Large group of nurses inside holding banner "California Nurses Association"

About CNA

Founded in 1903, the California Nurses Association is a premiere organization of registered nurses and one of the nation’s fastest growing labor and professional organizations in the U.S. with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California.

Collage of nurses

CNA 101

Your guide to joining the RN movement. Learn more about our program, our history, and how we are organized.

CHEU

CHEU

The Caregivers and Healthcare Employees Union is an independent union formed in 2001 by hospital employees to win strong union representation, better benefits, and improved conditions for employees and patients. It is an affiliate of CNA.

Press releases

CNA nurses at capitol raising fists and banner "Insist on an RN"

University of California RNs announce sympathy strike

University of California (UC) registered nurses will walk the picket lines Monday, Nov. 17 and Tuesday, Nov. 18 in a sympathy strike with members of AFSCME 3299 and UPTE-CWA.
Large group of nurses and other canvassers holding signs "YES on Prop 50"

California nurses celebrate the passage of Proposition 50

California union nurses celebrate the passage of Proposition 50, which helps protect democracy and levels the playing field in response to President Trump’s congressional power grab. Nurses and other volunteers with the union knocked on more than 17,000 doors and made more than 394,500 calls, urging voters to vote Yes on Prop 50.
Nurses holding signs "Yes on 50: Nurses for Democracy"

Union nurses, labor leaders, legislators to rally for Prop. 50 in San Jose on Nov. 2

Union nurses with California Nurses Association along with members of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council will be holding a rally and canvass on Sunday, Nov. 2, to call on voters to vote Yes on Proposition 50, the redistricting measure.
Nurses on picket line outside of Doctors Medical Center

3,100 Tenet nurses to hold one-day strike Oct. 30 for patient safety at six California hospitals

California registered nurses at six Tenet hospitals will hold one-day strikes on Thursday, Oct. 30, to protest the multibillion-dollar hospital corporation’s refusal to address nurses’ deep concerns about patient care and safe staffing. The 3,100 Tenet nurses have been in contract negotiations since February, with little to no movement on key issues.
All CNA press releases

Organize with the California Nurses Association to improve workplace standards through collective bargaining, reform national health care legislation, and make a difference for you and your patients.

Videos

2024 California Nurses Association lobby day

Hundreds of registered nurses rallied and marched in Sacramento, Calif. before meeting with legislators about nurses’ key issues and priority legislation.

Safe Staffing Ratios Protect Patient and Nurses

Safe RN ratios have been proven to improve the quality of care and nurse recruitment and retention in California hospitals, yet understaffing is a major issue RNs struggle with every day. Together, we can change that.

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National Nurse Magazine

Nurses smiling, holding signs "Care Not Cuffs"

Of the people, by the people, for the people: Union nurses say no to kings and yes to care

Kaiser nurses protest statewide

Kaiser RNs at 22 facilities will be bargaining for a new contract next year

Anaheim nurses strike for safe staffing

RNs protest management’s refusal to address their repeated concerns about nurse turnover

Long Beach and Alhambra nurses each hold one-day strikes

RNs strike for patient safety and fair contracts

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Campaigns

Nurses inside hosptial hold signs "Safe Staffing Saves Lives"

California Safe Staffing Ratios

A.B. 394, the CNA-sponsored safe staffing law, has multiple provisions designed to remedy unsafe staffing in acute-care facilities. California’s safe staffing standards are based on individual patient acuity, of which the RN ratios is the minimum.

Nurse inside car displaying sign "CalCare"

CalCare

The California Nurses Association is proud to sponsor Assembly Bill 1400, the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act (CalCare), which would guarantee comprehensive, high-quality health care to all California residents as a human right.

Sign "Nurses Heal California"

Supported California Legislation

CNA is committed to building a broad movement for transformative social change and confronting the powerful interests that dominate our economic and political system. Learn more about our supported and sponsored California legislation.