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. Janis Henricksen has been a licensed, practicing physical therapist since graduating from Texas Woman’s University with her Master of Science in 2001. She began her career at Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where she earned her Neurodevelopmental Treatment Technique certification. In 2004, she joined the Texas Neuro Rehab Center in Austin, TX, focusing on individuals with neurological injury or complex medical diagnoses in the long-term acute care setting. In 2010, she transitioned to Learning Services, Inc in Gilroy, CA, working with individuals with brain injury in a residential setting. After returning to Texas in 2011, Dr. Henricksen practiced in acute care for The Heart Hospital Baylor Scott and White Plano and Post-Acute Medical Center in inpatient rehabilitation. In 2015, Dr. Henricksen joined Texas Health Resources Allen, working in outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation.
In 2016, Dr. Henricksen earned her transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She completed her Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2020. She earned a Certification in Orthopedic Manual Therapy from the International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine and the Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults from the Geriatric Section of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Dr. Henricksen is currently engaged in cervical spine/temporomandibular joint dysfunction sensorimotor control research. Her other research interests include health and wellness promotion and motivational interviewing. Her teaching experience includes post-professional course development and instruction, departmental continuing education and clinical instruction. Dr. Henricksen joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences at the Dallas, TX campus in 2021 as a Laboratory Assistant.
