Integrating Nurse Practitioners into primary care in Valais

NP-Access: Integrating Nurse Practitioners into Primary Care in the Canton of Valais is a 24-month research project running from July 2026 to June 2028. The project focuses on the preparatory and early implementation phases of a Nurse Practitioner (NP)-integrated primary care model in the Canton of Valais. Through a multiple-methods approach, it will analyse contextual needs, stakeholder expectations, and organisational readiness to support the implementation of the NP role at individual, organisational, and health system levels. The project will engage healthcare professionals, patients, informal carers, healthcare organisations, and policy stakeholders to identify implementation barriers and facilitators and to co-develop context-sensitive implementation strategies. By generating evidence on how NPs can be successfully integrated into primary care, NP-Access will provide practical recommendations for sustainable implementation, future evaluation, and the development of cantonal policy and funding frameworks.