Implementation assessment of the role of nurse practitioners in nursing homes in the canton of Vaud: a mixed-method study
Faced with the challenge of an ageing population and of healthcare professionals shortage in nursing homes, the canton of Vaud is innovating by deploying nurse practitioners (NPs). This role, which has already been tried and tested internationally, is a promising solution for improving the quality and continuity of care offered to residents. October 2025 will mark a key milestone with the arrival of the first PNs in two nursing homes in Vaud. This integration provides a unique opportunity to assess their impact on residents, their families, care teams and the institution. The results of this evaluation will be essential for developing an toolkit of implementation best practices, thus ensuring the success and sustainability of this new role. Ultimately, this initiative will contribute to the sustainable integration of NPs into the Vaud and national healthcare systems.
The aim of this project is to evaluate the integration of the role of nurse practitioners (NPs) within two nursing homes (NHs) in the canton of Vaud. This evaluation will enable the development of a guide to best practices to ensure the sustainability of this new role.
To achieve this objective, the project is divided into two parts.
Part 1: Evaluation of the implementation of the NPs
This first part aims to evaluate the implementation of the NPs in EMS and to analyse the effects of this role on various indicators, both for residents and for other health professionals and the institution. It consists of three separate work packages (WP):
• WP 1: Evaluate the structural elements that may influence the implementation of the IPS role.
• WP 2: Describe the activities carried out by NPs within nursing homes.
• WP 3: Understand how the implementation of the NPs influences the results related to its activities, both for residents and other professionals, as well as for the institution.
Part 2: Development of a guide to best practices
The aim of this second part is to develop a guide listing best practices to support the sustainability of the NPs role, based on the results obtained during the first part.
Academics partners
Bastien Cheseaux, Cheseaux Bastien - Collaborateur scientifique, Institut et Haute Ecole de Santé La Source www.ecolelasource.ch
Clinicals partners
Andreina D’Onofrio, Cheffe de projet Pôle de Gériatrie et de Psychiatrie de l'âge avancé (PGPA) Département de la santé et de l'action sociale (DSAS) | État de Vaud
Nishalini Gunalingam, Responsable du centre de compétence, formation et innovation, Fondation Belle-Saison www.bellesaison.ch
Renée Dion, Infirmière cheffe de services, Fondation Prépariset www.pre-pariset.ch
Sabah Latif, cheffe de projet, Héviva www.heviva.ch
Source of funding
Domaine Santé de la HES-SO
Further information
Ricardo Salgado, Institut et Haute Ecole de la Santé La Source SALGADO Ricardo - Institut et Haute Ecole de la Santé La Source
Claudia Ortoleva Bucher, Haute école de santé Fribourg Ortoleva Bucher Claudia - Professeure HES ordinaire/Doyenne recherche appliquée et développement
Research team
