Kayla Haugabrook calls her clinical training at Piedmont Macon Medical Center the best experience she’s had as a Middle Georgia State University nursing student.
“It’s given me so much hands-on experience and helped me gain confidence,” said the 23-year-old from Gray, who is following in her mother’s career footsteps. “What really made it stand out was my instructor. She made sure we not only knew how to do something but also why we were doing it. She even checked in on us outside of clinicals and was willing to explain classroom topics if we needed extra support. She constantly motivated us when we felt like giving up. Having that kind of guidance made the experience feel both professional and personal.”
That instructor is Troya Thomas, an RN with 14 years of experience, who teaches and supervises Middle Georgia State (MGA) nursing students through a special partnership between Piedmont Macon and the University.
“I’ve worked with a variety of students,” Thomas said. “The Middle Georgia State students are very respectful and receptive. That means a lot. They take note of my feedback, and I see improvement when they come back for their next rotation.”
