'Difficult' co-workers...

I would love any advice and resources you all can give me on how to handle co-workers who would be deemed difficult. My patience is slowly running out on my main scrub person. I enjoy working with her because I learn from her (when I'm in my learning frame of mind), and she is outgoing, willing to learn and a great team player who has a reputation in my workplace as being demanding, a pseudo-know it all and aggressive(she admits to being aggressive because of past horrible work experiences). I must confess a part of me somewhat envies her because of her extroverted nature (I'm an introvert), but I wasn't feeling that yesterday when we were doing a mammoth case. So once again, any advice and info you can give is welcome.

My advice is to compliment her for her strengths. While she is admiring you for your great observations and excellent ability to provide her compliments, it will be kinda hard for her to be ugly with you. She's probably feeling unappreciated.

Pat

Please don't give her the same attitude back. (not saying that you would) It will definately not help. Crappy attitudes only succeed in alienating people.

Some people are demanding because in the past when they weren't, they were seen as a doormat.

If someone is that demanding though, i would take it to management.