[Legal framework for nurse practitioners in the Canton of Vaud]

Nurse practitioners (NPs) have existed internationally for several decades, with scientific literature demonstrating improved access to care, patient safety, and well-being. To address the sociodemographic challenges of public health and the shortage of healthcare professionals, the Canton of Vaud was the first in Switzerland to develop a legal framework that defines the responsibilities and requirements of the NP role in order to integrate them into the healthcare system. The integration of NPs into the hospital setting has shown promising results. However, the lack of adequate financing models and federal standards is hampering the development of NPs, particularly in the community setting.