"When I first started nursing, I had a charge nurse who really helped me. I'd like to provide some of that same guidance and leadership to others who are entering the field because, after working as a nurse for nine years, I understand the demands of the job."

"We once had a patient who became extremely agitated and refused to take their medicine. A nurse called me in to help because the patient had thrown an item across the room, and the nurse wanted to restrain them. I asked the patient why they didn't want to take the medicine, and we worked toward a compromise that successfully deescalated the situation without the use of restraints."

"I'm not a micromanager. I believe people rise to meet expectations if we set them high enough and allow them to prove us right. With that said, I'm not afraid to have tough conversations, and I always make sure nurses know I'm a safe person to talk to who is always be honest, transparent, and respectful."

"I once had a nurse on my team who had loud, inappropriate conversations with other nurses within earshot of patients' rooms. I explained how their actions were making patients uncomfortable and affecting the professionalism of the hospital. Luckily, they responded well and kept those conversations more private, so I wasn't forced to take disciplinary action."

"I understand how challenging it can be when a patient dies in our care. In fact, it's one of the hardest parts of being a nurse. I would take the time to comfort them, reminding them that we did all we could, and now it's time to focus on the other patients who still need our help. I might recommend nursing support groups or other resources. Depending on their emotional state, I may redirect them to work on administrative work so that they could calm down away from other patients and hospital staff."

"I'm always happy to do administrative tasks because they give me an opportunity to break up my day and recharge after patient and nurse interactions. I try to find moments without other priorities so that I can get my work done while still being available to my team."

"Having a family member in the hospital can be stressful, so I can empathize with family members who want the best levels of care for their loved ones. I would listen to their concerns and try to come up with solutions that didn't interfere with my or my nurses' work. I'd try to comfort them and make them feel more at ease. Sometimes, we are in the wrong, and feedback can be a great check-in to make sure we're doing our jobs as well as we can."

"Even though we're often busy, I think it's important to take the time to ensure the accuracy of records. I usually read over my work before I submit it to check for errors or inaccurate information. Sometimes if I'm tired or rushed, I'll make notes to complete the work the next day when I can look at it with fresh eyes."

"In my previous role, we implemented a software that allowed us to track patient rooms, discharge dates, and beds. The tool helped us manage the discharge process, reduce cancellations, and minimize delays. I'd look into implementing something similar here."

"I did once have a conflict with a doctor who was routinely rude to me and the other nurses. When things were slow, I asked for a moment of their time and explained the effects some of their words were having on my team. They expressed some frustrations as well, and we came up with solutions to their concerns that drastically improved their attitude."

"I'd probably try to assess how much of whatever supply it was we had left and determine where we needed it the most. I'd allocate all our resources to must-need situations and then get to work to find a restock option as soon as possible."

"I think employee handbooks are extremely helpful tools for new hires. I like to ensure they include values, expectations, and guidelines. I'd also probably have them shadow a more experienced nurse at first until they were comfortable with our procedures and operations. For the first few months, or however long they needed it, I'd keep myself available in case they had questions and work with them to make sure they were confident with how we perform our duties here."

"Unless it was interfering with our ability to care for patients, I'd likely leave it to them to sort out on their own. If it was negatively affecting performance, I might step in and act in the role of mediator. I'd make them explain the problem and their frustrations and work with them to find a solution. If the dispute resulted from inappropriate behaviour or some transgression, I might take disciplinary action toward the offending party."

"If I could quickly update them, I would share what I knew, or I'd find someone knowledgeable on the patient's file who could speak with them. If that wasn't an option, I'd explain that I didn't have time in that moment but that I'd be available soon to go over details with them and offer to have them wait until I could give them my full attention."

"I think it's important for charge nurses to have excellent leadership, communication, and care skills. These skills can help them effectively manage teams while making sure patients' needs are being met."