First assistant vs nurse

The differences between first assistants and nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a nurse has an average salary of $57,564, which is higher than the $52,444 average annual salary of a first assistant.

The top three skills for a first assistant include patients, patient care and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.

First assistant vs nurse overview

	First Assistant	Nurse
Yearly salary	$52,444	$57,564
Hourly rate	$25.21	$27.68
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	3,202	696,124
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age	43	44
Years of experience	-	2

What does a first assistant do?

First assistants to surgeons are in charge of assisting surgeons in the smooth execution of the operation's procedure and completion. They are the ones who will prepare the patient for surgeries, hand surgeons the needed tools, hold incisions open so that surgeons can easily perform the operation, transport patients to their rooms, and maintain the cleanliness of the operating room. They must also be able to withstand long hours of standing to complete surgical operations and agility to rush in case of emergencies.

What does a nurse do?

Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.

First assistant vs nurse salary

First assistants and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

	First Assistant	Nurse
Average salary	$52,444	$57,564
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $73,000	Between $38,000 And $86,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Conviva
Best paying industry	-	Government

Differences between first assistant and nurse education

There are a few differences between a first assistant and a nurse in terms of educational background:

	First Assistant	Nurse
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Duke University

First assistant vs nurse demographics

Here are the differences between first assistants' and nurses' demographics:

	First Assistant	Nurse
Average age	43	44
Gender ratio	Male, 44.5% Female, 55.5%	Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 9.4% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	10%	9%

Differences between first assistant and nurse duties and responsibilities

First assistant example responsibilities.

Teach patients and family members how to manage their post operative home care needs, self-administration of medication and rehabilitation
Execute and monitor strategic merchandising plans to achieve revenue objectives and reduce expenditures while ensuring payroll remains within budget.
Obtain health history via phone prior to surgery and triage patients upon arrival to the ASC.
Insert Foley catheters and intravenous catheter, if need.
Assist in orthopedics, plastics, ENT, urology, gynecology and ortho-neuro cases.
Provide preventative maintenance ensuring vessel's compliance with USCG regulations, inspections, and certificates.

Nurse example responsibilities.

Monitor patients' status during surgery (circulate in operating room) and manage patients in PACU.
Manage high-acuity cardiac/pulmonary and psychiatric patients
Monitor patients for cardiac rhythm changes and implement medication according to ACLS guidelines.
Educate patients and families on diseases processes, medications, wind care, and iv infusion.
Provide care for patients on medical/surgical, transplant, cardiac, orthopedic, postpartum, neonatal ICU, and psychiatric units
Demonstrate competence in CPR and other medical emergency situations.

First assistant vs nurse skills

Common first assistant skills

Patients, 24%
Patient Care, 16%
Surgical Procedures, 11%
Visualization, 6%
Suturing, 4%
CPR, 4%

Common nurse skills

Patients, 21%
Home Health, 7%
CPR, 6%
BLS, 6%
Acute Care, 5%
Acls, 4%

First Assistant vs. similar jobs

First Assistant related careers

First Assistant related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
First Assistant
First Assistant vs Nurse

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs