Children’s & Women’s Hospital names Heinl chief nursing officer
Heinl has authored or supported research on shared governance, advanced practice provider models, and clinical nurse leader initiatives, with her work published in the Journal of Nursing Administration. She has presented at regional and national conferences on topics ranging from antibiotic stewardship to accreditation readiness.
By Casandra Andrews
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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.
Heinl, who most recently served as director of clinical compliance and regulatory services at Children’s & Women’s Hospital, brings more than two decades of clinical, academic, and military nursing leadership experience to her new role. She joined USA Health in 2002 as a staff nurse and advanced through multiple leadership positions, including nurse manager at University Hospital for nearly a decade, overseeing units in surgery, cardiology, oncology, infusion services, telemetry, and transitional care. She also served as a nurse educator and weight loss surgery coordinator.
In her new role, Heinl will oversee nursing operations, quality, and professional practice at Children’s & Women’s Hospital, guiding teams in patient-centered care, safety, and clinical excellence.
“Valerie is a highly respected leader who has consistently shown her commitment to patient safety, staff development, and operational excellence,” said hospital CEO Deborah Browning, MSN, RN, CENP. “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 has been widely recognized for her leadership in nursing quality, performance improvement, and patient safety. At Children’s & Women’s Hospital, she has chaired or served on committees dedicated to accreditation, infection prevention, medication safety, policy development, professional governance, and workplace safety. She has led improvement initiatives in areas such as instrument sterilization, antibiotic stewardship, telemetry utilization, and direct oral anticoagulant management.
Heinl holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from Ohio University and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of South Alabama. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Alabama. She is board certified as a nurse executive by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is a clinical nurse leader through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
Her 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.
Active in professional nursing leadership organizations, Heinl has served in the Alabama Organization for Nursing Leadership — including as president — and on national committees for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. She also served on the faculty of the USA College of Nursing from 2015 to 2022.
Heinl has authored or supported research on shared governance, advanced practice provider models, and clinical nurse leader initiatives, with her work published in the Journal of Nursing Administration. She has presented at regional and national conferences on topics ranging from antibiotic stewardship to accreditation readiness.
