USS Abraham Lincoln's (CVN 72) nurse attained a significant personal milestone when he received his Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) during a commencement ceremony at Duke University May 8.

Lt. Cmdr. TaRail Vernon, a native of Asheville, was joined by his family for a ceremony that represented the culmination of two years' worth of hard work and dedication to attain his goal.

The achievement was particularly special to the Vernon family, as it was a gift of sorts that Vernon was able to provide for both his mother and his wife during Mother's Day weekend.

"There is no greater feeling that a mother could have on Mother's Day than to watch her child's dreams come true," said Deborah Vernon. "I have always taught TaRail that no challenge is too great and no goal is out of his reach if he sets his mind to it and puts in the work. He has warmed my heart with joy."

Vernon began his doctoral program around the same time he checked aboard the Lincoln, and his coursework was accomplished only after he had completed his daily duties as the ship's nurse; an assignment that includes oversight of many of the shipboard health programs in effect on board the Lincoln.

Committing himself to the time and effort required to achieve this level of education was, however, an easy decision.

"[Pursuing an education] is going to be hard, it is going to cost you time, it is and going to be a challenge, but in the end all of the excuses and
fears do not compare to the gratification of achieving, accomplishing and pursuing a higher education," Vernon said.

Vernon emphasized the importance of the support he received from his wife, Latasha, as well as his chain of command as factors that contributed to his
completion of the doctorate program.

"I am very proud that I have accomplished this milestone not for myself but for my family, friends, peers and mentees," Vernon said. "I pray that this
accomplishment serves as a symbol that anything can be accomplished with a strong support system, the will to be better than you are, to do more with what you have and to expect more from yourself."

The DNP will allow Vernon to address critical skills used to translate evidence-based care into practice, to improve systems of care, and to measure outcomes of groups of patients, populations, and communities.

Vernon's DNP was also received just days before the 107th anniversary of the birthday of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps on May 13.

For more news from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), visit www.navy.mil/.