Is a surgical assistant an RN?

In California, surgical assistants must have an RNFA credential. The salary for a Staff Nurse - RN - Surgical First Assistant ranges from approximately $99,973 to $123,106, with a median salary of about $110,499.

A Surgical Assistant's salary ranges from $117,490 to $146,100, with a median of $132,740. While an RN is a registered nurse, a Surgical Assistant may have different training. An RNFA is a specialized RN acting as the surgeon's first assistant during surgery, but not all surgical assistants are RNs.