CU Nursing - Commencement Spring 2021 - 11

11

G R A D U AT I O N

I've always loved it.
My mom has always
loved it. We both
love critical care and
helping people. I also
enjoy cardiac and
neuro nursing "
- Abigael Plotke

nurse for 20 years in Chicago and had
four children. Then, she and her husband, a retired Chicago police officer,
moved to Colorado for better quality
of life.
Once in Colorado, Julia took a job
in the trauma center at Sky Ridge
Medical Center. She also started to
work on earning a master's degree by
taking courses occasionally, but it was
slow-going with four kids and a job.
Courtesy of Susan Baggett

Double Diplomas

MOTHER-DAUGHTER DUO TO GRADUATE
TOGETHER FROM CU COLLEGE OF NURSING
AND WORK IN SAME HOSPITAL

P

" We did the math one night to see
how many classes we had left to
take and realized we are graduating
together, " said 22-year-old Abigael
" Abby " Plotke. " We are so excited! It
was a lucky way of the universe that
we get to graduate together. "

By Deborah Sherman

JULIA'S STORY

arents usually sit in the audience rooting
on their sons and daughters as they walk
the graduation stage and accept their
diplomas. But this May, Julia Plotke will
be right next to her daughter Abigael
during the University of Colorado College
of Nursing commencement ceremony and
also graduate. Julia will earn her master's degree with a
major in Innovation in Leadership and Administration
in Nursing and Health Care Systems and Abigael will
receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Julia once thought she would be a
clinical psychologist. In 1993, she
earned a bachelor's in psychology
from the University of Wisconsin.
But after a couple of years in the field,
she wasn't a fan. So, she sat down and
made a list of what she loved to do:
help people, teach, work in science.
It all added up to being a nurse.
Julia decided to go back to school
and received a Bachelor of Science
in Nursing through an accelerated
program. Julia worked as a registered

When it was time for her oldest daughter Abby to go to college, she told Julia
she wanted to get into healthcare. But
Julia was worried Abby only wanted to
be a nurse because she was one.
" I told her to take lots of different
classes in college and learn about
everything. I didn't want her to decide
to be a nurse just because that's what
she saw me do, " said Julia.
But Abby's destiny was already determined at 19 when she saw her mom
take care of a foster child who had
fallen off his bike and scraped his knee.
" The boy was so scared. My mom had
been an ER and critical care nurse
for about 20 years. She told him,
'I'm a nurse and I'm going to help
you.' It was a really neat experience
to watch that. I want a career where
I can make someone feel safe and
comforted and make healthcare a
good place, " said Abby.
Continued on next page

CU College of Nursing | May Commencement 2021
CU Nursing - Commencement Spring 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CU Nursing - Commencement Spring 2021
