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. Belleza is the Director of Interprofessional Education (IPE) for the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS). As the IPE Director, Dr. Belleza also chairs the IPE committee which leads in integrating IPE competencies throughout the USAHS curricula. He has served in higher education since 2007 serving roles as an Assistant Professor, a founding program director for a PTA program, and co-chair for a college of health professions. Dr. Belleza received his A.A. in General Studies and pre-physical therapy from Washington Adventist University, his B.S. in Life Sciences, and entry-level MPT from Loma Linda University, his transitional DPT from Temple University, and recently completed his M. Phil. and Ph.D. in Education from Walden University.
He serves as an assistant professor and core faculty in the DPT resident program on the San Marcos campus. His ongoing research in IPE has allowed him to present nationally and internationally in the area of simulation and IPE, sharing the story of how USAHS is using this educational methodology within our Centers for Innovative Clinical Practice. His work in this area earned him the honor and distinction of being the recipient of the 2019 USAHS Board Excellence Award – Excellence in Innovation Faculty Award.
