Preceptorships offer a structured period of support for nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals as they transition into new roles. During the preceptorship period, a more experienced health and care professional guides new colleagues as they enter clinical practice by using an array of methods, from providing clinical supervision, facilitating action learning, to ensuring application of theory is achieved.
The benefits of preceptorship are well documented. They have been shown to:
- Increase staff retention by up to 50%1
- Optimise training resources through standardised delivery1
- Reduce recruitment and turnover costs by $186,102 2
- Reduce medication error rates made by new nurses from 50-0%2
- Decrease incident rates of adverse events and falls2
A concerning 85% of preceptors have no formal education or training that help them enter into this role.1 Additionally, our recent survey (full report to follow) found that:
- Nearly a third of preceptors (29%) feel inadequately prepared and supported for their vital role.
- Only 19% of early career respondents rated their preceptorship experience as excellent.
- Preceptorship leads highlighted the need for additional preceptor training (52%), better structured programmes (36%), and more program flexibility (23%).
Introducing Preceptor Plus
The Preceptor Plus course has been developed by Elsevier and FNF as its collaboration partner, to address these critical gaps. This course equips practicing nurses, midwives and allied health professionals (AHPs) with vital skills and evidence-based strategies to further their clinical practice skills and become effective preceptors. Through standardising care delivery and improving clinical practice, it provides structured support and leadership development that empowers preceptors while equipping them with evidence-based strategies to enhance their skills in guiding new nurses and midwives.
This course has been designed by nurses, midwives, and AHPs for nurses, midwives, and AHPs. Preceptor Plus leverages FNF’s extensive global community of nursing and midwifery professionals and leaders, to be used by all health and care practitioners, ensuring its relevance and practicality.
Elsevier and the FNF recognize the vital role preceptorships play in nurturing novice talent. Although implemented across many countries, these targeted support and educational frameworks often lack standardisation and consistency.4
By enhancing preceptorship skills, Preceptor Plus contributes to developing transformational nursing and midwifery leadership, supporting newly registered practitioners in their transition and experienced staff in their professional growth.
The course is designed to foster confidence, adaptability, and competence in both newly registered staff and existing team members. Through standardised, expert-led training, interactive teaching modules, and structured feedback, Preceptor Plus cultivates proficiency across all levels of nursing and midwifery experience.
Preceptor Plus represents Elsevier’s commitment to empowering and retaining nurses, midwives and AHPs, building on the proven excellence of the Mosby’s Preceptor 3.0 course. Originally developed by the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) and Elsevier, it has been thoughtfully adapted through our work with Elsevier to create an internationalised version for a global audience.
By investing in robust preceptorship, organisations can nurture future leaders, improve patient outcomes, and foster a resilient, forward-thinking health and care workforce—securing a brighter future for global health.
Course Content and Structure
Preceptor Plus capitalises on the proven benefits of a robust preceptorship approach and its positive impact on retention of health and care professionals. With 16 comprehensive modules, it equips nursing, midwifery, and allied healthcare professionals with essential skills in leadership, advocacy, assessment, role modelling, and learning facilitation, while also addressing cultural diversity, communication, critical thinking, learning styles and conflict resolution. Preceptor Plus can seamlessly integrate with existing in-house training programmes, complementing homegrown initiatives while providing the structure, consistency, and evidence-based framework that drives measurable outcomes.
The course builds on the vital role of preceptors as clinical mentors by offering targeted modules on Understanding Needs and Setting Goals, Preceptorship Learning Plans, Developing Competency, and Assessing Development, among others—ensuring preceptors are fully equipped to support and guide the next generation of health and care professionals.
References
- Goss, C. R. (2015). Systematic review building a preceptor support system. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 31(1), E7–E14. doi:10.1097/nnd.0000000000000117
- Lee TY, Tzeng WC, Lin CH, Yeh ML. Effects of a preceptorship programme on turnover rate, cost, quality and professional development. J Clin Nurs. 2009 Apr;18(8):1217-25. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02662.x. PMID: 19320789.
- NHS Employers. https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/preceptorships
