Chicago Med reintroduced a forgotten but important character in season 10, episode 4. While several characters could return in Chicago Med in season 10, the one that was just brought back was not any of the characters who had left the series in recent years. Instead, the new season’s latest episode included a subplot revolving around nurse Jackie Nelson, who last appeared on Chicago Med near the end of season 9.
Jackie’s return revolved around Maggie’s reluctance to allow her to take on the duties of the job she was hired for. Instead, Maggie dealt with the nurses’ stock supplies and performed other tasks not related to patient care, causing tension between them. Maggie’s reluctance came from the fact that the missing Chicago Med character had a mental health problem that required her to be hospitalized at the end of her last visit. However, Jackie’s original story on the show had mostly been forgotten despite being very powerful, namely because it was overshadowed by a different plot in the same episode.
Nurse Jackie Nelson’s Chicago Med History Explained
Her Self-Harming Behavior Led To An Involuntary Commitment
Jackie has only appeared in one other episode of Chicago Med, making her more forgettable despite a strong story. She was a trauma nurse who worked with Maggie in the ED in season 9, episode 12. Maggie noticed signs that Jackie was burnt out and not performing well, but Jackie insisted she was fine despite being overwhelmed by a mass influx of patients. Later, Maggie learned that Jackie was cutting herself and turned to Dr. Charles for help. Eventually, Jackie was committed involuntarily for 72 hours after Maggie found her passed out on the bathroom floor.
Jackie appeared in the same episode of Chicago Med as an intense Marcel story. This story was also emotional but involved a major character rather than a one-off guest star. Marcel’s story also made an impression because it was so heartbreaking. Through the episode, he debated whether he would be able to go ahead with a liver transplant for a child desperately in need of one despite an infection. When Marcel eventually canceled the transplant, it led to a double tragedy when both the boy and his father died. This series of events led to Marcel’s exit from Chicago Med.
If Jackie continues to work at Gaffney, she could be an inspiration to Hannah in Hannah’s mental health improvement journey.
Jackie’s story was one-and-done, with her being introduced as a burned-out nurse in the same episode that ended with her going to rehab. Guest stars don’t often make a lasting impression regardless of how strong their story is; additionally, Jackie’s story competed with Marcel’s, which was longer-term. Thus, Jackie had been long forgotten by the time she reappeared in Chicago Med, eager to resume her old job.
Jackie’s Chicago Med Return Is Vital To Season 10
Her Recovery Dovetails With Hannah’s Mental Health Storyline
Chicago Med’s Hannah Asher has risked relapse of her drug addiction because of her mental health challenges in season 10, and her difficulty letting go of guilt over a patient’s death is underscored by Jackie’s return. Jackie had a similar problem when she was self-harming to deal with burnout. She has since recovered, yet having to deal with people’s mistrust because of what she faced. If Jackie continues to work at Gaffney, she could be an inspiration to Hannah in Hannah’s mental health improvement journey.
