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. Zeida Gutierrez is an educator, a clinician, a lifelong student, and interested in technology. After graduating with her Bachelor’s in Recreational therapy, she realized she wanted to continue her education and transition into Occupational Therapy. After receiving her Master’s in Occupational therapy, she worked in a variety of clinical settings from inpatient to outpatient rehabilitation and provided treatment for clients with a variety of diagnosis ranging from neurological to orthopedic conditions. Dr. Gutierrez was also a teaching assistant while in graduate school. She enjoyed educating students and clients and their families.
After practicing for approximately 10 years , she sought out opportunities in higher learning. She earned a Ph.D. in Instructional Design & Technology and continue to enjoy helping students become capable and caring clinicians. In addition, she enjoys experimenting and creating using a variety of tools and technologies, be it for work related or personal tasks. Dr. Gutierrez truly enjoys working through a problem or task to find solutions which may require adaptation, modification, or the creation of something new. She is thankful to be surrounded by friends and colleagues who enjoy collaborating, allowing her to consistently be working, thinking, and creating. Dr. Gutierrez also has a dog, two kitties, and a horse that are a great source of comfort and joy to her.
