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. Rosie DeFeo is an Assistant Professor at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) on the Miami, FL campus. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health Science in 2007, Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2010 from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT, as well as her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership though the University of New England in 2021.
Before joining USAHS, she taught Pediatrics, Neurorehabilitation and Adaptive Equipment in both a Physical Therapy Assistant and Doctor of Physical Therapy program. She is board certified in pediatrics through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and certified as an assistive technology professional through Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. She has more than 11 years of clinical experience in the field of pediatrics and assistive technologies.
