Ep 7. Steak Knife

In the seventh episode of Nurse Jackie's first season, entitled "Steak Knife," Jackie finds herself juggling multiple patients with competing demands, while also trying to manage her own demons.

The episode kicks off with Jackie meeting with the hospital's new drug representative, who offers her a steak knife as a thank-you gift. Jackie refuses the gift, but the interaction sets the tone for the rest of the episode, as she struggles to balance her professional responsibilities with her addiction to painkillers.

One of Jackie's patients, a young girl named Grace, is back in the hospital after developing a fever following her bone marrow transplant. Jackie is anxious to help Grace, not just because of her medical condition, but also because she sees aspects of her own daughter in Grace. Jackie works tirelessly to investigate possible causes of the fever, even though she's juggling other patients as well.

Meanwhile, Jackie's neighbor and fellow addict, Eddie, is struggling to stay clean and keep his relationship with Jackie under wraps. He shows up at the hospital with an injury, hoping to be treated by Jackie. She reluctantly agrees to help him, but only on the condition that he leave immediately afterward.

In a humorous subplot, two elderly patients are admitted to the ER after getting into a brawl over a seat in the waiting room. Jackie tries to diffuse the situation, but ends up getting caught in the middle of their fight.

As the episode progresses, the tension between Jackie's various patients and personal life builds. She's caught stealing pills from a patient's room by a fellow nurse, who threatens to report her. In a moment of desperation, Jackie tries to bribe the nurse with the steak knife she was offered earlier, only to discover that the knife is almost impossible to give away.

In the end, Jackie manages to find a cure for Grace's fever, but not before making a series of tough decisions that challenge her personal ethics and test the limits of her addiction. The episode ends with Jackie trying to reconcile with her husband, who she's been pushing away as a result of her actions.

"Steak Knife" is a powerful episode that delves into the complexity of addiction and the impact that healthcare professionals' personal lives can have on their patients. It's a testament to the strength of the show's writing and acting that it manages to tackle these weighty themes while still delivering moments of humor and levity. Fans of Nurse Jackie are sure to appreciate this episode's nuanced approach to storytelling.