Beyond The Bedside: School Nursing Along with Nursing Leadership

Sheila Caldwell, BSN, RN, CSN-NJ, FNASN is a school nurse, who works in the Monmouth County and recently completed a two-year Fellowship with the National Education Association in their first Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Fellowship and was the first person and school nurse selected. She worked in the Education Support Professionals Quality Department working on projects and on committees concerning the improvement of health, safety, and the well-being of students and educators. Sheila is well respected in the school nursing specialty and throughout New Jersey. She recently became Co-Chair of the Lead-free NJ Health Committee. In June 2022, she was inducted into the National Academy of School Nursing Fellowship, received “Black Excellence” honor from the Monmouth County Diversity Alliance, Inc., “Top Nurse” for Community Practice by Al Día News Nurse Advisory Board, and one of the Governor's Jefferson Awards as a Community Pillar. In April 2022, Sheila was honored by the NJSNA's Institute for Nursing at the Diva & Don Gala. Sheila has been in the nursing profession for many years. She has been the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Community Monitor of their two major discussion communities since 2012. She is proud to be a Johnson & Johnson School Health Leadership Fellow, Mentor, and Past Outreach Coordinator. Sheila has served on the National Institute of Health’s Network of the National Library of Medicine – Middle Atlantic Region’s Special Advisory Group. Sheila is a member of the American Nurses Association (ANA), American Academy of Pediatrics - Council of School Health, National Association of Parliamentarians, New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) – Membership Delegate to ANA, NASN, New Jersey State School Nurses Association (NJSSNA), Monmouth County School Nurses Association (MCSNA) – Executive Board Tech/Website Chair, New Jersey Chapter – American Academy of Pediatrics (NJAAP), Tau Chi Chapter, Inc. of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. and other professional and organizational committees. Sheila has received numerous accolades and awards including being an ANA “VaxStar” for her efforts of providing the public, educators and healthcare professions about the coronavirus and vaccination effort. She has twice received the NASN “Recognition Award” for Outstanding Contributions and Distinguished Service and the first and only recipient of the NJAAP “School Health Advocate Award” for all of her voluntary work. The Black community also benefits from Sheila’s voluntary efforts, and she is held in high esteem with the NJ MLK Jr. Commission, New Jersey Black Women Physicians Association, and other organizations for her continued community service. Sheila has provided presentations at the national, state, regional, county and local levels concerning school health and other important health topics.