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
Dr. Rice joined the University in 2017 as contributing faculty in the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Biophysical Agents, Integumentary and Analytical Anatomy courses. She became a full-time faculty member as Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education in November 2021. She is the Director, Physical Therapy Clinical Education Coordination.
Dr. Rice graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science in 2000 and a Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2003 from the University of Southern California. She has worked as a physical therapist in orthopedics and women’s/pelvic health since 2003.
