By Tina A. Brown
For The Atlanta Journal Constitution
SAVANNAH — Once a week the seven nursing students involved in the fatal crash Wednesday carpooled for the hour long drive from Georgia Southern in Statesboro to Savannah’s St. Joseph’s Hospital where they experienced what real nursing was all about.
“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 preparing to enter nursing school.
Five of them – Emily Clark of Powder Springs, Catherine Pittman of Alpharetta, Morgan Bass of Leesburg, Abbie Deloach of Savannah, and Caitlyn Baggett of Millen — all died in the early morning crash in Bryan County about 20 miles from Savannah.
Megan Richards of Loganville and Brittnay McDaniel of Reidsville who were injured in the 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 students shadowed nurses assigned to staffs that handled rehabilitative and orthopedic care. They followed the nurses from patient to patient and observed how they took patients vital signs. They assisted with bathing and dresses patients and helping them walk around too, said Taylor, adding they also helped the nursing staff administer medication.
“The students bonded with the nurses and the patients,’’ said Taylor, who took a deep breath as she attempted to compose her raw emotions.
“Excuse me, I’m crying again. … They were always very happy to be here,’’ she said. “They would work as a team. They weren’t afraid to try new things.”
Nurses on the hospital floors made condolence posters Thursday. The nursing staff wanted to send a message to the families of the five students killed on the highway that we cared for them , said Sherry Danello, the chief nursing officer.
“None of this (the fatal crash) makes sense,’’ she said.
Her staff is organizing a lunch for the remainder 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 the patients and they always demonstrated professionalism. They were Georgia girls who really made a huge impact,’’ she said.
Tina A. Brown is an independent journalist based in Savannah.
