Some leaders make their presence known loudly, while others lead through consistent action and purpose. Sandra Marcela Cortés Gómez belongs to the latter. Over 25 years in nursing in Colombia, she has helped reshape the profession—transforming how it operates, how it is perceived, and what it can achieve.
As Chief Nursing Officer at Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Sandra leads a team of more than 1,500 professionals with a clear sense of purpose. In 2025, under her leadership, the institution reached a historic milestone: it earned Magnet Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), becoming the first organization in Colombia and only the second in South America to achieve this distinction.
More than recognition, this milestone reflects a sustained commitment to excellence and a model of nursing that actively contributes to clinical outcomes, organizational strategy, and patient experience.
A Career That Began at the Bedside
Sandra’s journey began at the patient’s bedside. Her early experience in adult inpatient care and intensive care units shaped a deep understanding of nursing practice one that continues to inform her leadership today.
As her career progressed into leadership roles—from Director of Surgical Nursing Services to Deputy Director, and since 2017, Chief Nursing Officer, she consistently brought that clinical perspective into strategic decision-making.
Her academic path further strengthened this approach. A master’s degree in health administration from Universidad del Rosario and an Executive MBA from INALDE Business School equipped her to integrate clinical expertise with organizational leadership, enabling her to position nursing at the center of institutional strategy.
Magnet Accreditation: A First for Colombia
In 2025, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá became the first hospital in Colombia to receive Magnet Recognition. Widely regarded as the highest international standard for nursing excellence, Magnet designation reflects measurable outcomes in patient care, professional practice, and organizational performance.
Sandra led this transformation by establishing the conditions necessary for excellence: strong leadership structures, clear strategic direction, and a culture sustained over years of deliberate effort.
This model is reflected in key institutional practices:
- Shared governance that strengthens nursing participation in clinical and organizational decisions
- Structured professional development, mentorship, and succession planning
- Evidence-based practices that directly impact patient safety and quality of care
- Measurement systems aligned with international benchmarks
Facing Colombia’s Nursing Crisis Head-On
Colombia has 16 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants. The international standard calls for at least 92. Sandra does not soften this number. She states it plainly, because she believes that addressing a problem begins with being honest about its scale. In her view, the crisis is not only about quantity. It is about how the profession is perceived, how nurses are valued, and what opportunities they are offered to grow.
Sandra’s response to this challenge has four dimensions. She invests in continuing education and postgraduate pathways so that every professional can develop. She builds practice environments where autonomy, psychological safety, and recognition are not exceptional; they are expected. Sandra develops clinical leaders at the middle level, because she knows that culture is sustained day by day by people close to work, not by directives from above. And she uses formal recognition programmed to send a message that nursing work is seen, measured, and valued.
She also leads the ALIANZA PARA EL CUIDADO, a network of nursing leaders from more than 20 hospitals across Colombia. The alliance exists because Sandra understands something important: transforming nursing in one institution is meaningful but transforming it across a country requires shared knowledge and a common commitment. The initiative was recognized by the NURSING NOW 2020 global campaign and continues to grow as a model of cross-institutional collaboration.
Innovation and technology in service of care
Sandra approaches technology as an enabler of high-quality nursing practice. At Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, digital tools including real-time monitoring systems, virtual education platforms, clinical communication tools, and decision-support technologies are implemented with a clear purpose: improving patient outcomes and supporting clinical teams.
Each solution is evaluated based on patient safety and usability, ensuring that technology strengthens, rather than replaces, clinical judgment.
Leading in High-Demand Environments
The COVID-19 pandemic placed healthcare systems under unprecedented pressure. At Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, this period highlighted the strength of a nursing model built over time.
In 2020, Sandra shared the institution’s experience in a multiprofessional forum, emphasizing how the nursing team’s response was supported by a well-established organizational culture grounded in clinical leadership, collaboration, and informed decision-making.
This capacity was not situational, it was structural. Shared governance, continuous professional development, and strong communication systems enabled alignment and effective response across the organization.
Her approach to leadership in complex environments focuses on clarity of purpose, effective communication, and creating conditions where professionals can perform with confidence, autonomy, and institutional support.
Policy, Research, and Regional Impact
Sandra’s leadership extends beyond her institution. She contributed to the development of Colombia’s National Nursing Policy (Resolution 755 of 2022), reinforcing the role of nursing in leadership and decision-making at a national level.
In 2025, she co-authored the editorial “Excellence in Nursing in Colombia: It Is Possible!” published in Aquichan, a leading nursing journal in Latin America. The publication reflects her commitment to advancing nursing through leadership, culture, knowledge, measurement, and innovation.
Through her work, Sandra has not only strengthened nursing within Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá but has also contributed to shaping the profession across Colombia and the region.
A Philosophy Centered on People
For Sandra, leadership in nursing begins with a fundamental principle: caring for those who provide care is essential to transforming patients and community outcomes.
She encourages new generations of nurses to develop comprehensive capabilities, strengthening clinical expertise while also understanding management, technology, and health policy. She emphasizes participation in decision-making spaces and the importance of collaboration.
Her leadership philosophy is reflected in daily practice: listening, teamwork, evidence-based decisions, and a consistent focus on purpose.
Recognitions and accreditations gain meaning when they translate into better outcomes, stronger teams, and more human, safe, and compassionate care experiences.
This is the standard she upholds: a nursing practice grounded in knowledge, excellence, leadership, and compassion—always centered on people.
