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. Gabriela Perez is a core faculty instructor in the Occupational Therpy program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in Miami campus. She entered the role of teaching as a lab assistant since 2018, and came onboard as full-time faculty. She started her career as a physical therapist assistant since 2009 and remains praciting. Dr. Perez earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education with focus on Health and Fitness, and her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Florida International University. She received her Clinical Post-Professional Doctorate from the University of St Augustine in 2020. Dr. Perez has worked in various settings such as inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient, and home health, primarily with the neurological population. Since then, she has attained certifications as a Certified Stroke Specialist (CSRS), Neuro-IFRAH, and is a Constraint induced movement therapist. She has also developed and taught continuing education courses focusing on the treatment of the neurological population. She has a passion for teaching and is currently pursuing her doctorate in education at this time.
