Matt Meskan, DNP’25, RN, CCHP, brings a passion for practical, patient-centered care to his work as a registered nurse and certified correctional health professional.
By Rebecca Jamieson
For Matt Meskan, DNP’25, RN, CCHP, his path to nursing was unconventional. “I was a truck driver and worked in factories,” says Meskan. But he realized he needed something different. “My mom reminded me that I was always good with first aid and not squeamish,” he adds. “I decided to give nursing a try, and it turned out to be a great fit.”
Meskan received his associate degree in nursing from Ambria College of Nursing in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) from Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville. He worked full-time while also going to school full-time, and remembers that era as “difficult, exhausting, and rewarding.”
After nursing school, Meskan worked in hospital and assisted living settings before finding his niche in correctional health care. “I didn’t feel like I fit in at the hospital, and although I loved assisted living, the pay wasn’t quite there,” he recalls. A chance conversation with a retired corrections nurse while he was working as a Schwan’s delivery driver stuck with him. “When I started in corrections, I knew within two months that it was what I wanted to do.”
“Even small victories matter. If I can help someone feel better, manage their condition, or just understand their health a little more—that’s why I do this.”
Today, Meskan brings nearly a decade of correctional nursing experience and a passion for practical, patient-centered care to his work as a registered nurse and certified correctional health professional (CCHP). He currently works for a private company that contracts with county jails across the Midwest, traveling to provide nursing coverage where it is needed. “I enjoy working with this population—people with significant health disparities who often haven’t had access to medical care,” he says. “I give them whatever care I can and educate them on the basics of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, like managing blood pressure.” He also values the autonomy of correctional nursing and the straightforward communication it requires. “I’m kind of blunt, and this population appreciates it.”
Originally from Illinois and now living in Janesville, Wisconsin, Meskan had held a regional management role but stepped back to focus on clinical work. “That’s where my heart is,” he says. “I enjoy the one-on-one interactions—educating patients and helping them make small, meaningful improvements to their health.”
Pursuing a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree was the logical next step, as was choosing the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing’s DNP program in the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care track. “I’d hit a ceiling with my BSN. I didn’t want to go into management, so becoming a nurse practitioner made sense,” he recalls. “UW–Madison is close to home and has a really good reputation, so I chose the DNP program over a master’s degree. It gives me more flexibility and the ability to diagnose, treat, and prescribe.”
“I enjoy the one-on-one interactions—educating patients and helping them make small, meaningful improvements to their health.”
Meskan’s clinical interests go beyond traditional approaches. During a global health trip to Belize organized by the School of Nursing, he noticed something unexpected: Wounds were healing surprisingly well with minimal supplies. The secret? Raw honey. “Wound care nurses there were recommending honey, and patients would get it from local beekeepers,” Meskan explains. “They didn’t have all the fancy dressings that we have here.” Their treatment was simple — just saline, honey, and gauze — but it worked. “Holistic medicine gets a bad rap due to some treatments that don’t have much scientific evidence to support them,” he says. “However, many holistic treatments have scientific evidence to prove efficacy. Cultures way older than ours have found many ways to stay healthy [without medicine].”
The experience inspired him to write a literature review on honey as a wound care treatment, which later became an article thanks to encouragement from his faculty mentor, Clinical Professor Tracy Saladar, DNP, RN.
Meskan is open to exploring holistic and integrative health practices, as long as they’re evidence-based. “If a patient can’t afford medication, maybe suggesting dietary changes, like using turmeric for inflammation, can help. Nurses are trained to look at the whole person and find what’s practical and accessible,” he says. “You can prescribe whatever you want, but if the patient doesn’t take it, what’s the point?” He adds, “I’ve always been interested in different ways to solve a problem, especially in resource-limited settings like corrections.”
After the immersion program, Meskan returned to Belize independently, volunteering in clinics and building connections. “I absolutely love the culture and the people. They’re so friendly, and it was fascinating to hear their stories and traditional medical practices,” he says. “I’d like to go back again, maybe in a leadership or volunteer capacity.”
Since graduating this spring, Meskan plans to stay in correctional health but is also curious about urgent care or telehealth. “I just want to provide good medical care,” he says.
Reflecting on his time at UW–Madison, Meskan says the most rewarding part of the program was the growth — both personal and professional. “I’ve become a better provider. I’ve learned so much from my professors and classmates. It’s a welcoming environment where we all support each other.”
Meskan sees a strong need for advanced practice nurses, and he values the support the DNP program gave him. “If you’re thinking about it, do it,” he urges. “There’s a real need for DNPs and nurse practitioners, especially in underserved areas. The UW environment is supportive and flexible. It’s hard but very different from the grind of undergraduate nursing programs. Everyone’s been great; it’s a very welcoming environment. We all support each other.”
Meskan’s path to nursing has been anything but ordinary, but for him, the journey has been meaningful. “Even small victories matter,” he says. “If I can help someone feel better, manage their condition, or just understand their health a little more—that’s why I do this.”