Mercy: "You're just some stupid nurse"

The new NBC drama Mercy, which aired its series premiere last night, was exactly what I expected it to be - brash, yet witty and a replacement for a network that had ER filling the medical void for more than a decade. It also made me ask this question: Do patients really all treat nurses like shit? Because, personally, I think the nurses are the ones who need praise for being there for you when the doctors are too busy with someone sicker. Anyway, here is a short recap of the first episode in case you missed it.

On the outside, Veronica seems like a very confident woman, especially when you see the way she takes control if it is needed. But as we get to know her we learn that she has a lot of insecurities. Much of this leads from her messed up personal life - she was in Iraq and refuses to go to counseling; both of her parents are alcoholics; and her husband cheated on her while she was away at war. Veronica's personal life only gets more confusing when she decides to recommit to her husband the day before the lover she had in Iraq shows up to work at the hospital where she works. She tells her lover that she feels like she has to do the responsible thing and stay with her husband, but the doctor signed a two year contract with the hospital so he is not going anywhere.

As for more medical stuff, when we see Veronica in the hospital environment, it is in contrast to a new nurse, just out of school, who is completely useless. While this new nurse cannot even correctly shut down monitors on a man who is dead, Veronica takes on responsibilities only doctors should have. She is progressive in her medical thinking since she saw a lot of experimentation and trial and error while working on patients in Iraq. She doubts her abilities as a nurse, yet is commended by her patients who look to her for straight answers.

I do enjoy the wit of this show. Last night's episode ended with a cute scene where the three nurses are all fawning over the hot bartender who works at the bar they always go to. He is bleeding and all three want to help him, even suggesting he take off his shirt because it couldn't hurt. When he looks at them like they might be crazy they explain it is OK because they are nurses.

If you watched last night I would love to hear what you thought of the first episode. I too am looking for a show to fill my ER void and I think this may be it. I'm not sure yet if I will watch it religiously, but for now it is entertaining enough to get lost in for an hour each Wednesday.