Nursing demo in Bern: Why many nurses have had enough
On November 22, numerous nursing professionals, associations and supporters will gather in Bern for a rally on the Bundesplatz. Their request: Politicians should finally implement the care initiative in full. Three years after the clear “yes” vote, many consider progress to be too slow – and the industry’s patience is waning.
What the demonstrators are demanding
The Swiss Professional Association of Nurses criticizes the fact that key elements of the initiative have still not been implemented. Specifically, there is a lack of binding staffing ratios, clear regulations for fair working conditions and measures to sustainably improve everyday working life. In an industry that has been suffering from high workloads for years, this is meeting with growing resentment.
Support from politics
GLP National Councillor and qualified nursing specialist Patrick Hässig was also among the participants. He understands the growing impatience of many carers: around 200,000 people work in the care sector in Switzerland – and many of them expect politicians to implement the clear vote of the population.
Hässig makes it clear why the topic is so urgent: the demands on nursing care have been increasing for years. An ageing population, more complex clinical pictures and a constant shortage of staff are putting great pressure on the system. At the same time, the care initiative is intended to cushion precisely these developments – through better framework conditions and more stability in everyday working life.
Where the biggest problems lie
From the point of view of care professionals, three points in particular remain unresolved:
- Too few staff and lack of binding staffing ratios
- Increasing fluctuation and overload in everyday working life
- uncertain or insufficient financing of important measures
The increasing exodus from the profession is a particular cause for concern: between 2013 and 2023, the fluctuation rate rose by almost 30 percent. As a result, the pressure on existing teams continues to increase – a vicious circle that can only be broken with structural improvements.
Why inaction becomes more expensive in the long term
Funding is often cited as a reason for slow political processes. However, from the perspective of many professionals, it is precisely this wait-and-see approach that leads to higher costs: every nurse who leaves the profession increases the shortage, increases the burden on teams and incurs recruitment and training costs. Spending money to create good working conditions is therefore seen as an investment – not a burden.
What effect the participants hope the demo will have
The demonstration is intended to send a clear signal: The care sector stands behind the referendum and expects it to be implemented. At the same time, the demonstration aims to highlight the social and political importance of nursing care. The fact that the population continues to show great support according to surveys gives the participants an additional tailwind.