This essay reflects on the experience of a newly graduated nurse leading a quality improvement initiative within a medical ward at Sturt Health Service as part of their Transition to Practice Program. The nurse was tasked by the Nurse Unit Manager to lead a small team focusing on improving patient safety in preparation for an accreditation. The essay details the challenges faced during the initiative, including team members' anxiety, communication gaps due to linguistic differences, internal conflicts, and non-compliance with reflective journaling. Different leadership strategies, both compassionate and authoritarian, were employed to address these challenges. The experience highlighted the importance of addressing transition shock in newly graduated nurses and the role of effective leadership in fostering professional growth and competence.