During the Research Night at the Official College of Nurses of Barcelona (COIB), a project from Vall d’Hebron was recognized in this category.

“The main objective of the study is to evaluate whether the implementation of a urinary retention management protocol, based on measuring post-void residual urine using a portable bladder ultrasound, reduces the rate of unnecessary catheterizations in stroke patients,” says Katherine Santana Román, Clinical Nurse in the Neurosciences Area at Vall d’Hebron Hospital. Santana leads the work in collaboration with Pilar Meler Amella, supervising nurse of the Neurosciences Area at Vall d’Hebron Hospital, and Nadia Puertas Porriño, supervising nurse of the Headache Unit and CCEE IPA Neurosciences, Wounds and Ostomies at Vall d’Hebron Hospital and Neurophysiology at CEMCAT.

This project has a direct clinical and healthcare impact, as it allows:

• Reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections associated with unnecessary use of urinary catheters.
• Improving patient safety and functional prognosis, reducing post-stroke complications.
• Optimizing healthcare resources by shortening hospital stays and reducing the need for specialized care after discharge.
• Promoting evidence-based clinical practices with non-invasive and efficient tools.
• Strengthening the active role of nursing staff in clinical decision-making and continuous quality improvement.

The implementation of this project enables safer, more efficient, and patient-centered care. These elements ensure effective dissemination of results and a positive bibliometric impact, generating applicable knowledge and real improvements in clinical practice.

“The promotion of nurse-led research contributes to strengthening the research profile of the profession and its scientific projection” states Katherine Santana Román.