may have been looked over. I consider a charge of battery a serious charge, however I do not claim to know the court's decision on this matter so that may have been why it was overlooked, however I would consider it a red flag and in this day and age even the slightest suggestion of violence is a serious matter. Maybe aggressive behaviors were this persons norm so therefore explains bullish behavior towards me and others. At one time bankruptcy and being sued for non-payment by banks and other establishments was an employment consideration. It was explained to me that employers consider that if a person did not have control over their own life and respect for their own financial obligations, it showed bad judgement. That may not be the case at ECPI however. I don't claim to know what HR looks for in candidate, but being a decent human being does not seem to be high on their list.

I feel the Campus President should have interceded after the first incident of verbal disrespect but that did not happen. It's documented though and he was made well aware this incident occurred, and let it continued. Lack of a backbone? That's my only guess why he refused to intercede. The whole situation mystifies me to this day.

I think the nursing education is probably OK or at least average. I never had a bad interaction with any of the educational staff and found them quite pleasant. Anyway, you decide if this is the right school for you. I walked out the door for my own well-being after a little less than 2 years. I could not take the stress and had to go out on disability. I have additional physical problems that caused this disability that nothing to do with the treatment I was subjected to at ECPI Orlando/Lake Mary so I'm not blaming them solely for my condition, but it certainly made an already bad situation worse.

Why these people chose to bully, verbally abuse and disrespect others is still a complete mystery to me. They only thing I can come up with is that they were threatened by those that had more education in some instances and years more experience of the admissions process therefore making them feel less valuable. Jealousy? I honestly don't know why we were treated so badly.

If you feel I'm writing this as a disgruntled ex-employee you are 100% correct. I'm truly amazed these behaviors were allowed and even rewarded. It still boggles my brain. It's your money, your education and your future.