From 11 am to 11 pm, Joon Park, MSHI, BSN, RN, CNOR, Fox Chase Cancer Center Perioperative Evening Charge Nurse, manages the surgical staff workflow and patient assignments for the Fox Chase Cancer operating room. As the Urology Coordinator, he works alongside his partner, Kara Kirby, BSN, RN, to support a team of urological oncologists. Sometimes, Park will assist in the OR; other times, he stays on the OR sidelines, ready to assist with any event that arises.

“Urologic oncology cases at Fox Chase are complex and unpredictable. My job is to make sure the surgeons are prepared for any complication that may arise, such as unexpected bleeding or discovering mid-procedure that a kidney tumor has spread to the liver or colon. ‘Extreme readiness’ is the only safe and efficient way to manage every procedure,” said Park. For example, a surgeon may begin an operation robotically, but for patient optimal results, they may need to switch to an open procedure. Park must plan ahead for all possibilities.

“I was drawn to perioperative nursing because it’s a highly specialized and a technologically advanced ‘world within the world’ of nursing. Especially so in an academic hospital like Fox Chase, where patients with advanced disease or rare urologic conditions are referred because of our world-class urologic surgical staff, such as Alexander Kutikov, MD, Chair, Department of Urology at Fox Chase,” said Park.

“Currently, I work as the surgical liaison with seven different surgeons, the OR manager, OR schedulers, and many others in a tremendous team effort. While every patient and every case is unique, the goal of a safe, successful outcome is always the same. Planning and prepping for each cancer surgery is a bit like navigating a new landscape every single time,” Park concluded.