Have you ever had a disagreement with a peer or co-worker, and if so, how did you handle it?

"Although I consider myself to be easy-going, I am also very passionate about my patients and the care that they receive. A couple of years ago, I saw a surgeon get pretty mad at a PACU nurse who he thought wasn't taking the proper steps with a patient awaking from anesthesia care. I realized that not only was he out of line but also very wrong in this situation. After he left the room, I reassured the nurse that what she was doing was correct, and she thanked me. Following that, I decided to give it some time before I spoke to the surgeon. He and I were very close colleagues, so I took a careful approach that was both respectful and direct. He quickly realized he had made a mistake and apologized to the nurse for his actions."

Choose a situation during your training or career, and describe what caused the disagreement and how you worked to make the situation better following the conflict. Choose an example that shows you are willing to compromise or find alternative solutions to prove you will join this practice as a team player. As a successful Anesthesiologist, you will be expected to lead by example with all of your direct colleagues and support staff.