Meet Traci Jenkins, a certified family practice nurse practitioner at Heartland Urgent Care.

Tell us a little about your business. – Heartland Urgent Care (www.heartlandurgentcare.com) is a full-service clinic with two locations in Lincoln; one at 27th and Capitol Parkway and another in the Piedmont Shopping Center. We offer X-ray, laceration repair, and lab services to help meet the healthcare needs of the Lincoln and surrounding community residents. We provide on-site treatment for acute medical illnesses that are not serious or life threatening. We listen to patients’ concerns, diagnose and treat, and follow up with a phone call after their visit to ensure all is well. Since opening in April 2010, we’ve seen over 18,000 patients a year.

How did you get started in the business? – I started in urgent care approximately 10 years ago in Omaha and followed the owner of that clinic to Lincoln.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – COVID-19 and continuing to meet the community’s needs.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Being able to impact nurse practitioner students in the urgent care setting that I love.

Tell us a little about your family. – I am a mother of three, two daughters and a son, who are all wonderful adult children that make me thankful every day.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – When not working or teaching you can generally find me on the lake somewhere or camping. One of my greatest loves is the outdoors; fall in particular. Sweatshirts, chili, and bonfires are some of my favorite times!

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – In addition to urgent care practice, I am undergraduate faculty for bridging nursing students and precept nurse practitioner students.

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Determined.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? – The ability to fall asleep instantly. I am super jealous of those who can do that!

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? – One talent that I have, or rather that I enjoy, is drawing. I do not get much time to do this but when I do, I love it.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – I would love to live on a lake and run or own a grocery store/bar and grill for the lake. I’d have live entertainment, volleyball, and family nights.

What is your favorite movie? – Twister. I cannot even tell you how many times I have seen it. I can actually quote along with the movie and have been to “Twister Hill” in Pilot Mound, IA, one of the filming locations.

What is one talent you would most like to have? – I would love to be able to hold a tune and sing. I love music, but I cannot carry a tune to save my life. I have family members and friends who play and sing and I love to listen to them.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – The best advice I ever got was from my grandmother. She told me that, in order to love others, you have to love yourself first. I think we forget to love ourselves and appreciate the talents and gifts that we each uniquely have. Learn to love yourself and the rest won’t be so hard.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 477-3505; smkjenkins@gmail.com; www.heartlandurgentcare.com.