Nursing Students Help Jewish Senior Services with COVID-19 Screening

Administration praises their diligence and professionalism

Two students from Sacred Heart University’s Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing earned praise from the administration at Jewish Senior Services (JSS), Bridgeport, after spending the summer there screening patients and staff for COVID-19.

“We were fortunate to have two nursing students—Caitlin Mergenthaler (a junior) and Tania Montano (a sophomore)—as members of our COVID-19 screening team this summer,” said Elizabeth Zicari, JSS vice president of community services and business development. “Caitlin and Tania recognized the importance of the screening process for ensuring that our fragile patients were as safe as possible from exposure to COVID-19. They diligently questioned every employee, vendor and visitor in accordance with the screening questions, recorded temperatures, elevated concerns and questionable encounters and documented everything thoroughly. They were reliable, attentive and professional in the execution of their duties and provided an invaluable service to the patients of Jewish Senior Services.”

Mergenthaler described her experience at the JSS as “very enlightening, as I promoted safety for the residents and employees of the facility during the COVID crisis. This experience made me even more excited about my future in the nursing profession.”

Nursing students Tania Montano (left) and Caitlin Mergenthaler.