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. Crowder joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2015 as a contributing faculty member and transitioned to Assistant Professor in the Post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program in 2018.
Prior to joining USAHS, she specialized in school-based occupational therapy with 17 years of practice experience in this setting. Additionally, she worked for three years with primarily adult populations covering outpatient, day treatment, inpatient and skilled neuro-rehabilitation settings. Dr. Crowder’s research, published in Preventive Medicine in 2012, includes a grounded theory analysis of family interviews completed with an interdisciplinary team, including occupational therapy, physical therapy and nutritional science.
Dr. Crowder holds state licensure in Florida and Tennessee as well as certification through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. Her specialized training includes the USC/WPS Sensory Integration Certification Program and grant writing. She is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
