Her Story
About Amanda
Amanda Quintero is a Clinical Nurse Educator, nurse leader, and PhD-trained researcher dedicated to advancing patient safety, healthcare quality, and frontline nursing practice. Serving at a community hospital in Marin County, California, she leads education and professional development for approximately 150 nurses and up to 300 nurses when supporting additional units. In her role, she strengthens clinical competencies, introduces evidence-based practices, and leads systems improvement initiatives using Lean Six Sigma principles and human-factors approaches to reduce inefficiencies and improve patient outcomes. A retired U.S. Navy nurse and former Aviation Rescue Swimmer, Dr. Quintero’s career has been shaped by service, resilience, and operational leadership. After enlisting in 2000, she completed multiple maritime deployments, trained junior personnel in crew resource management, and later commissioned as a Navy Nurse Corps officer, serving in mental health, telemetry, and emergency care environments. Following a transition toward patient safety, she earned her PhD in Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco in 2021, where her research examined how nurses interact with medication safety technologies, including barcode medication administration, automated dispensing systems, electronic health records, and smart infusion pumps. Driven by a commitment to transforming healthcare through innovation and evidence-based design, Dr. Quintero continues to expand her expertise in safety, quality, informatics, and leadership. She recently completed a postgraduate program in Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership through Harvard Medical School, where she was selected by peers to represent her cohort as a speaker. She is now pursuing advanced study in Human Factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to further bridge healthcare, technology, and systems design. Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Quintero values authenticity, lifelong learning, family, and creating environments where people feel supported and empowered to thrive.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Amanda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to persistence, resilience, and the willingness to advocate for myself. Throughout my career, I have focused on learning, adapting, and finding solutions even when faced with challenges. I am grateful for the support of my partner and professional network, which have been instrumental in my journey. I also believe in the importance of protecting personal boundaries and committing to lifelong learning as a foundation for continued growth.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I read Mastery by Robert Greene in 2019. The takeaway from that book argues that true greatness is not born from innate talent, but from a structured, lifelong journey. My career has been the culmination of trying, failing, and leaning into my experiences to make me show up authentically.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be kind to yourself and give yourself grace throughout your journey. Build a strong support system, establish clear boundaries, and have the confidence to prioritize yourself when necessary. I also encourage women to remain open to opportunities—even those they may initially feel are outside their comfort zone—because some of the greatest growth can come from taking unexpected paths.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in navigating workplace cultures are shifting political landscapes, health equity, and radical inclusion. When healthcare delivery can meet the needs of the most marginalized, it meets the needs of everyone. At the same time, there are tremendous opportunities to advance healthcare through human-factors approaches, develop pathways that connect nursing, scientific research, and biotechnology, and improve medication safety through thoughtful design and systems-level improvements.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me most are authenticity, maintaining healthy boundaries, lifelong learning, family, and creating a sense of belonging. I value the tribes that I've been a part of, including tribes that no longer exist except in memory. I believe that staying true to who I am, continuing to grow, and fostering environments where people feel valued and supported are essential both professionally and personally.
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