Carla Espinosa

Grew up… in Chicago. Carla’s mother moved the family from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. after her husband, Carla’s father, walked out on them. Carla has always been a strong woman who knows how to take care of herself.

Living… through a daily double-shift. After Carla leaves work at the hospital, she goes home to take care of her young daughter. Being both a full-time nurse and a full-time mom is not easy.

Profession… nurse at Sacred Heart hospital. Carla wanted to be a doctor since she was a young girl. Alas, that’s not quite how it worked out: “But when I lost my first tooth, and nobody left a hundred-and-eighty-thousand dollars under my pillow for med school, I decided to become a nurse.” Carla is as respected – and feared – as any doctor at Sacred Heart, and woe to the newbie doctor who dares condescend to her.

Interests… her friends, Elliot and J.D. Before she met the new round of interns, Carla had very few friends in her life.

Relationship Status… dating surgical intern Christopher Turk. Carla, even though she loves Turk, likes to keep him on his toes. As she puts it, “I like a guy to wait. I like a guy to want it so bad he basically thinks he isn’t gonna get it ever. Then when he’s lost the will to live, that’s when I jump in.”

Challenge… dealing with the lazy and inexperienced interns at Sacred Heart. When Carla is on the warpath, it’s best to stay out of her way. Even the widely feared Dr. Perry Cox knows not to mess with Carla. She once boldly told him, “You may scare everybody else with those crazy eyes, but you don’t scare me.” Answered Dr. Cox, “Crazy eyes? Low blow!”

Personality… tough, assertive, and no-nonsense.Dr. Cox’s ex-wife, Jordan Sullivan, describes Carla as “one of those bossy-pants types who always tells people their problems whether they ask for it or not.” She’s an alpha female who will go to any length to get what she wants. And she’ll usually get it.