EANS Summer School Conference 2026
“Nursing Science Shaping Policy and Practice for Healthcare Systems in Challenging Times”, 8–9 July 2026
We are living in a time of crisis – experiencing climate change, wars and conflicts, pandemics, shortages in the workforce, and financial pressures on healthcare.
The EANS Summer Conference 2026 focuses on the challenges that these crises pose to healthcare and nursing and healthcare systems. At its core, the conference explores how nursing science contributes to shaping resilient and agile health systems in times of profound disruption and change.
The goal of the conference is to bring together nurse scientists, educators, clinical leaders, policymakers, and doctoral students, as well as colleagues from related health and social sciences. By exchanging knowledge, sharing experiences, and developing strategies, participants will explore how nursing science can address current and future challenges in healthcare. Through collaboration and critical reflection, the conference aims to inspire innovative approaches and strengthen the impact of nursing science on policy and practice across Europe.
The conference will highlight the transformative power of crises as catalysts for innovation, adaptation, and evidence-informed change in practice, education, and policy. It provides a platform for clinical, political, and scientific contributions, encouraging dialogue and collaboration within nursing science and other disciplines. Emphasis is placed on leadership and policymaking, aiming to strengthen the role of nursing science in health policy and to foster sustainable solutions for the future.
The conference programme will feature internationally renowned keynote speakers, interactive workshops, oral presentations, poster walks, and a debate offering multiple opportunities for exchange, learning, and networking among participants.
Call for Abstracts
Come and join us with an oral or poster presentation pertaining to the EANS Summer Conference 2026 theme “Nursing Science Shaping Policy and Practice for Healthcare Systems in Challenging Times” We particularly welcome abstracts that address one or more of the following themes related to nursing science and healthcare in times of crisis:
- Nursing science in times of crisis, disruption and change
- Developing and evaluating complex nursing interventions
- Implementation, scale-up, and sustainability of nursing intervention
- Nursing practice, leadership, and workforce health and capacity
- Nursing education, and advancing nursing rolesManagement, policy and governance
- Digital health and emerging technologies in nursing
- Methods, measurement, and theory development in nursing research
These themes are intended as inspiration and guidance, not as limitations. We also warmly invite submissions on other relevant topics that contribute to advancing nursing science, practice, and policy in challenging times.
The call for abstracts is now open and will close on 10 April 2026. Submitted abstracts will be reviewed by the EANS Scientific Committee and may be selected for oral or poster presentations addressing the conference theme.
Selected abstracts will be communicated no later than 8 May 2026.
to submit your Abstract:
Click here
Keynote Speaker
EANS: making a difference to health care. Past, present and future.
Prof. Ingalill Rahm Hallberg
Affiliated with the university, Senior Professor, Principal investigator, LUCC: Lund University Cancer Centre
Ingalill established and led the Swedish Institute for Health Sciences. She served as Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Medicine from 2000 to 2005 and as Deputy and Acting Vice-Chancellor from 2009 until spring 2012. She is joint editor of the book 'Complex Interventions in Health'. In addition, Ingalill is a former President of the European Academy of Nursing Science, a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and an honorary member of the Swedish Medical Society. She has supervised and co-supervised a large number of PhD students in an international research environment, with a strong focus on ageing, functional capacity, quality of life, and the care needs of older populations.
Prof. David A Richards
Departement of Helath and Caring science, Western Norway University of Applied Science
David Richards is an experienced nurse and health services researcher. He is author of more than 290 peer reviewed and professional journal articles, books and book chapters. He is joint editor of the book 'Complex Interventions in Health', and has obtained more than £14m in external research funding during his career. David is an emeritus Senior Investigator in the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Faculty. He has een at the forefront of national and international efforts to improve access to treatment, leading the development of the low-intensity treatment methods.
(Keynote title to be announced)
Margrieta Langins
Margrieta is the nursing and midwifery policy advisor to the WHO Regional Office for Europe. She is a Latvian born, Canadian trained nurse. Over the course of her career Margrieta has worked in various settings in, working in rural health, delivering services to the homeless and working several years as a pediatric nurse. She is a former fellow at the International Foundation for Integrated Care in Oxford and has more than 15 years of international experience. Her work at the WHO Regional Office for Europe has involved working at the crossroads between health and care workforce issues, long-term care service models, and primary health care.
(Keynote title to be announced)
Prof. Jonathan Drennan
University College Dublin, School of Nursing Midwifery and Health Systems, Health Sciences Centre Belfield Dublin 4
Jonathan is a full Professor of Nursing at University College Dublin, with an extensive academic and clinical career spanning Ireland and the United Kingdom. He has previously held senior leadership roles as Chair of Nursing and Health Services Research at University College Cork and Professor of Healthcare Research at the University of Southampton, alongside a broad clinical background. His research expertise covers health services and workforce research, ageing, psychometrics, research methods, and the evaluation of health and education initiatives. He has led and contributed to numerous nationally and European funded projects, works closely with leading international academic institutions, and serves in senior editorial and advisory roles that shape nursing and health services research.
Programm Wednesday 08.07.2026 (Preliminary Program)
| 08.00 - 09.00 | Registration in entrance lobby Chair fo the day: Heidrun Gattinger |
| 09.00 - 09.15 | Welcome Tove Aminda Hanssen, Chair of EANS Scientific Committee Heidrun Gattinger, Chair of EANS Summer School Conference |
| 09.15 - 10.00 | Keynote 1 EANS: making a difference to health care. Past, present and future. David Richards & Ingalill Rahm Hallberg |
| 10.15 - 11.15 | Oral Presentations Tracks 1 , Tracks 2, Tracks 3 |
| 11.15 - 11.45 | Coffee break |
| 11.45 - 12.45 | Oral Presentations Tracks 1 , Tracks 2, Tracks 3 |
| 12.45 13.45 | Lunch |
| 13.45 - 14.30 | Keynote 2 (Keynote title to be announced) Margrieta Langins |
| 14.30 - 15.00 | Poster walk |
| 15.00 - 15.30 | Coffee break |
| 15.30 - 16.45 | Workshop 1 Workshop 2 Workshop 3 |
| 16.45 - 18.30 | Apéro & Networking |
Programm Thursday 09.07.2026 (Preliminary Program)
| 08.00 - 09.00 | Registration in entrance lobby Chair of the day: Heidrun Gattinger |
| 09.00 - 09.10 | Welcome & general information |
| 09.10 - 10.00 | Keynote 3 (Keynote title to be announced) Jonathan Drennan |
| 10.00 - 10.45 | Poster presentation: 3rd year EANS students Come and see my poster in 60-seconds |
| 10.45 - 11.15 | Coffee break and poster tour with online voting |
| 11.25 - 12.25 | Oral Presentations Tracks 1 Tracks 2 Tracks 3 |
| 12.25 - 13.25 | Lunch |
| 13.25 - 14.25 | Oral Presentations Tracks 1 Tracks 2 Tracks 3 |
| 14.25 - 15.00 | Coffee break |
| 15.00 - 16.35 | Debate: 2nd year EANS students Chair of the Debate: Edith Roth Gjevjon |
| 16.40 - 17.00 | Thank you and Farwell Theo van Achterberg, President of the European Academy of Nursing Science (EANS) |
Registration and participation fees
To register for the EANS Summer School Conference, please use the online registration form.
The registration deadline is Monday, June 15, 2026.
Two registration options are available:
- 1 day: CHF 100.-
- Both days: CHF 180.-- / all EANS members: CHF 100.-- Master and PHD-Students CHF 100.--
Location, getting here and accommodation
Address:
OST – University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland
Campus St. Gallen (University Centre)
Rosenbergstrasse 59
Postfach
9001 St. Gallen
Switzerland
By train: The OST St. Gallen campus is situated right next to the train station. You can reach the University Centre directly via the West Underpass at St. Gallen train station.
By car: Take the St. Gallen/Kreuzbleiche exit and drive towards the city centre. After the tunnel, change to the far-left lane and follow the signs for “Fachhochschulzentrum”. Parking: There is a public underground car park operated by CityParking AG in the basement of the University Centre. You can find more information on their website www.cityparking.ch/die-parkhaeuser/bahnhof/. There are other public car parks in the surrounding area or, alternatively, parking spaces in the Blue Zone. You can find information on this at https://www.pls-sg.ch/parkraeume
By bicycle: In the basement of the University Centre there is a public and supervised bicycle station of the City of St. Gallen. OST students and staff have access to the bike station with their CampusCard and can park their bikes there free of charge.
Please use the following link to search for hotels and accommodation in St. Gallen.
Partners / Sponsors
SAMW ASSM
Schweizerische Akademie
der Medizinischen Wissenschaften
Organising Committee
Prof. Dr. Heidrun Gattinger, Prof. Dr. Manuel P. Stadtmann, Prof. Dr. Julian Hirt, Ilona Schmid – Institute of Health Sciences, OST – Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences St Gallen
Prof. Dr. Michael Simon, Dr. Bastiaan Van Grootven – Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel
Prof. Dr. Rahel Naef, Dr. Myrta Kohler – Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care, University of Zürich & Centre for Clinical Nursing Science, University Hospital Zurich