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. Nichel Brunder is an innovative occupational therapist with a passion for education and fostering relationships. She began her career in 2013 in an outpatient hand clinic treating a variety of post-surgical patients. As a staff occupational therapist with Orlando Health, Dr. Brunder found her passion, working with individuals with lymphedema and lymphedema-related symptoms. Through interventions and community outreach, she has fostered relationships with healthcare professionals, members of the community and patients allowing the establishment of community-based programs focused on education for underserved populations.
Dr. Brunder holds a specialization in lymphedema and assists in the certification of lymphedema therapists, plays an active role in an Orlando-based special interest group and serves as a mentor. She has experience in treating in a variety of settings, including acute inpatient rehab, outpatient adult rehab, home health, hospice and skilled nursing settings. After working as an outpatient therapist for five years, Dr. Brunder decided to obtain a post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy to demonstrate her passion and commitment to furthering the profession and to show other health care professionals the distinct value of occupational therapy.
Dr. Brunder volunteers regularly with oncology-related causes and youth groups. She joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2021.
