Valerie P. Tarte

Dr. Val Tarte serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at UNC-Wilmington, where she teaches in the Prelicensure, RN-BSN, and MSN nursing programs. With over two decades of nursing informatics experience, Dr. Tarte brings a rich and varied background in emergency nursing, ICU, mental health, leadership, and informatics to her role. Her clinical expertise includes positions as a triage nurse, charge nurse, preceptor, and clinical educator, while her informatics background spans roles as a systems analyst, quality assurance specialist, and manager. Dr. Tarte has also led interdisciplinary teams in the U.S. and India, providing over 10 years of leadership experience.
In addition to her extensive healthcare and management background, Dr. Tarte is a seasoned educator. She has taught a range of nursing courses and clinical practices in acute care, medical-surgical, community and mental health, and emergency services settings across hospitals, and corporate environments. Her teaching experience spans numerous institutions across NC and the US, contributing to the development of future nursing professionals in a variety of settings.
Dr. Tarte’s research interests include congestive heart failure, AI, and the integration of technology in healthcare, exemplified by her capstone research on the acceptance of mobile technology for the education and self-management of heart failure patients. A dedicated mother to two wonderful children, Masen and Nealey, Dr. Tarte is passionate about advancing nursing education and fostering the next generation of nursing leaders.

Education

DNP in Executive Leadership, the University of North Carolina Greensboro
MSN in Leadership/Nursing Informatics, Duke University
BSN in Nursing, East Carolina University

Specialization in Teaching

Dr. Tarte is a seasoned educator with a specialization in Leadership and Nursing Informatics, fields where she brings deep expertise and practical insight. In her Leadership courses, Dr. Tarte draws on years of healthcare experience to mentor students in the art of managing teams, navigating complex clinical settings, and making strategic decisions that improve patient outcomes. Her expertise in Nursing Informatics equips students with the skills to effectively integrate technology into healthcare, an increasingly critical area in modern nursing.

Beyond her specialties, Dr. Tarte’s teaching portfolio spans Genetics, Research in Nursing, and the Nursing Capstone, as well as clinical instruction in Mental Health, Foundations in Nursing Practice, Adult Health I, and Community Health. Her diverse teaching background enables her to provide a comprehensive educational experience that prepares nursing students to address a broad spectrum of patient needs.

Dedicated to fostering advanced scholarship, Dr. Tarte has mentored numerous MSN students throughout their graduate studies at UNC-Wilmington. She also actively supports Honors students as part of their Honors Team, guiding them in research and professional development. Dr. Tarte’s mentorship and teaching emphasize critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and compassionate care, empowering students to excel as both clinicians and leaders. Her commitment to excellence in nursing education ensures that her students are well-prepared to meet the evolving demands of the healthcare field.

Research Interests

Dr. Tarte's research interests are Congestive Heart Failure, Mobile Technology, and utilizing Artificial Intelligence in healthcare

Professional Service

RN-BSN Progression Committee Member October 2024- Present
Member, WestCoast University DNP Team Member, Irvine, CA. (April 2024 - Present)
Board of Directors, East Carolina University Alumni Association. (August 2018 - Present)
NCLN Board of Directors Member 2022- 2024
Sigma Theta Tau International Member- Beta Epsilon Chapter- 2001- Current
Phi Kappa Phi Member- East Carolina Chapter- 1998- Current
Duke University School of Nursing Informatics Advisory Board Member 2002-2004
American Nurses Association (ANA)- 1998- Current
Golden Key National Honor Society- 1998- Current
National League of Nursing Member (NLN) - 2000- Current

Community Engagement

Volunteer, ECUAA Days of Service Food Bank of Central & ENC, Greenville, NC. (2024, 2025)
Volunteer, UNCW Move-In, Wilmington, NC. (2024, 2025)

Honors & Awards

Discere Aude Award Recipient- The University of North Carolina Wilmington 2025
DAISY Award Recipient- The University of North Carolina Wilmington 2021
Graduate of the WakeMed Leadership Academy 2007