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
Rebekah Jarrar is an occupational therapist and educator focused on improving the lives of children and adolescents with and at risk for mental illness and their families. She began her career as an occupational therapist working for a level I trauma children’s hospital in South Florida, where she worked with kids in acute, intensive and inpatient care, many with traumatic injuries and life-threatening conditions. In 2019, wanting to interact more with children within her community, she opened a pediatric clinical practice focused on sensory integration therapy, where she supported children and their families at home, school and in the clinic. That same year, in response to an overwhelming need for mental health support for adolescents in her community, Jarrar started a community girls’ group focused on teaching coping skills for dealing with stress.
Jarrar began teaching as a contributing faculty member for the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Flex Master of Occupational Therapy program on the St. Augustine, FL campus in 2018, teaching Psychosocial interventions. She transitioned to a full-time core faculty position in 2021, teaching application-level courses in mental health and pediatrics. She is currently enrolled in the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences with a focus on teaching in higher education.
