Elsevier, a global leader in scientific information and analytics, has partnered with the UK-based nursing and midwifery charity Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) to launch a new clinical eLearning program aimed at improving healthcare staff retention. The initiative, titled Preceptor Plus, is designed to enhance leadership capabilities, strengthen clinical practice, and improve patient outcomes for nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals.
The collaboration addresses a pressing workforce crisis, with the World Health Organization projecting a shortfall of 11 million healthcare workers by 2030. In the UK, nearly one in five nurses leave the National Health Service (NHS) within two years of qualifying. Structured preceptorship programs have been shown to improve staff retention by up to 50 percent and can reduce medication errors among novice nurses from 50 percent to nearly zero. These programs also help newly registered professionals gain clinical confidence, lower workplace anxiety, and navigate their career development during a critical transition period.
Preceptor Plus offers a 16-module framework that integrates interactive eLearning with persona-based assessments, expert-reviewed content, measurable impact tracking, and flexible implementation options. The course aligns with current needs identified through the 2025 FNF Preceptorship Pulse Check survey, which reported that 29 percent of preceptors felt inadequately supported and that only 19 percent of early-career professionals rated their preceptorship as excellent. The survey further revealed a demand for additional preceptor training, better-structured programs, and increased flexibility.
Developed through the combined expertise of FNF’s nursing and midwifery network and Elsevier’s education and clinical training capabilities, the course directly responds to sector-wide retention challenges. It provides structured support and leadership development opportunities for newly registered staff while enabling healthcare organizations to build resilient teams and standardize care practices.
Click here to read the original press release.
