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
Jorge Sarmiento joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in the spring of 2013 as a contributing faculty member teaching Administration and Management. He became a core faculty member in fall 2017 teaching Therapeutic Exercises, Biomechanics, and Administration and Management. He also assists in gross anatomy lab.
Prior to joining the university, he worked as a physical therapist in his own private practice in which he treated orthopaedic and neurologically impaired patients. He has more than 20 years of experience in the physical therapy field, including outpatient, inpatient rehabilitation, acute rehabilitation, pediatrics, and geriatrics. He received his initial training as a physical therapy specialist in the U.S Navy. He assisted in developing the first physical therapy clinic for the U.S Navy Special Forces – Navy SEALs and BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition) trainees in Coronado, California. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), as well as its California chapter (te CPTA) and the American Association of Anatomists.
