GSU students 'made a huge impact' on hospital staff trainingthem

"We want the families to know that these young ladies stood out," Sherry Danello, chief nursingofficer. (HANDOUT PHOTO)

By Tina A. Brown

For The Atlanta Journal Constitution

SAVANNAH -- Once a week the seven nursing students involved in the fatal crash Wednesdaycarpooled for the hour long drive from Georgia Southern in Statesboro to Savannah's St. Joseph'sHospital where they experienced what real nursing was all about.

Desiree Taylor was the group's clinical nursing manager at the hospital where the students werewrapping up their training and preparing to enter nursing school. (HANDOUT PHOTO)

"You can't learn everything in books," said Desiree Taylor, the group's clinical nursing manager at

the hospital where the students were wrapping up their month long clinical training and preparingto enter nursing school.

Five of them - Emily Clark of PowderSprings, Catherine Pittman of Alpharetta,Morgan Bass of Leesburg, Abbie Deloachof Savannah, and Caitlyn Baggett of Millen-- all died in the early morning crash inBryan County about 20 miles fromSavannah.

Megan Richards of Loganville and BrittnayMcDaniel of Reidsville who were injured inthe wreck remain hospitalized.

The hospital staff offered a glimpse Thursday into the students' clinical experience at the St.Joseph's Candler Hospital System and how in life and now in death they've affected the staff here.

Among a group of about 70 clinical nursing students from Georgia Southern, the seven studentsshadowed nurses assigned to staffs that handled rehabilitative and orthopedic care. They followedthe nurses from patient to patient and observed how they took patients vital signs. They assistedwith bathing and dresses patients and helping them walk around too, said Taylor, adding they alsohelped the nursing staff administer medication.

"The students bonded with the nurses and the patients,'' said Taylor, who took a deep breath as sheattempted to compose her raw emotions.

"Excuse me, I'm crying again. ... They were always very happy to be here,'' she said. "They wouldwork as a team. They weren't afraid to try new things."

Nurses on the hospital floors madecondolence posters Thursday. Thenursing staff wanted to send a messageto the families of the five students killedon the highway that we cared for them ,said Sherry Danello, the chief nursingofficer.

"None of this (the fatal crash) makessense,'' she said.

Her staff is organizing a lunch for theremainder of the class from Georgia Southern and possibly a memorial service.

"We want the families to know that these young ladies stood out. They were engaged with thepatients and they always demonstrated professionalism. They were Georgia girls who really made ahuge impact,'' she said.

Tina A. Brown is an independent journalist based in Savannah.

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/gsu-students-made-a-huge-impact-on-hospital-staff-/nk2qW/