Nursing student continuing grandmother’s Phoebe legacy

ALBANY, Ga. – A local nursing student is carrying on her grandmother’s legacy at Phoebe Putney Hospital. One that spans more than four decades.

Meet Ernestine and Jordan Jackson, a grandmother and granddaughter who are both nurses at Phoebe Putney Hospital.

Ernestine has been helping people at Phoebe since 1979, and Jordan is on her fourth year as a nursing student.

For Ernestine, she’s always felt the need to care for others.

“Well, serving others has always been my passion. Starting out with caring for family members, I truly realized I had a servant heart…” said Ernestine Jackson, Nurse, Phoebe Putney Hospital.

For Jordan, wanting to be a nurse came from years of admiration for what her grandmother was doing.

“I always looked up to my grandmother. She’s always been my inspiration. So, I saw her hard work and dedication as a nurse and I decided that would be a great career field for me,” said Jordan Jackson, Nursing student.

And, while they may not get much time to work emergency rooms together, Jordan knows she’s got a great legacy to live up to in the halls of Phoebe.

But, that she has the values needed in the field of healthcare.

“My grandmother is coming up on the end of her career soon as a nurse, so just to know that the inspiration and hard work that she’s put in as a nurse now will soon pave the way for me being a nurse,” said Jordan Jackson, Nursing student.

And, for Ernestine, she’s taking immense pride in seeing her daughter follow the same career path she’s been a part of.

“It truly means a lot to me. I’ve always expressed to Jordan, the dedication and hard work it takes to become a great nurse. I’m both proud and humbled to see through Jordan that I may be leaving my footprints on the sands of time. And, it’s humbling,” said Ernestine Jackson, Nurse, Phoebe Putney Hospital.

As Ernestine gets set to retire, she’s proud to know that her granddaughter will carry on her legacy and continue to help those in need.

Jordan says she has hopes of becoming a family nurse practitioner in the future.

Brian Roche reporting.

Copyright 2023 CBS 44 South Georgia. All rights reserved.