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1. How would you work through a disagreement at work?NEWBehavioralMediumHca Healthcare
Interview tip:
Use STAR to structure your answer: briefly explain the Situation and Task, make Action the most detailed part, and finish with the Result. For example, describe a disagreement with another nurse about a patient care priority, how you listened to the other perspective, reviewed the patient information together, kept the discussion respectful, reached a safe plan, and maintained a good working relationship.
Situation
In my last role, another nurse and I disagreed about which patient need should be addressed first during a busy shift. We were both concerned about patient safety, but we were looking at the situation from different perspectives.
Task
My responsibility was to help resolve the disagreement quickly and professionally while making sure the patient received safe and timely care. I also wanted to protect our working relationship because effective teamwork is important in nursing.
Action
I first made sure the immediate patient needs were stable so we could discuss the issue without delaying urgent care. I spoke with the nurse calmly and asked her to explain what she was most concerned about. I listened without interrupting because I wanted to understand the reason behind her recommendation instead of assuming she was simply disagreeing with me. I then explained my concern and pointed to the current assessment findings and the change I had noticed in the patient. We reviewed the available information together and focused the conversation on what created the greatest safety risk for the patient. Once we understood each other's reasoning, we agreed on the immediate priority and divided the remaining tasks so both needs were addressed. I also made it clear that if we could not reach a safe decision, I would involve the charge nurse for another clinical perspective rather than allow the disagreement to delay care.
Result
We reached a plan that both of us understood and supported, and the patient received the needed care without the disagreement becoming personal. Our communication remained professional for the rest of the shift. I learned that working through disagreement is easier when I listen first, explain my clinical reasoning clearly, and keep the discussion centered on patient safety rather than on who is right.
Why Interviewers Ask This
Interviewers ask this question to understand how a nurse handles conflict while protecting patient safety and teamwork. A strong answer shows respectful communication, active listening, sound clinical judgment, willingness to collaborate, and the ability to escalate appropriately when a disagreement cannot be resolved safely.
Interviewer may ask next
What would you have done if the other nurse still disagreed with you?
If we still disagreed after reviewing the patient information together, I would have involved the charge nurse and clearly explained both concerns. My goal would not be to prove that my view was correct. It would be to get another clinical perspective quickly so the team could make a safe decision without delaying patient care.
What did you learn from that disagreement?
I learned that disagreement does not have to damage teamwork. When I listen carefully, explain the reason for my concern, and keep the conversation focused on the patient, it is easier to find common ground. I also learned that asking for another clinical perspective is appropriate when the team cannot confidently resolve a safety concern.
Registered Nurse Resume Examples
Explore the resume examples below to find the one that best matches your target Registered Nurse role.
Disclaimer: This interview guide is for educational and informational purposes only. It is designed to help readers prepare, but it does not guarantee any interview result, hiring decision, offer, or outcome. Interview questions, hiring criteria, and preferred answers can vary by employer, interviewer, industry, location, and time. All answers, examples, and explanations in this guide are suggested examples for interview preparation, not definitive answers or instructions for professional practice. They are based on research and judgment, are provided without warranties of any kind, and should be adapted to the question, role, and applicable laws and professional requirements. Diagrams are simplified illustrations intended to highlight the main concepts and their relationships; actual situations, systems, and practices may be more complex. Alternative approaches may be equally valid or better suited to a particular question, context, or interviewer. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the contributors and publisher are not liable for decisions made, actions taken, or losses incurred based on this guide.
State Laws and Professional Responsibilities: Laws and requirements governing an occupation vary by state and jurisdiction. You are responsible for checking the current laws, licensing requirements, and scope-of-practice rules that apply to your location and role, and for ensuring that your answers and actions comply with them. Adapt examples in this guide to those requirements. This guide is not legal advice.
Company Notice: This guide is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or approved by the company named in this guide. Company names identify reported interview experiences or the employer context of clearly labeled original practice exercises. Interview practices can change without notice, and inclusion of company-specific content does not mean these questions are official, complete, or guaranteed to be asked. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the author, contributors, and publisher are not responsible for outcomes related to use of this material.
Content Accuracy and Verification: To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we do not represent or warrant that interview guides, questions, answers, examples, or diagrams are accurate, complete, current, error-free, or suitable for any particular purpose. You are responsible for independently reviewing and verifying the information before relying on it.
