Nominated by Donna Jordan
It is with great pleasure that I nominate Melinda Nadeau as a SuperStar nurse. From a young age, Melinda dreamed of becoming a nurse. With 30 years of experience in the field of nursing, including 17 years as a professional school nurse, her career has been diverse and rewarding.mOne of Melinda’s colleagues has stated, “Melinda’s proactive approach to educating students about their health is particularly commendable.” Another colleague has stated, “She is incredibly knowledgeable and astute, clearly confident in her field and practice.” Furthermore, she has been described as someone who “... seeks out innovative educational initiatives to meet the needs of her students in a fun and engaging way.” Melinda is one of the most dedicated school nurses I have had the opportunity to work with. Melinda initially specialized as a rehabilitation nurse in a long-term care facility with a pediatric unit for 13 years, during which she held several key roles, including charge nurse, infection control practitioner, clinical care coordinator and supervisor. Her goal has always been to embody the principles of holistic nursing by continually learning and encouraging her peers to do the same. Melinda has been quite instrumental with coordinating her school district’s hearing and vision initiatives. She has served as the 504 Coordinator for all students with medical needs during her tenure at RSU 4. She also developed and managed their school food pantry from 2012-2020. Currently Melinda’s passion is with dental care and services for students. Melinda is not only coordinating a comprehensive Oral Health Program in the Brunswick school system, she has become a leader in the State of Maine pilot program, starting in 2024. Melinda has taught her 3rd graders at Harriet Beecher school about tick education - a program provided by the Department of Education. With the assistance of their physical education staff, her school had their 1st Annual Staff Wellness Challenge. Since 1995, Melinda has played a significant role in education. She has trained Certified Nursing Assistants, Certified Medical Technicians, and served as a clinical instructor for the Nursing Care of Children course at the University of Maine - Augusta. She continues to mentor the next generation of nurses by working as a preceptor for students’ pediatric rotations. During November, 2020, Melinda took on the role of COVID District Nurse for the Brunswick School Department. By August 2021, she transitioned to become the School Nurse for Harriet Beecher School serving students in grades 3-5. She achieved National Certification in School Nursing in 2023, marking another milestone in her continuous dedication to this vital profession. In 2015, Melinda took on the role of Public Relations for the Maine Association of School Nurses to increase public awareness and understanding of the purpose and professional practice of School Nursing through the use of the media. In 2018, she was nominated as President Elect and became President of the Maine Association of School Nurses in October 2019 through 2022. Today, Melinda continues to be an active member of MASN. During Melinda’s time as a school nurse in Brunswick, she coordinated their first public health immunization clinic with Portland public health in the Spring of 2023. She worked with Shaw’s to plan a successful influence/COVID clinic during the Fall of 2023. Melinda had also coordinated their first successful dental health clinic with Brighter Smiles dental hygienist. Melinda’s passion for school nursing ignited 19 years ago when she volunteered to distribute fluoride to students. In 2006, she formally began her school nursing career at RSU 4, where she remained for 13 years. During this period, she managed a school food pantry for 8 years, served as the District Wellness Director for 3 years and was a ski club advisor for a decade. Her ongoing commitment to improving oral health among students has been one of her most significant achievements. As a member of the Immigrant Community Health Committee, Melinda worked effortlessly with helping over 20 asylum seeking families obtain access to healthcare in 2019. This included making sure all eligible school-aged children were able to start out the school year with proper vaccinations with the coordination of healthcare access. Through a variety of special activities, Melinda has demonstrated effective leadership by utilizing evidence-based practices and the most effective and current clinical practice with the following (to name a few): PICK Teams Maine - Maine was one of 10 States chose to participate in Promoting Immunizations against COVID-19 for Kids through TEAMS; Committee member for the COVID Return to School Guidance - which developed guidance materials for School Nurses in the State of Maine during the COVID pandemic; Presentation and slideshow for MASN at the National School Nurse Conference - she presented at the NASN National Conference; and participated in a number of initiatives aimed at promoting oral health among students. In summary, Melinda makes a positive impact on everyone around her - school staff, school nurses throughout the State of Maine, her community and most importantly, her students. Her strong passion for everyone’s health and well-being are clearly evident. School Nurses are critical to the health of the school. In addition to her proficient nursing skills and knowledge, she delivers quality care to her school’s children. She brings a sense of pride and deep passion to accomplish amazing things for her students and her school’s community. Melinda Nadeau epitomizes the professional school nurse.
