MCKENZIE STEELMAN, MSN, RN, RNC-OB

With more than two decades of experience in women’s services and maternal care, McKenzie Steelman, MSN, RN, RNC-OB, has dedicated her career to advancing safe, high-quality care for mothers and babies. McKenzie serves as the Maternal Designation Coordinator at Texas Health Frisco, where she leads strategic initiatives to improve clinical outcomes, maintain regulatory readiness, and strengthen high-reliability systems of care. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington and is board-certified in Inpatient Obstetrics (RNC-OB). Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to evidence-based practice, patient safety, and improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.

At Texas Health Frisco, McKenzie joined the L&D team to open the hospital in 2019 and has been instrumental in developing and sustaining the hospital’s maternal program since 2021. She supports continuous quality improvement efforts, multidisciplinary collaboration, and professional governance structures that enhance team engagement and accountability. Her work has contributed to measurable improvements in outcomes, including a 50% reduction in Stage III postpartum hemorrhage since 2021 and a 14% decrease in NTSV cesarean rates through system-wide implementation of the Reliable Care Blueprint (RCB). She is also passionate about breastfeeding support, reducing preventable maternal mortality, and using automation to reduce the documentation burden on frontline nurses.

McKenzie is an active contributor to statewide and national maternal health initiatives, including Texas AIM, CHAMPS, LASSO-TX, and NCTTRAC, where she currently serves as the elected maternal Smart Goal Workgroup lead. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and ability to build strong partnerships across disciplines and systems, including with community partners such as EMS and fire services, to strengthen continuity of care across the maternal health continuum. She also supports professional growth among staff, encouraging certifications, advanced education, and career progression across nursing teams.

When reflecting on her work, McKenzie values shared success, seeing teams grow stronger, clinical goals achieved, and families supported through safe, respectful, and individualized care. She finds meaning in welcoming new life, supporting the transition into motherhood, and mentoring new nurses as they develop confidence and expertise at the bedside.

CHEER proudly celebrates McKenzie Steelman for her leadership in maternal health, her commitment to quality and safety, and her ongoing dedication to improving outcomes for mothers and babies.