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

Nurses on picket line outside of hospital

Long Beach nurses to hold informational picket and candlelight vigil for patient safety

Registered nurses at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Long Beach, Calif., will hold an informational picket to highlight their patient safety concerns stemming from the layoff of dozens of nurses and health care workers.
UC nurses rally holding signs

UC nurses kick off contract negotiations with statewide rallies

Registered nurses working at University of California medical centers will hold rallies across the state on Tuesday, June 10 to mark the start of their contract negotiations. Nurses’ primary priority, across medical centers statewide, is reversing and halting the UC management’s growing practice of short-staffing its facilities, cutting back on resources, and forcing their hardworking, overstretched providers to do more work with less support.
Dignity nurses holding signs that say "Nurses bargain for RN dignity."

More than 13,500 nurses ratify four-year contract with CommonSpirit/Dignity Health

Registered nurses at CommonSpirit/Dignity Health facilities in California and Nevada voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying a new four-year contract. The fair and equitable agreement recognizes the hard work, dedication, and essential contributions of nurses represented by CNA/NNOC. Voting concluded on June 5.
Nurses in front of California state capitol building holding banners and signs: "Insist on an RN"

Nurses celebrate California Senate’s passage of S.B. 632 to protect frontline nurses and other health care workers

Nurses across the Golden State applaud the California State Senate for voting in favor of a Senate bill which would ensure that nurses and other health care workers are presumptively eligible for workers’ compensation for a variety of injuries and illnesses.
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 at rally holding signs "Fund Care Not Billionaires"

Saving Lives: NNU Nurses challenge dealy Medicaid cuts, public health attacks

Nurses fight to save Medicaid

RNs march in Washington, D.C., protest at members of Congress’ offices

San Joaquin County nurses win new contract

RNs held one-day strike, avert second strike before contract victory

CNA sponsors bills to report insurance denials and end exploitative worker contracts

Measures will publicly document why insurance claims are denied

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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.