MCCC Nursing Professor Liz Mizerek Serves Her Community During Coronavirus Pandemic
Story by Brandon Johnson
4/2/20
West Windsor, N.J. – When Mercer County Community College Director of Nursing Elizabeth Mizerek found out that the COVID-19 pandemic would impact her community, she immediately sprung into action to help.
Mizerek is a member of the Mercer County Medical Reserve Corps (MCMRC), an organization that enlists licensed healthcare professionals (and retirees) to assist during times of medical crisis. In 2018, Mizerek and the MCMRC led a training for students, faculty and staff, but now, Mizerek is putting those skills to practice.
“Today [Tuesday, April 1] I was volunteering at the COVID test site, assisting with specimen collection,” Mizerek said. Mercer County set up its first coronavirus testing site in the parking lot of the now-shuttered Quakerbridge Mall in Lawrence Township.
“The process is very controlled to minimize the risk of exposure. I worked with nurses from local hospitals who were in full biohazard protection suits to assist them with collecting and processing the specimens.”
Mizerek noted that in addition to medical professionals jumping to action, students have been very eager to help mitigate the pandemic.
“Our students receive information about emergency preparedness as part of the nursing education program,” Mizerek said.
Some volunteer opportunities include staffing the county’s call center by contacting residents whose doctors submitted prescriptions for testing, as well as helping out at the drive-thru testing site with data entry, as check point staff, and as specimen handlers.
Mizerek also advised that people should take the “shelter in place” requests seriously.
“Limiting the number of people exposed to COVID will assist us in managing this pandemic without overwhelming the healthcare system,” Mizerek said.
Despite gloomy projections that estimate the potential strain on the US healthcare system, Mizerek is confident that the coronavirus pandemic will serve to improve medical care in the long run.
“This experience will assist us in preparing the next generation of healthcare providers, prepared to respond to any emergency.”
Are you ready to help us keep our students on track to finish classes and graduate? Then share and support our MCCC Student Emergency Fund. Donating at www.mccc.edu/mercermatters, or by texting MercerMatters to 41444, will help keep students enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every dollar matters!
MCCC Director of Nursing Elizabeth Mizerek (far left) with healthcare professionals at the Quakerbridge Mall COVID-19 test site.