I’m Sorry, but Nurse Dana Can’t Leave ‘The Pitt’ — I Won’t Allow It!

Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for The Pitt.

I’ve found myself becoming enamored with the character of Dana Evans in Season 1 of The Pitt, in part because I’ve always loved actress Katherine LaNasa‘s work. She has flown under the radar on television for decades at this point, in part thanks to shows like Longmire and Katy Keene, but has turned in brilliant character work nonetheless. Here, she’s finally breaking through to the mainstream in a big Max hit, and her character is the backbone of The Pitt. I’ve developed so much respect for Dana’s grit and hardworking ethic as the head charge nurse running the ER. After a moving speech about finally being exhausted enough to retire prior to the catastrophic mass casualty event in Episodes 12 and 13, I am praying that Dana doesn’t wind up leaving the Pitt.

Dana Evans has quickly become the MVP of The Pitt. Providing zingers, sandwiches, and moral support, her prominence in the ER rises as each hour presents new cases more dire than the last. If anything, Dana and Noah Wyle‘s Dr. Robby have become the mom and dad of the very chaotic trauma center — but Episode 9 of The Pitt‘s first season changed everything for our favorite charge nurse. I, along with many others watching, were distraught when Dana was brutally punched by an angry patient in the hospital’s parking lot. Based on what I’ve seen so far this season, however, you can take Dana Evans out of the ER, but you can’t take the ER out of Dana Evans.

Katherine LaNasa Delivers a Terrific Performance as Charge Nurse Dana Evans in ‘The Pitt’

For me, LaNasa is a revelation on The Pitt. From her near-flawless Pittsburgh accent to her agile performance running the ER, she is the rock of the series. She keeps each episode flowing with her comedic timing and one-liners, among them her criticism of Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball) for buying his kids a dog. These instances of levity amid what can be a dark show aren’t just my favorite moments; they’re necessary for the plot. LaNasa elevates every scene she’s in, with her performance driving home the fact that Dana is really the soul of the ER. I can understand why Dana might be ready to leave, especially after doing so much for so many people, but I hate to think what all the doctors and nurses would do without her.

Without Dana, the medical staff would have unquestionably floundered during an unusually stressful shift. She supports her co-worker and friend, Dr. Heather Collins (Tracy Ifeachor), in navigating the devastation of her miscarriage at work, but she also adjusts her demeanor to fit whoever she’s dealing with, and whatever each doctor in crisis might need. With Robby, the two easily rib one another, compared to Dana’s gentler nature with fan-favorite doctor Mel King (Taylor Dearden). One standout moment between the two happens after Mel is overwhelmed by an elderly patient who’s been left at the hospital; it takes just a few words from Dana to make Mel smile.

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Dana Evans Is Essential to ‘The Pitt’

Katherine LaNasa as Dana sitting on the ground with a bloody nose in 'The Pitt' — Image via Warner Bros. Television

While mostly taking a backseat in the first half of Season 1, Dana gets to spread her wings and fly in the back half, with one of her earliest and most significant moments playing out in Episode 9 when she confronts a difficult patient. Although it turns out that Doug Driscoll (Drew Powell) is the same man who brutally punches her later on, Dana doesn’t back down, willing to put her safety on the line to protect the well-being of everyone else in the waiting room. However, her scene-stealing moment is tempered by the closing minutes of the episode. As Dana is left bleeding on the pavement, it’s a sobering reminder of the violence that many healthcare workers. Yet, even after getting punched, she refuses to leave before finishing her shift. Show me something more hardcore than that; I’ll wait.

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Up to this point, throughout every hour, Dana seemed invincible. It’s jarring to see her become so vulnerable after this scene, but it leads to my favorite speech of the season. With a black eye and broken septum, Dana delivers some of the show’s most searing dialogue to Dr. Robby while outside on another smoke break. She reminisces about how she was born in this hospital, and served as a high school volunteer, but her experience as a nurse has been much darker: “I’ve been punched, kicked, spit on, had feces thrown at me. It will happen again… I think I’m done.” The close-ups of Dana’s exhausted, bruised face are going to stick with me for a long time. She has literally been beaten down by patients she’s trying to help, and Robby’s wordless understanding speaks volumes.

It’s a bleak moment for The Pitt and for a character who has dedicated her whole life to saving others’ lives — but what struck me is that if Dana actually leaves, the ripple effect on the ER will be significant. Robby even says in Episode 10 that he doesn’t know what he’d do without her, and it’s true. I understand Dana’s reason for wanting to leave the Pitt and start a new chapter in her life, but it doesn’t mean I want to say goodbye to her any time soon. She is not only essential to the ER, but essential to the show. At the very least, LaNasa should finally get her long-overdue flowers for this incredible performance.

All episodes of The Pitt are available to stream on Max.