Nurse Mom And 3 Daughters Graduate With DNPs Together!
A San Antonio family has taken their shared passion for nursing to an impressive new level. Glenda Deahl and her three daughters—Josie, Olivia, and Sophie—recently celebrated a major accomplishment: earning their Doctorates in Nursing Practice (DNP) together from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC).
Glenda, the mother of the family, found her passion for nursing early on after a pivotal moment in her life. “I knew this was what I wanted to do,” she shared, recalling how caring for her mother during a difficult pregnancy, in which she unfortunately lost a child, shaped her career path. Over her 40-year career, she worked in hospitals, clinics, and as an educator at San Antonio College. She was also the first in her family to earn a college degree, paving the way for her daughters to follow in her footsteps.
Her daughters credit Glenda for inspiring their own journeys in nursing. “She was always the person people came to,” Olivia said, recalling how Glenda’s nurturing presence extended even beyond work. “At camp, kids would come to her cabin for minor scrapes and bruises—it took me a while to realize, ‘Oh, my mom’s a nurse.’”
The idea of earning their doctorates started with the sisters, who invited their mom to join them. At first, Glenda hesitated, feeling she was nearing the end of her career. But her daughters encouraged her. “They said, ‘No, you can still do this,’” Glenda recalled. “I’ve learned so much, and you should never stop learning.”
The journey wasn’t without challenges. Sophie gave birth to her first child during the program, and complications with her IV nearly derailed her ability to graduate alongside her family. Despite these obstacles, the four women supported each other every step of the way. Glenda described it as “a well-rounded beautiful experience.”
The Deahls share not only their achievement but also a commitment to improving healthcare. Josie, for instance, hopes “to continue to give voices to those patients through research so they continue receiving guideline-based, best-in-class care.”
For Olivia, the chance to share this experience with her mom was especially meaningful. Her mom taught her to read and write, and now she was able to collaborate with her as a classmate. She said, “It’s just an incredible gift and I’m just very thankful for that.”
The family’s accomplishment has also had a ripple effect. Glenda’s passion for nursing has influenced others in the family, including Olivia’s husband, Eliot, who is earning a master’s degree in nursing leadership. “I think when you have a passion for something, it’s contagious,” Glenda said.
As these four women prepare to graduate, they are celebrating more than just their individual successes. Together, they look forward to making a greater impact in healthcare and inspiring others to pursue their goals.
