Updates from the VfP-APSI
from the association
Last week was marked by important events, inspiring encounters, and media attention for our organization.
In the morning, the presidents of the professional societies met for a constructive discussion about current projects, experiences, and developments within their societies, as well as how the board and the secretariat can support the wide range of ideas.
Another particular highlight was the segment on SRF 10 vor 10 addressing the question of whether nursing experts can take on general practitioner duties. Our AFG President (Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care), Isabelle Mathier, was prominently featured in the segment. The segment is available at Broadcast ab Minute 15.04 zu sehen.
In the afternoon, the 31st General Assembly took place. In a small but engaged and lively atmosphere, important decisions were made regarding personnel and content. Prof. Dr. Sabine Hahn was confirmed as President, Prof. Dr. Monica Bianchi was re-elected as a board member. Prof. Dr. André Nienaber and Dr. Suzanne Dhaini were newly elected to the board. Prof. Dr. Sabina M. De Geest and Helena M. Roth, MNS MAE were appointed honorary members.
Dr. Peter Wolfensberger and Dr. Carole Délétroz were warmly thanked for their great commitment to the board.
The 31st General Assembly took place in the afternoon. In a small but enthusiastic and lively atmosphere, important decisions regarding personnel and policy were made. Prof. Dr. Sabine Hahn was re-elected as President, and Prof. Dr. Monica Bianchi was re-elected as a member of the Executive Board. Prof. Dr. André Nienaber and Dr. Suzanne Dhaini were newly elected to the Executive Board. Prof. Dr. Sabina M. De Geest and Helena M. Roth were named honorary members.
Dr. Peter Wolfensberger and Dr. Carole Délétroz were warmly thanked for their great dedication to the Board.
In addition, an important milestone was reached with the introduction of a new membership category: Retired members remain part of the association with full voting rights and now pay an annual membership fee of 100 Swiss francs.
The First International Nursing Science Conference — Nursing Science Conference 2027
Join us as researchers, professionals, and students from around the world come together to rethink the future of nursing. Inspiring presentations, hands-on workshops, and meaningful networking opportunities await you.
Sign up this month and get a 10% early-bird discount.
from academic professional associations
AFG Spitex Care: New Findings on the interRAI HC and CMH Scales – A Look at Everyday Care in Spitex:
AFG Spitex Care published an article in NOVACura in March (Volume 57, Issue 2) regarding the interRAI HC and CMH scales for communication, vision and hearing loss, and pain. To this end, they have developed a Poster featuring HomeCareData designed to clearly present key findings from the surveys and provide insight into the situation of home care clients in Switzerland.
AFG Oncology Care: 2027 Research Awards – Apply Now and Submit Your Project
In 2027, AFG Oncology Care will once again award prizes for the best research projects completed in 2024, 2025, and 2026 on the topic of oncology care. Three prizes will be awarded (1st prize of CHF 1,500, 2nd prize of CHF 1,000, 3rd prize of CHF 500). The winning teams will briefly present their projects at the awards ceremony during the Oncology Nursing Congress on March 18, 2027.
Submissions are now being accepted in German, French, Italian, or English until January 10, 2027, via the Online form possible. The winning projects will be announced on February 18, 2027.
AFG Oncology Care looks forward to receiving your applications.
Calls and announcements
Obituary: Honoring Dr. Jacqueline Fawcett Maria Müller Staub (PhD, EdN, MNS, RN, FEANS)
On March 22, 2026, Jacqueline Fawcett, one of the world’s most renowned nursing researchers, passed away.
She had fallen just a short while earlier, but we remained hopeful that she would recover and that she would soon return as a friend and colleague to the “Nursology.net-Community“ would return. Dr. Fawcett was one of the researchers who, together with Dr. Peggy Chinn, founded “Nursology Net.” She played a significant role in shaping the content of the website, which went live in September 2018.
Jacqueline Fawcett was born on March 18, 1941, and dedicated her career to strengthening the scientific foundations of nursing science (Fawcett & DeSanto-Madeya, 2013). With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Boston University and a Master of Arts (MA) and a doctorate from New York University, she educated generations of nurses at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels and held leadership positions at the University of Massachusetts Boston for several decades.
She is internationally recognized for her metatheoretical contributions and has become one of the strongest advocates for clarity regarding the knowledge base of nursing as a discipline (Fawcett, 2005; Fawcett & DeSanto-Madeya, 2013). Furthermore, she shaped and promoted the concept of nursology, defined as the knowledge of phenomena central to nursing (Fawcett, J., 2023). Through this work, she emphasized the importance of developing and applying discipline-specific knowledge to promote global well-being.
I had the privilege of working with Jacqui in person. Our conversations were characterized by shared interests, common values in nursing, and respectful communication. Our exchange was refreshingly informative and fruitful. She critically reviewed my contributions to the Advanced Nursing Process, which encompasses nursing diagnoses, nursing interventions, and nursing-sensitive patient outcomes based on evidence-based nursing classifications (Müller Staub, 2025).
Although Jacqui and Peggy were initially skeptical of nursing classifications, our shared values regarding nursing as an independent profession with its own body of knowledge eventually won them over. As a result, they supported my publication in “Nurs Net” on the Advanced Nursing Process (Müller Staub, 2025).
Jacqui also contributed to the publication on the Swiss Nursing Initiative (Müller Staub, 2019). Since she wanted to learn about its background, the history of the initiative was also published (Müller Staub, 2022).
Jacqueline Fawcett is best known for her work in the field of nursing theory and practice. Her most important works include:
- Nursing Theories and Models: Fawcett devoted herself intensively to the development and analysis of nursing theories (Henderson, Orem, King, etc.). She examined and evaluated numerous theories in order to establish clearer connections between theory, research, and practice. Nursing theories are conceptual frameworks that structure the understanding of nursing practice, the nursing process, and patient experiences. They provide a theoretical foundation that helps nurses justify their decisions and guide their practice.
- Conceptualization of Nursing: Fawcett articulated how nursing should be defined and understood as a discipline. She emphasized that nursing theories can help identify the specific characteristics of nursing and clearly distinguish it from other health care disciplines. Nursing theories play a crucial role in nursing education and practice, as they provide a framework for understanding the complexity of nursing and developing effective nursing interventions.
- Theoretical Frameworks: Fawcett developed a theoretical framework that enables nursing professionals to structure and evaluate theories. She proposed a structured approach to analyzing nursing theories, thereby contributing to the further development of theories and their application in practice, right down to the level of the nursing process.
- Nursing Research: Fawcett advocated for the integration of research into nursing practice. She emphasized the importance of nurses applying evidence-based interventions grounded in sound theoretical concepts.
- Publications: Jacqueline has published numerous articles and books in which she has outlined her ideas and theories on nursing science. Her book *Theoretical Nursing: Development and Progress* is a seminal work that is widely read around the world.
Jacqueline Fawcett’s works have shaped me throughout my entire professional career. I first began studying her work in the 1990s at the University of Pittsburgh. Later, I delved deeper into this during my master’s studies in Maastricht (NL) and at the WEG (CH), before continuing to explore her theories with my HöFa-I students and later at all university levels as well as in my consulting work.
Jacqueline Fawcett has strengthened nursing as a discipline. Her influence remains relevant today at all levels of nursing education, practice, and research.
Maria Müller Staub, on behalf of the VfP, April 25, 2026
Honorary member of the VfP, former VfP president
APNs on the Way to Being Covered by Mandatory Health Insurance
On May 20, 2026, the Federal Council tasked the Federal Department of Home Affairs with drafting a bill to include the services of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) in mandatory health insurance (OKP). This will enable APNs to provide medical services in outpatient facilities in close collaboration with physicians and bill these services through OKP—an important step toward addressing the growing shortage of general practitioners in Switzerland.
The Association for Nursing Science (VfP-APSI) and its members are actively advocating for this step and will remain involved in the ongoing work as a stakeholder group.
For more information, please visit the Federal Council website.
Quiet Presence: What Psychiatric Nursing Really Means
A text that really gets under your skin.
6:43 a.m. Start of the shift. Room 12. A person who wants to disappear. And a nurse who stays—even when there’s nothing she can do.
Nadine Schuster, a member of our AFG Psychiatric Nursing team, writes about the moment that no treatment pathway captures and no guideline describes: silent presence as an intervention.
“I can’t take it anymore.” Softly. Almost casually. And all that follows is: simply being.
Your text reminds us that psychiatric care often takes place precisely in these in-between spaces—and that we talk far too rarely about what emotional labor really looks like.
Read the full article now on our Blog read.
Her book *A Dance on a Tightrope: On Dignity, Abysses, and the Quiet Work of Psychiatry* was published in 2025.
A New Voice for Healthcare Professionals: “salus” Brings Together Over 4,000 Professionals in Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg now has a new voice for healthcare professionals: “salus – Network of Vorarlberg Healthcare Professions” is a coalition of ten professional associations that collectively represent more than 4,000 professionals. The goal is to strengthen cooperation and present a united front on health policy issues. The network’s chairman is Thomas Engl, who also serves as chairman of the ÖGKV Vorarlberg Regional Association and the ÖGKV-BEG PA/PFA. The network aims to secure long-term care provision, create better framework conditions, and raise awareness of the concerns of the healthcare professions.
For more information, please visit the Salus website
LGBTQ+ YOUTHPATH Study – We Want to Hear About Your Experiences as a Healthcare Professional
ZHAW is looking for healthcare professionals in outpatient care in German-speaking Switzerland who would like to participate in a study on the care of young LGBTQ+ people (ages 18–25).
On average, young LGBTQ+ individuals have poorer health than non-LGBTQ+ individuals. The study examines the experiences, barriers, and resources that healthcare professionals encounter when treating this population—with the goal of creating more inclusive and equitable care.
Participation takes place online, takes about 10 minutes per survey, and is available for up to 16 months. Personal experience with LGBTQ+ individuals is not required.
If you have any questions: lgbtq-youthpath@zhaw.ch or +41 (0)77 525 24 17
For more information and to register, visit the ZHAW website
Events
You can find the latest events from our partners and members at any time on our Website – or at LinkedIn. We’d also like to draw your attention to some other events:
ÖGKV Congress 2026 – Courage Meets Vision: Shaping the Future of Nursing
On June 11 and 12, 2026, the nursing community will gather at Congress Graz for a diverse program featuring keynotes, discussions, and hands-on workshops focused on the future of nursing.
In addition, participants can take advantage of an attractive ÖBB discount for a stress-free trip.
For more information and to register: ÖGKV Congress 2026
Patient Safety Action Week 2026 – Noncommunicable Diseases: Providing Safe and Effective Care
The national Patient Safety Action Week will take place from September 14 to 18, 2026. This year’s focus is on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mental health conditions—in Switzerland, these affect more than a third of the population and are the leading cause of death.
Patients with NCDs are particularly vulnerable to safety risks due to the lengthy and complex nature of their treatment. The goal of the action week is to raise awareness of this issue and promote practical measures.
The Swiss Patient Safety Foundation offers free resources such as webinars, video lectures, podcast episodes, and a toolbox.
For more information, please visit the Website of the Swiss Patient Safety Foundation.
EDCNS 2026 – European Conference on Nursing Science in Maastricht
EDCNS 2026 will take place in Maastricht on September 18 and 19, 2026. An inspiring conference for doctoral students, early-career researchers, and scholars in nursing science and healthcare.
Participants can look forward to a diverse program featuring keynote speeches, workshops, and presentations, as well as the opportunity to network with experts from across Europe and play an active role in shaping the future of nursing research.
Registration is now open.
For more information and to register: EDCNS 2026
Swiss Oncology & Hematology Congress 2026 – Save the Date!
The Swiss Oncology & Hematology Congress (SOHC) 2026 will take place from November 18 to 20, 2026, at the Congress Center Basel. Under the motto “Intelligence in Patient Care,” the congress offers scientific and practical content for healthcare professionals and brings together everyone in Switzerland who is committed to the fight against cancer and hematological diseases.
Online registration and abstract submission will be available starting June 1, 2026.
For more information, please visit the SOHC 2026 Website. If you have any questions, please contact sohc@meister-concept.ch.
Jobs
You can find our job board right here here on our website.
We would like to further strengthen the platform and would appreciate it if our collective members would share job openings and calls for proposals from their institutions with us. This will allow us to publish them easily, share them via LinkedIn, and increase their visibility within the nursing science community.
We welcome feedback and ideas from your workplace.