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. Rachelle Agatha currently teaches finance courses in the Master of Health Administration (MHA) Program where she developed the Finance and Economics and Revenue Cycle Management courses.
Rachelle has a broad blend of operational and financial leadership experience from both the private and public sectors in several very complex organizations and industries. She holds a Certified Public Accountant’s license in the state of Tennessee and California. She is a member of several organizations including: the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA); the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CSCPA); the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA); Rotary of Nashville TN; Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA); and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She has also served as an External Team Evaluator for the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Rachelle held key leadership positions in California higher education including the Vice President of Administrative Services with San Diego Mesa College in California serving over 25,000 students in a very diverse community focusing on equity and inclusion for all students. She also held the role of Chief Financial Officer/Corporate Vice President of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. She also served as a Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller for hospitals and large healthcare organizations in California. Rachelle has over 25 years of experience teaching in several colleges and universities in a traditional classroom setting and distance education.
Rachelle has a passion for higher education and makes it a priority to find creative and innovative ways to enhance the student experience and positively impact student success.
