Flatline ~ Jackson Avery

TWELVE

  I sat at the back of the skills lab as Bailey talked about patient sensitivity.

"Why are we learning about this anyways?" Jackson groaned. He was sitting beside me.

"We are going to use what we've learned today on a patient. Do not use jargons, use language that your patient will be able to understand, be creative with metaphors." Bailey read off her paper.

"Oh I'm terrible with metaphors, I can never come up with one." Charles said.

"Why? 'Cuz you're dumb as a box of hammers?" Cristina joked.

"Ah, good one." I whispered. Jackson laughed.

"You're an ass." Charles huffed.

 "Isn't that a simile?" I asked innocently.

"Weren't we friends?" Cristina asked me. It basically translated to, 'Dude, stop betraying me.'

"Okay, okay." I smiled. 

"Be clear and comprehensive. Explain all risks and possible outcomes. Questions?" Bailey asked the crowd of residents sitting in front of her.

"Why are you going so fast?" Reed asked.

"Well, our patient is arriving at this hospital in just a few minutes. Remember your R-O-C, Reaction, Observation, Communication. If you remember that, you will ih, ROC your patient's world! Follow me, hustle!" Bailey grabbed her stuff and ran off. My friends and I chucked as we picked up our lab coats and walked after the attending.

We arrived at the outside of the back entrance of the hospital. "Alright, people, remember what you learned this morning. There will be devastating consequences if you don't." Bailey turned back around. We all saw a hospital lead a huge truck into the loading area, making us all curious.

"What, did the circus come to town?" Reed asked. When they opened the rear door to the truck, we saw an extremely overweight man. I guessed around 700 pounds.

"Nope, just the elephant." Jackson replied with a chuckle.

"Avery, you're off the case." Bailey ordered.

"Wha-- We haven't even met the guy yet!" Jackson turned and walked away.

"Stupid, kicked off the case before it even begins." I fixed him with a look as he went back into the building.

"Consequences." Bailey looked back and warned us.

Apparently our patient didn't mind cracking fat jokes at himself, but none of us laughed, because we were afraid to be kicked off as well. "We're going to need a bigger hospital." He laughed. Alex tried to control his grin.

April got to to the initial exam on the man, which I was happy to watch and not assist in. "Uh, does this hurt?" She pressed on his stomach.

"Sweetheart, I can't even feel that." He replied. "I'm eating up all of your doctors. There's got to be a patient dying elsewhere, right?" He asked. People didn't respond, so I took it into my own hands.

"Sir, we're going to check your pulse, breathing and circulation. Then we're going to get an x-ray for you." I said, taking out my stethoscope so I could check his pulse.

"I'm having trouble finding a pulse here." Mer declared.

"Or anywhere." Cristina muttered as she checked his foot.

"X-ray!" Reed called, which made us move out of the way.

"Now I understand the sensitivity training... " Mer whispered to Cristina and me.