EMS – Paramedic
ECG – Electrocardiogram
STEMI – ST elevated MI, also known as a heart attack
They first meet during a code. Sakura was one of the many nurses who worked at the Konoha General Emergency Department. That night she was assigned to be responsible for the resuscitation room and by luck, as she stepped in for shift change a call rang through informing them that an ambulance was 5 minutes out from the hospital with a man who had fallen unconscious, vital signs absent.
A flurry of bodies, hands, and feet prepared as quick as they could anticipating the incoming patient and in that time, Sakura noticed someone new. She knew every doctor in the department, every nurse, personal care attendant, and housekeeper; she definitely had never seen this man before. She would have remembered; his hair was a shock of silver that defied gravity.
Before she could introduce herself, he had commanded attention. His voice was slightly muffled with the surgical mask that covered his nose and mouth, but it was clear to every person that he would be the one leading the code tonight. Within minutes there was a flurry of activity as EMS rolled in relaying information, voices left and right from the nurses, overhead pages calling for a respiratory therapist and the new doctor barking orders. Clothes were shorn, IVs inserted with fluids running through, and blood work drawn.
After what seemed to be hours, the team was called to stop as their efforts were proving to be fruitless. The man was not going to live and the dreaded words left the mouth of the leading doctor, "Time of death, twenty thirty three."
Gloves were ripped off, masks stripped from faces. Sakura groaned internally, she would have to make sure the room was clean and restocked; they had most definitely made a mess with ripped packages strewn on the floor, tourniquets, and alcohol wipes.
"Hey," she called out to one of the nurses. "How are my guys doing?"
Said nurse looked up from furious writing and grinned widely while giving quick thumbs up.
Sakura gave him a quick hug, returning the smile.
"I'll make it up to you later Naruto, I promise!"
As she turned from the now open curtain, her green eyes caught a flash of silver reminding her to introduce herself later on but with how things have already started, she wasn't too sure if she was even going to be able to catch a breath.
The monitor beeped occasionally, displaying all the patients who were hooked onto the heart monitors in their room. A big yawn crept up on Sakura as she glanced over the heart lines of all the patients; she couldn't fight it anymore. It was getting close to one in the morning and only now was she able to sit down and catch up on her charting. The night had most certainly turned out to be a hectic mess.
"Like a train wreck on fire!" Naruto grumbled as he grabbed a new chart that had been deposited into the colour coded "green team" basket by a unimpressed man who simply gave the blonde a blank stare.
"Slow down will ya there Sasuke?"
"I'm sorry for doing my job so efficiently and well." He dryly shot back as he turned back towards triage but slowed down as a large coffee traveller and a box of mini donuts appeared at the nurse's station. Sakura chuckled as Sasuke backtracked and made a beeline for the goodies. This was as excited as he would get noting a slight glint in his obsidian eyes.
After pouring himself a cup of coffee ("He takes it black like his soul" snickered Naruto), Sasuke raised the steaming liquid up slightly with a nod as thank you towards the man who laid down the treats.
"Who tipped you off about us loving food?" Sakura laughed as she made herself a cup of coffee.
"I figured I should get on the good side of the nurses being new and all." Came the muffled reply. "There's also pizza in the photocopy room if you're hungry."
Stars appeared in Sakura's eyes as she looked at the man in front of the desk, she definitely liked the new doc so far. Competent during intense pressure, keeping up with the crazy patients, bringing in food, and not to mention he was pretty cute.
"You did good in there for your first night. Haruno Sakura, nice to finally introduce myself."
"Hatake Kakashi. And thanks, I didn't think my shift would start out with a bang."
Sakura chuckled, "I don't think anyone does even when you've been here as long as I have."
"Her man hanks fer he food!" Naruto grinned through a mouthful of pizza. With a swallow followed by gulps of coffee, Naruto let out a sigh of satisfaction. "Man if only all nights were like this. The name's Naruto, sorry to bug you already but I have an ECG here for ya if you could take a look."
Sakura rolled her eyes, "You're going to get grease on the chart ya goof."
Kakashi took the piece of paper lined with grids and squiggles, taking a glance.
"56 year old female, generally healthy. She has complaints of upper abdominal pain feeling like a burning sensation, starting last night. Also reports feeling generally unwell since then, flu-like symptoms. Her ECG does not look great I want move her to Sakura."
Kakashi nodded along, eyes focused on the paper in front. "Good catch Naruto, call for a code STEMI and I'll page cardio, lets get this patient moved to resus. Sorry Sakura, looks like it's going to be a long night."
Sakura shrugged and flashed a smile, "Welcome to Konoha General Doctor Hatake."
"Just call me Kakashi."
