Handling difficult or aggressive colleagues: advice for nurses

What to do if hostile, rude or negligent behaviour from colleagues or a manager is affecting morale and patient care – and how to challenge it and escalate concerns

• Working in a stressful environment with hostile colleagues can cause ‘moral disengagement’, which ultimately leads to poor practice
• Reflection and empathetic communication can help prevent the spread of aggressive behaviour within teams. Nurses must also be able to raise concerns – and escalate them if nothing changes
• Tips for talking to colleagues about difficult issues, an example of serious misconduct, and three simple ways to improve team working on your next shift

Team working is essential for delivering quality care, and in challenging times