“I’ve been in nursing for 37 years and this was by far the best thing I’ve ever done,” said Debbie Roditski, NP, about earning her Palliative Care Certificate from CU Nursing in 2017. 

From acute care rehabilitation to cardiology, Roditski’s career has spanned a variety of specialties. After a hospice experience with her grandmother, her interest in palliative care blossomed while working as a Nurse Practitioner at a subacute rehabilitation center.

Her first exposure to palliative care was a palliative care physician who consulted with the rehabilitation facility. “I was like his groupie. Rounding with him. I realized I certainly could reach more people through palliative care than with hospice,” said Roditski.

While attending workshops and conferences, she picked the brains of other Advanced Practice Nurses who encouraged her to enroll in a certificate program. She began researching programs and decided if she was going to pursue palliative care, then she needed the academics behind her. “I couldn’t ask for a better fit. CU’s program worked perfectly online,” said Roditski.

Juggling work and school “was challenging. In the cardiology practice, I’d see patients who would need a palliative care consult frequently, which I would recommend to the physicians.” At the end of the program, a position came open in palliative care with Holy Name Medical Center. Reticent to apply because of her lack of experience, Roditski nearly talked herself out of applying. But her adult children and her husband gave her the confidence to go for it. “I had no experience and the hiring body was not quite sold. But they gave me a shot anyway,” she said.

Citing a solid academic basis as a requirement before she got the position, Roditiski says the program, “Gave me confidence. For me, it validated I had the academics. At least I had the knowledge and I knew I had resources and could go back for information. I knew where to go if I didn’t have the answer.”

According to Roditski, “By far, this has been the best thing I have ever done. I have my dream job. It’s been both challenging and rewarding.”