Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are advanced healthcare practitioners with similar responsibilities, such as diagnosing illnesses and prescribing medications. However, their training and paths toward certification differ in significant ways. This blog post unpacks the key differences between NPs and PAs to help you determine which career path best aligns with your goals. What Is a Nurse Practitioner? A nurse practitioner (NP) is a licensed clinician who provides comprehensive healthcare to patients of all ages. An NP can work in virtually any healthcare setting, diagnosing patient conditions and prescribing medications. As of October 2022, nurse practitioners have full practice authority in 27 states, meaning that they can practice Read more
Elizabeth (Liz) Barnes graduated from the University of Southern California occupational therapy program and since then has been practicing within several different settings. Barnes started in school-based private practice, with an emphasis on sensory integration for three years. She then took an opportunity to work for the U.S. Army in Germany, helping to develop a mild traumatic brain injury program, which she also later implemented at Camp Pendleton for the U.S. Navy.
Barnes also worked within acute rehab and acute inpatient at a hospital, focusing on physical disabilities. The last 10 years she has been working in skilled nursing facilities, inpatient and outpatient care, and she has also managed outpatient care. In 2022, Barnes transitioned to core faculty with the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.
