Specialist Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) in Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology

About the job

In order to develop a joint pilot project between the Nursing Directorate and the Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology Service, the HFR Fribourg – Cantonal Hospital is looking for a:

Specialist Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) in Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology
80-100% - One-year fixed-term contract

Your mission:

• Carry out advanced nursing practice with patients in orthopaedic surgery, traumatology and orthogeriatrics, within the defined legal, contractual and institutional framework
• Ensure comprehensive care for hospitalised and outpatient patients, alternating between hospital units and consultations according to the needs of the service and various teams
• Perform clinical assessments, monitor patient progress and prescribe or adjust examinations and treatments according to established medical-nursing protocols
• Participate in elective preoperative admissions, postoperative follow-up, ward rounds, discharge preparation and care pathway coordination
• Provide postoperative and outpatient follow-up consultations for defined orthopaedic situations, including clinical assessment, wound care, control examinations and protocol-based rehabilitation adjustment
• Coordinate the various professionals involved, inform and support patients and their relatives, and contribute to continuity of care between the hospital, attending physicians, rehabilitation and home care
• Work closely with partner doctor(s) and the medical team; seek medical validation or takeover when the situation exceeds your scope of practice or requires medical expertise or decision
• Participate in the development and updating of protocols, improvement of care quality and safety, and monitoring of clinical indicators of the pilot project
• Contribute to team training as well as research and clinical development activities

Your profile:

• You hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Swiss Red Cross
• You hold a Master of Science in Nursing, specialising as an Advanced Practice Nurse (MSc APN), or meet the requirements to practise the role
• You have at least 4 years of clinical nursing experience, ideally complemented by recognised experience or expertise in surgery, orthopaedics, traumatology or a related clinical field
• You possess strong skills in clinical assessment, clinical reasoning, care coordination and interprofessional collaboration
• You appreciate professional autonomy while working in close partnership with medical and nursing teams
• You are motivated to participate in building a new advanced practice model, developing protocols and evaluating an innovative pilot project
• You have advanced proficiency in French; knowledge of German and English is an asset

We offer you:

• A position at the heart of an innovative institutional pilot project, jointly developed by the Nursing Directorate and the Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology Service. You will join a clinical organisation enabling advanced practice across hospitalisation and consultation, with an evolving scope of activity according to acquired skills, protocols and service needs. Participation in some operating theatre activities may also be considered depending on needs, skills and institutional conditions.
• The position includes approximately 90% clinical activity and 10% training and research activities. You will benefit from a formalised medical partnership, close collaboration with medical and nursing teams, and regular joint evaluation of the project allowing progressive adaptation of organisation and scope of activity.

Start date: 1 December 2026 or by agreement

Information: Prof. Robin Martin, Head Physician – tel. 026 306 27 12, Ms Patricia Hofer, Head Nurse of Surgery and Maternity Specialties Department, tel. 026 306 12 45

Application deadline: 31 October 2026

Ref: HFR-MTS-264101