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. Kristy Demers has been a full-time instructor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program since November 2017. Prior to achieving full-time status, she was contributing faculty in numerous courses and worked part time in an outpatient orthopedic clinic. During her years in the outpatient setting, her primary focus was on the evaluation and treatment of movement impairment disorders, repetitive overuse injuries, chronic pain and woman’s health issues. Dr. Demers earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis in 2006, and prior to that, she received her Bachelor of Science in Motor Development from Texas A&M University in 2002. She also has her Pilates Certification from Peak Pilates, and she enjoys combining Pilates, wellness and holistic health in her physical therapy practice.
Dr. Demers is currently teaching Movement Science I, Patient Care Management I and assisting in Patient Care Management III.
