NJSSNA - Nurse of the Year

Congratulations to
Heidi Toth
RN, BSN, MS, MSN, CIC

Freehold Township Early Childhood Learning Center and District Nurse

Monmouth County

The New Jersey State School Nurses Association congratulates Heidi M.Toth, School Nurse at the Freehold Township Early Childhood Learning Center and District Nurse in Freehold Township Schools, as New Jersey State School Nurse of the Year for 2007-2008. Heidi was nominated by the Monmouth County School Nurses Association. She currently serves on the NJSSNA Executive Board as Parliamentarian.

Heidi received her AAS in Nursing from Middlesex County College, a BSN in Nursing from Monmouth University and her school nurse certificate from New Jersey City University. Heidi earned a MS in Health Sciences from New Jersey City University and earned her MSN in school nursing from Monmouth University.

Heidi’s nursing practice began as a staff nurse and team leader at Alexian Brothers Hospital in Elizabeth and she joined the staff of Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank in 1986 working in Infection Control, postpartum/nursery and she continues to work per diem in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit.

Heidi started her school nursing career gaining experience from preschool to high school in the Carteret and Red Bank Regional School Districts. In 1998 she was employed by the Freehold Township Board of Education to serve as the school nurse for an 800 student middle school. As the middle school nurse, she served as a mentor for the New Jersey Peer to Peer Student Leadership program and received a grant from the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services Tobacco Control Program. She served as a member of the Health/Physical Education Curriculum Committee, Crisis Management Team and assisted with the development of a Middle School Handbook and school health web page.

In 2005 Heidi became the school nurse at the Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) in Freehold Township Schools where she provides health services to preschool disabled, traditional preschool students and the transportation department. In 2006 Heidi was appointed District Nurse in addition to her ECLC duties. She has developed technology assisted training for the district on Bloodborne Pathogens and Life Threatening Allergies and assisted in the development of a district wide sports physical database. She was co chair of the district Continuity of Learning Committee and is a member of the district Crisis Management Team.

In addition to her full time duties, Heidi has served as an adjunct professor at New Jersey City University and Monmouth University teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses. She has published a chapter on Lyme Disease in the 2005 edition of Individualized Health Care Plans for the School Nurse (Sunrise Press) and presented research on “Efficacy of a Peer to Peer Education Program Regarding Substance Abuse” and “Stress and Coping in New Jersey School Nurses”.

Heidi has been honored with membership in Sigma Theta Tau—Lambda Delta Chapter, Who's Who in American Nursing and Who's Who in the Northeast. She holds numerous professional memberships and has assisted with presenting the Environmental Protection Agency’s program on Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools and NASN’s Managing Asthma Triggers.

Heidi fulfilled the 15 areas of professional competence required for National School Nurse of the Year Competition in an outstanding and comprehensive manner. She enjoys change and thrives on the challenges it presents. She is passionate about the school nurse's role and her letters of recommendation attest to the quality of care she provides. She works tirelessly in professional organizations to promote the profession. She is an outstanding advocate for the profession of school nursing.

NJSSNA is extremely proud to recognize Heidi Toth as NJ School Nurse of the Year and wishes her success in her quest to become National School Nurse of the Year.