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. Jocelin Friedman joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences as an Instructor in 2021. She completed her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Drexel University in 2013. Since then, she has completed the Recovering Function Tiered – Neuro-Development Treatment (RPSF-NDT) certification, which focuses on the treatment of patients with hemiplegia due to stroke. She also is a certified LSVT-Big practitioner for the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s Disease.
Dr. Friedman has worked in various settings ranging from acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient neuro/vestibular. She used her certification as a Tai Chi for Health instructor to teach a hospital-based community class that helped clients of all ability levels improve their strength and balance. Currently, Dr. Friedman serves as Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education and as a core faculty member for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences San Marcos, CA campus.
