USA Health has promoted longtime nurse leader Valerie K. Heinl, MHA, MSN, RN, CNL, NE-BC, to chief nursing officer for Children’s & Women’s Hospital, elevating a veteran clinician and administrator with more than two decades of experience across clinical practice, education and military service.

Per a news release, Heinl most recently served as director of clinical compliance and regulatory services at Children’s & Women’s Hospital. In her new role, she will oversee nursing operations, quality and professional practice, guiding teams focused on patient-centered care, safety and clinical excellence across the hospital.

“Valerie is a highly respected leader who has consistently shown her commitment to patient safety, staff development, and operational excellence,” hospital CEO Deborah Browning, MSN, RN, CENP, said in the release. “Her deep experience across our system and her passion for supporting nurses make her the ideal person to guide our nursing teams into the future.”

Heinl joined USA Health in 2002 as a staff nurse and advanced through a range of leadership roles. She spent nearly a decade as a nurse manager at University Hospital, overseeing units in surgery, cardiology, oncology, infusion services, telemetry and transitional care. Her background also includes service as a nurse educator and weight loss surgery coordinator.

At Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Heinl has been recognized for leadership in nursing quality, performance improvement and patient safety. She has chaired or served on committees focused on accreditation, infection prevention, medication safety, policy development, professional governance and workplace safety. Her improvement work has included initiatives involving instrument sterilization, antibiotic stewardship, telemetry utilization and direct oral anticoagulant management.

According to the release, her academic credentials include a Master of Healthcare Administration from Ohio University and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of South Alabama. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Alabama. Heinl is board certified as a nurse executive by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and holds clinical nurse leader certification through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Heinl’s career also includes military service as a U.S. Army nurse, with assignments at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center and the 34th Combat Support Hospital.

She has remained active in professional nursing leadership organizations, serving in the Alabama Organization for Nursing Leadership, including a term as president, and on national committees for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. From 2015 to 2022, she served on the faculty of the USA College of Nursing.

In addition to her operational leadership, Heinl has authored or supported research on shared governance, advanced practice provider models and clinical nurse leader initiatives. Her work has been published in the Journal of Nursing Administration, and she has presented at regional and national conferences on topics ranging from antibiotic stewardship to accreditation readiness.