Most helpful orientation activity

Mother/baby rn here. I completed a 6 week fellowship that combined clinical hours with a preceptor as well as 4-6 hrs per week of instruction. Class topics included: assessments, fetal heart strips, complications to include case studies and mock codes. We also had skills classes like IV and foley insertions.

Thanks. The mock codes as a part of orientation is a great idea!

We had lots of "drills" with our educator--she'd make jello and spread it on pads and have us guess amounts to demonstrate how hemorrhages are often underestimated, run mock codes, mock neonatal resuscitations, and role-playing common patient scenarios (poor coping, poor education, hostile family, etc). I was incredibly lucky when I started out, and landed a spot in a nursing residency--one of the things that really stuck out to me in the classes was how well emergencies were covered. It's rare for sure, but the first time I had to deliver a 26 week infant, take care of a hemorrhage, or saw HELLP lab values, I was really grateful that these rare-ish events were covered in my orientation, even if it was only in passing. It helped me to know what kind of help to ask more experienced nurses for.

In terms of skills, my educator made sure the new grads got lots of IVs, SVEs, foley placements, and Leopolds practice, and really emphasized "flawless mastery of the basics". These, and the drills, were far and away the most helpful.