2025 Health Care Champions Nurse: Meagan Steiner

At the conclusion of each lecture given as a patient experience educator at Cox Medical Center Branson, Meagan Steiner reminds participants of a quote often attributed to British novelist Clare Pooley: “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

With 15 years of experience as a licensed practical nurse, Steiner’s work today focuses on the side of medicine that emphasizes emotional outcomes in addition to medical ones. She leads training initiatives and teaches classes that improve practitioners’ communication, empathy, compassion and cultural competency.

“My mission in my nursing career has always been to ensure that each patient feels seen, heard and cared for with dignity and compassion regardless of where they come from or what their background may be,” she says.

Steiner graduated with a certificate in practical nursing from Phillips Community College at the University of Arkansas in 2010 and has practiced in a variety of settings including jails, nursing homes and in-home care. She was hired for her current role in 2024 and also teaches classes for CoxHealth’s internationally recruited nurses to assist them in adjusting to cultural and communication factors in southern Missouri.

“It is a great group of experienced nurses who bring all the skills and compassion to CoxHealth,” she says.

Steiner believes it’s important for nurses to become involved in policy, build professional networks and engage in lifelong learning to improve patient care. In addition to teaching interpersonal skills to clinicians, Steiner also collects and analyzes patient feedback to determine where staff can improve on delivering more respectful care.

“My focus is on helping local patients by training health care staff to communicate compassionately, empathetically and effectively with patients and their families,” she says, “ensuring that they feel heard, respected and comfortable asking questions or stating requests.”

Steiner is a member of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and part of Cox Branson’s crisis care team where she provides support for staff when they encounter traumatic outcomes and situations. These interventions include peer support, debriefing and being connected to counseling services.

She is a Modern Health mental health awareness advocate, and incorporates these important topics into each of her lectures.

“I want the staff to know that they aren’t alone,” she says, “and if they need help that it is there for them to utilize it.”

In addition to the support and outreach she provides on the job, Steiner is also a top blood donor at Community Blood Center of the Ozarks and a Donate Life Foundation volunteer and advocate.