SchoolNurseNet All Member Forum & School Nurse-Open Forum Community Administrator (2012 - present)
Sheila Caldwell, BSN, RN, NCSN, FNASN has over 30 years with hospital experience spanning from Med-Surg to Critical Care to Case Management to Community Education. She continues to work in a per diem capacity as a RN Educator and for a homecare agency, in addition to her school nursing position. Sheila recently completed a Post-Baccleaurate Nurse Preceptor Certification from Thomas Edison State University. In 2024, Sheila was appointed and serves as the Health Committee Co-Chair of Leadfree New Jersey. She was also appointed by the National Education Association's President to the NEA Disability Rights Resource Cadre in 2024 and continues in this position. Sheila is the co-founder of the NEA Nurses in Schools Caucus that was established in 2023. Sheila also was inducted into the National Academy of School Nursing Fellowship in 2022. She completed two years of service with the National Education Association Education Support Professional, Quality Department - Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Fellowship, of which she is the first school nurse to be in a fellowship with NEA. Sheila was "on loan" to NEA from her school district to work in this capacity from 2021-2023.
Sheila initially became certified in NJ as school nurse in 2005 and received a NJ Child Care Health Consultant certification in 2006. She joined the NJCU School Nursing listserv in 2006 and found a passion in communication, providing school nurses within her state with valuable information and resources. In 2012, Sheila was appointed NASN’s SCHLRN-L Listserv Monitor and currently maintains the position in the SchoolNurseNet platform as a Community Administrator of the "All Members" and "School Nurse - Open Forum" Communities. Sheila is a proud 2009 J&J School Health Leadership Fellow, who was selected as a Team Leader during the transitional program pilot in 2011. Then, she served as a JJSHLP Mentor during 2012 and always promotes the program and did hold the position of Marketing/Outreach Coordinator before the grant ended.
Sheila is a member of organizations including NASN, NJSSNA, Monmouth County School Nurses Association, American Academy of Pediatrics- Council of School Health (COSH), American Nurses Association/New Jersey State Nurses Association,Tau Chi Chapter, Inc of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. She is currently serves on committees that include National Alliance of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel, New Jersey Chapter -American Academy of Pediatrics Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Program, and Ocean-Monmouth County Health Alliance. She is a NJ FamilyCare Medicaid Community Ambassador since 2022. Sheila held position as County Liaison for NJSSNA from 2016-2018. She is also a Campaign for Action's, NJ Action Coalition's Nurse (Coach) Ambassador and on a number of other committees. Sheila is always involved in school, public and community health-related ventures that she has a passion for.
She has served on a number of committees including NIH NNLM-NN MAR Special Advisory Group, NASN Special Needs (SIG)and Early Childhood (SIG), School Nurse Practice Module Advisory Committee; AAPNJ Human Trafficking Work Group; NJDOE Early Childhood School Nurses Committee and other state & local community committees.
In June 2024, Sheila was recognized as the American School Health Association's "School Health Professional of the Year". In May 2016, she was recognized at NJSSNA's Annual Dinner as the "School Nurse, Who Makes a Difference" for Monmouth County along with a nurse from each of the other 20 counties. Also, in October 2016. The New Jersey Academy of Pediatrics awarded Sheila at their 25th Annual School Health Conference with their first and only award to a school nurse, "2016 School Health Advocate" award for dedication to "Linking School Nurses to Medical Homes". The year 2022 was a phenomenal one for Sheila, she was honored by the New Jersey State Nurses Association for her community service at their "Diva & Don Gala" (April), inducted into the National Academy of School Nursing Fellowship (June), received a regional honor of being a "Top Nurse" in Community Practice from Al Dia Top Nursing Advisory Board (June), and received a "Black Excellence" award from the Monmouth County Diversity Alliance for her commitment to communities (June). In June 2022, Sheila also received a NJ Governor's Jefferson Award in the category of "Community Pillar". She is a twice recipient of the NASN "President's Award", once in 2021 and 2016.
Sheila created the the Monmouth County School Nurses Association website and maintain it (http://monmouthcountysna.weebly.com/) since 2018.
In 2010, Sheila had been selected by Johnson & Johnson’s “Campaign for Nursing’s Future-Discover Nursing” School Nursing Promotional Campaign in their school nursing brochure, Nurse’s Notes enewsletter, “A Day in the Life” video and a few podcasts with prominent school nursing leaders.
Sheila has currently resumed her academic pursuit to complete her MSN.
Sheila has provided presentations at the national, state, regional, county and local levels concerning school health and other important health topics. She loves online communicating, networking, spectator of sports and taking pictures.
Given all she does, she keeps family first and is thankful for their support. Sheila always has time to share her knowledge and expertise with a fellow nurse or community partner.