The Swiss Association for Nursing Science (VFP) decided at its General Assembly on 6 May 2004 to form Academic Societies (AFG). For more than a decade, the number of academic professional societies has been steadily increasing and today counts 10 of them.
 
The academic professional societies are groups in which recommendations for nursing practice can be worked out, positions taken on health policy issues or research projects discussed.
 
Three different groups of people benefit directly from the professional societies. AFG members and staff members themselves have the opportunity to exchange their research experience, gather expert knowledge, and support each other in the development of guidelines, articles, or research plans. At the same time, they share their knowledge about existing resources and supporting structures and make use of synergies. As a specialist expert group, they are part of the national and international network in their field.
In addition to these experts, who form the core of the AFGs, the other members of the VFP also benefit. They have easy access to contact points that provide expert knowledge. This is particularly useful when it comes to taking political positions in the field of health policy or to drafting national strategies or legal texts.
AFGs are also encouraged to provide training in their area of expertise. This will increase the number of specialist care events and ensure their quality.
Patients also benefit from the activities of the AFGs. It is the task of the AFGs, together with other organisations, to stand up for the quality of care in the respective specialist area. Statements on current ethical issues or on health care are activities that the VFP, with the support of the AFGs, takes care of. Patients thus receive expert committees that are committed to all those who need care. Nursing concerns are given more weight within the framework of an interdisciplinary health care system, and their specific needs are given more visibility in the public.

With the AFGs, the VFP is pushing ahead with the academicisation of nursing care.

If you have a nursing education or are about to acquire one, and if you are interested in working in one of the AFGs, please contact us (info@vfp-apsi.ch).

For further information on the conditions of the membership, on the goals of the AS, as well as registration forms (please click here).