Bárbara Maricalva Agudo, operating room nurse at Gregorio Marañón Hospital, has won first prize at the X Surgical Nursing Conference for her poster on the quantification of blood loss in severe obstetric haemorrhage.
Nurse Bárbara Maricalva Agudo, from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Service of Gregorio Marañón University General Hospital, has been awarded first prize at the X Surgical Nursing Conference, organised by the Spanish Association of Surgical Nursing. The recognition comes for her poster titled 'Quantification of blood loss in severe obstetric haemorrhage for patient safety'.
The meeting, which brings together professionals from across Spain, aims to update knowledge and improve skills in the surgical field, as well as to promote quality care and the humanisation of care. In this edition, Maricalva's work stood out for its practical approach and its direct impact on patient safety.
The award-winning poster focuses on the importance of accurately measuring blood loss during procedures such as caesarean sections, a critical factor in reducing complications. As the nurse herself explained, Gregorio Marañón Hospital has had a Severe Obstetric Haemorrhage Protocol (HOS) since 2016, a pioneering multidisciplinary procedure in the Community of Madrid that allows for rapid, coordinated, and effective action in the event of severe bleeding during childbirth or caesarean sections.
“Being one of the pioneering hospital centres in the Community of Madrid to have a protocol of this nature is a source of pride and adds a differential value to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Service at Marañón,” Maricalva highlighted after receiving the award.
In the context of the HOS protocol, the circulating nurse assumes a key role: she is responsible for accurately quantifying blood loss and managing surgical suction devices. Additionally, the nursing team prepares the operating room, assists the medical team during the procedure, and supervises the patient afterwards, ensuring comprehensive and safe care.
The award underscores the commitment of the nursing team at Gregorio Marañón to excellence and continuous improvement. For patients in the Community of Madrid, this recognition provides an additional guarantee of quality in obstetric care at one of the region's leading public hospitals.
The conference, held annually, seeks to promote research and the dissemination of best practices among surgical nursing professionals. In this edition, Maricalva's work prevailed among several dozen proposals, highlighting the research work being carried out in the operating rooms of Marañón.
The hospital, under the Ministry of Health of the Community of Madrid, treats thousands of women each year in its Obstetrics service, where the application of the HOS protocol has proven to reduce maternal mortality and serious complications. The precise quantification of blood loss, as advocated by the award-winning poster, is an essential tool for improving the team's response to bleeding.
For expectant mothers giving birth at Gregorio Marañón, having a protocol of this nature and trained professionals in its application means greater safety. The award received by Bárbara Maricalva reinforces the hospital's position as a benchmark in obstetric care in the region.
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