Q&A with Mehrnaz Ghorashi: Insights from a Family Nurse Practitioner at Mass General Brigham Urgent Care

Mehrnaz Ghorashi, DNP, is a family nurse practitioner (FNP) with Mass General Brigham Urgent Care. With over a decade of experience in urgent care settings, she joined our Boston Common location in 2021. In this Q&A, she shares what inspired her to pursue nursing, memorable patient moments, and debunks common misconceptions about urgent care.

What inspired you to become a Nurse Practitioner?

I found my passion for serving humanity as a nurse in 2003, after volunteering to help the Red Crescent in aiding the Bam earthquake casualties in Iran. At that time, I had no academic degree in nursing, but with a death toll amounting to 34,000 people and injuring another 200,000, I felt I needed to help in any way I could. That was when I found my calling. Soon afterward, I started my nursing education.

Can you describe a memorable case you’ve handled at Mass General Brigham Urgent Care?

Recently, I had a patient complaining of severe body pains. I ordered tests, noted some abnormalities, and had them transferred to the emergency department (ED). There, they were diagnosed and treated for an acute cardiac condition which could have cost the patient’s life if it went undiagnosed. I find working in an urgent care setting very demanding and exciting as you have no prior knowledge of the patient, but you need to make critical decisions like this one!

What are some common misconceptions about urgent care?

Myth: you should go to urgent care for any condition

Sometimes the public doesn’t understand the differences between an urgent care and an ED. If someone is in an unstable condition–having chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, or uncontrolled bleeding–they need to go to the ED. Urgent care visits are best suited for patients with minor health conditions who are otherwise stable.

Myth: who gets seen first

The ’urgent’ in ‘urgent care’ does not mean that the patient will be out of the office in a matter of minutes! The average total time from arrival to discharge can range from 1-2 hours since we need to prioritize attending to patients with the most serious symptoms. We appreciate all our patients' patience as we ensure we provide the best possible care.

Myth: urgent care providers only see one type of case

Our team handles diverse cases, including chronic health conditions for patients without a primary care provider. For some conditions, we offer an accessible alternative to an ED visit and provide referrals to various specialists.

I enjoy working in collaboration with my dedicated and supportive colleagues. Through teamwork, we are able to handle even the most challenging circumstances.