Nursing Education Tech Gains Traction Amidst Declining Licensure Pass Rates

Event summary

  • Elsevier launched HESI's Personalized Learning Plan (PLP) in North America on January 27, 2026.
  • The PLP is an AI-powered remediation tool designed to adapt to individual nursing student needs.
  • The NCLEX-RN first-time U.S.-educated pass rate declined to 81.2% in Q4 2025, a nearly 5% year-over-year decrease.
  • The PLP incorporates Elsevier content and features like microlearning, adaptive quizzing, and faculty customization tools.
  • Brent Gordon, President of Healthcare Education at Elsevier, stated the PLP aims to improve learning outcomes and clinical readiness.

The big picture

The declining NCLEX pass rates highlight a growing crisis in nursing workforce readiness, exacerbated by increased demand and potential burnout. Elsevier's PLP represents a strategic bet on AI-driven personalized learning to address this challenge, positioning the company to capitalize on a market increasingly focused on improving student outcomes and licensure rates. The solution's success will depend on its ability to demonstrably improve pass rates and gain widespread adoption within the nursing education ecosystem.

What we're watching

Market Adoption
The success of PLP hinges on adoption rates among nursing schools and students; initial testimonials are positive but broader implementation will be key.
Regulatory Impact
Further declines in NCLEX pass rates could trigger regulatory scrutiny and potentially mandate wider adoption of remediation tools like PLP.
Competitive Response
Other education technology providers will likely respond to PLP’s entry into the market, potentially intensifying competition and driving further innovation in nursing education.