"When I did my clinical rotations at our local hospital, a senior nurse was assigned to help me get started on the shift. She would frequently comment that I probably don't know this or that because I'm a new nurse and would even undermine me in front of patients sometimes. I asked her if we could get lunch one day. I was open and honest with her that the things she was saying were hurtful and causing barriers in my ability to build relationships with patients. I let her know that I respected her as a colleague and wanted to learn from her. I asked that she be more respectful to me as a person and professional. She apologized and said she didn't realize she was doing those things, and we were able to get back on the right track. Sometimes, people aren't always self-aware, and I think it's important to allow someone to correct a behavior before going to your supervisor."

"When I have a conflict with another nurse or coworker, I prefer to be straightforward and address it directly with the person I'm having a problem with. Sometimes it's just a matter of misunderstanding or perceiving something differently than another person, and it can quickly be resolved through effective communication. If it's just a personality difference, I usually just set it aside unless it impacts patient care or compliance in some way.

I once had a concern with the way one of the nursing assistants was using the Hoyer lift. I reminded her of the proper use and offered to assist her, which she refused. I continued to observe her using the lift incorrectly, at which point it was a serious safety concern, and I did involve her supervisor. I try to give everyone a chance to work together and rectify the situation. Still, in this case, the behavior continued and needed to be addressed by her superior to prevent patient injuries."