Updates from the VfP-APSI

From the committees

New Chair Sought for the “Digital Nursing Science” Commission! The VFP's Digital Nursing Science Commission is seeking a dedicated individual (or two people to serve as co-chairs) to succeed Carole Délétroz.

 Are you interested in helping shape the future of nursing?​

In this role, you will develop and lead initiatives to promote digital health literacy and work closely with the Executive Board, academic societies, and other committees. You will also build valuable networks between universities and clinical practice.

What you bring to the table:

• You are a VfP-APSI member (or willing to (to become).
• You bring experience and enthusiasm for digital transformation and health technologies.
• You are interested in actively shaping national labor policy during your term in office.

Questions? Interested? We look forward to hearing from you. Please send a brief cover letter by June 30, 2026 to: info@vfp-apsi.ch​

From the Academic Societies

AFG Spitex Care: Top 5 List for Home Care Providers, Working Together to Combat Over- and Under-Treatment
In March 2026, the Academic Society for Spitex Care (AFG Spitex Care) published a Top 5 list for home care providers in collaboration with smarter medicine – Choosing Wisely Switzerland. It specifically focuses on preventing over-, under-, and inappropriate care and provides concrete recommendations for daily practice in home care.

This list provides clear, evidence-based recommendations for action aimed at further improving the quality of care in home care services and specifically promoting clients’ self-efficacy.

• Go directly to the list: You can find the complete recommendations here: Top 5 List of Home Care Services (2026)
• Fascinating insights: Would you like to learn more about the background? The podcast “Spitex-Welten” features a recent episode on the development and practical implementation of these recommendations: Listen to the "Spitex-Welten" podcast

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the working group for their tremendous dedication and valuable expertise, which has resulted in an important tool for the home care sector!

AFG Oncology Nursing: Strong Presence at the 28th Oncology Nursing Congress
On March 26, 2026, the 28th Oncology Nursing Congress was held in Bern in excellent collaboration with Oncology Nursing Switzerland. The event, themed “Between Information and Infusion,” was a great success and received consistently positive feedback from participants.

AFG Oncology Nursing was once again well represented among this year’s speakers. Sandra Schönfeld, Sara Kohler, and Monica Fliedner all contributed to the program with presentations on managing PICC lines—a balancing act between desire and ability, culturally sensitive care in oncology nursing, and advance care planning—a task for nurses?!

Under this Link you can look back on this successful conference.

Calls and announcements

New APN Home Care and Spitex Network Established

To strengthen the role of advanced practice nurses (APNs) in long-term care in a sustainable way, leading associations have launched the “APN Network for Nursing Homes and Home Care”.

Shaping the Future of Nursing Care
Providing care for people in nursing homes and through home care services is becoming increasingly complex. APN nursing experts play a key role in this area: they strengthen clinical decision-making, promote coordination in the management of chronic conditions, and support interprofessional teams. Supported by Spitex Switzerland, ARTISET, SBK, VFP, and APN-CH, the network is now pooling its expertise to improve the framework conditions for this important role.

The network's core objectives:

• Joint positioning: Clarification of core responsibilities and competencies for stakeholders
• Legal framework: Support for the inclusion of APNs in the Health Professions Act (GesBG).
• Funding: Development of sustainable compensation models for APN services.
• Practical role clarification: Consolidation of job descriptions and job profiles.

For more detailed information, please see the full document: PDF download: APN Network for Residential Care Facilities and Home Care Services - Background and Objectives

Study: How Do Those Affected Find Their Way to Self-Help?

A research team at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) is currently investigating, as part of the project “Pathways to Self-Help Groups,” how people with chronic illnesses and their relatives find their way to self-help groups—and what obstacles they face in doing so.

We need your expertise as a specialist!

This project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, aims to understand how healthcare professionals support access to self-help groups and where there is room for improvement. We cordially invite you to participate in the written survey and share your experiences.

Here's how you can help:

• Take the survey: The survey is intended specifically for healthcare professionals.
• Please share: Feel free to forward this message to any colleagues who might be interested.

For more information and to register:

• Go directly to the survey
• Project website

Thank you very much for your valuable support of this research project!

Oncology Nursing Switzerland (OPS): New Projects on Role Clarification and Digitalization
The healthcare sector is constantly evolving—new role profiles and advancing digitalization are increasingly shaping the day-to-day work of nurses. To actively shape these developments, the board of Oncology Nursing Switzerland has launched two groundbreaking projects:

1. E-Health and Telenursing in Oncology Care
New practice guidelines are being developed. The goal is to provide targeted support to healthcare professionals in the use of digital care processes and communication via telenursing.
Further information

2. Update to the Job Description for "Specialist in Oncology Nursing"
To meet the modern requirements and reflect the new training programs introduced over the past decade, the existing job description is being revised and updated to align with current standards.
Further information

Both projects play a key role in significantly improving the quality of care for cancer patients and their families in the long term.

Events