Elsevier last week announced it is partnering with the UK-based nursing and midwifery charity, Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF), to announce the launch of a new preceptorship course. Elsevier says Preceptor Plus is a clinical eLearning course that has been developed to enhance leadership capabilities, help improve patient outcomes, and strengthen clinical practice of the nursing, midwifery and allied health professional workforce.
The healthcare sector is in urgent need of effective retention strategies for nurses and midwives, added the publisher. The World Health Organization projects a shortfall of 11 million health workers by 2030. In the UK alone, research indicates that almost one in five nurses are leaving NHS in England within their first two years of qualifying.
Elsevier says preceptorship programmes have been proven to help increase staff retention by up to 50% and they have been shown to play a vital role in standardising care and reducing medication error rates made by novice nurses from 50% down to -0%. Additionally, for newly registered nurses and healthcare professionals, quality preceptorship programmes can help enhance clinical confidence, reduce workplace anxiety, and provide clearer career development pathways during their most vulnerable transition period.
Preceptor Plus developed by Elsevier in collaboration with Florence Nightingale Foundation offers a 16-module approach that incorporates interactive eLearning with persona-based knowledge checks, measurable impact tracking, expert-validated content, and flexible implementation options that support consistent practice standards.
Professor Greta Westwood CBE, PhD, RN, chief executive officer of the Florence Nightingale Foundation said: "Lack of support, stress and difficult working conditions are cited as some of the top issues facing nurses and midwives, with over 50% of newly registered nurses reporting they feel unprepared for the challenges they will face in clinical practice Through our partnership with Elsevier, we've combined FNF's UK and global network of nursing and midwifery experts with Elsevier's educational innovation to create this comprehensive preceptorship course. Together, we're tackling these critical challenges head-on—providing the structured support and leadership development that empowers newly registered nurses and midwives while helping healthcare organisations build stronger, more resilient teams.”
Elsevier says the course was developed in response to the critical gaps identified in the 2025 FNF Preceptorship Pulse Check survey, which found that nearly a third of preceptors (29%) feel inadequately prepared and supported for their vital role and that only 19% of early career respondents rated their preceptorship experience as excellent. The survey also identified critical development priorities, with preceptorship leads highlighting the need for additional preceptor training (52%), better structured programmes (36%), and more programme flexibility (23%).
Tim Morris, VP, global nursing solutions at Elsevier said: "Preceptor Plus aims to address the needs identified by nurses as well as supporting the delivery of consistent practice standards. This latest addition to Elsevier's comprehensive clinical eLearning solutions is designed to equip healthcare professionals with evidence-based strategies to help tackle critical healthcare workforce challenges through enhanced learning and training. We are excited to deliver a new solution that not only enhances clinical practice but also provides measurable returns for healthcare organisations through improved retention and care quality."
Keep up-to-date with publishing news: sign up here for InPubWeekly, our free weekly e-newsletter.
