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 and community holding signs: "Safe staffing now" "Patients First in the hospital" "Patients First in the hospital" "Safe Staffing Saves Lives"

Central Coast nurses ratify new four-year contract

RNs at Adventist Health Sierra Vista in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Adventist Health Twin Cities in Templeton, Calif., on the Central Coast, voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying new four-year contracts on July 29, winning protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention.
DRMC nurses picket for patient safety

Tenet nurses to hold informational pickets highlighting patient safety issues

Thousands of registered nurses at six Tenet Healthcare Corporation hospitals in California will hold informational pickets on Thursday, July 31. RNs hope to raise awareness in their communities about management’s refusal to ensure appropriate staffing and training, and the impact it has on the quality of patient care and the retention of experienced nursing staff.
Group of nurses outside hospital holding signs "Transgender Rights are Human Rights"

San Francisco nurses to hold vigil for trans patients at Kaiser

Registered nurses from Kaiser Permanente facilities will hold a vigil at 4 p.m. tomorrow, July 25, in San Francisco, Calif., to honor transgender patients being impacted by Kaiser’s newly announced suspension of some gender-affirming care.
Nurses on picket line outside of Alhambra Hospital Medical Center

Alhambra Hospital nurses ratify new contract with strong measures to improve patient safety and nurse retention

Registered nurses at Alhambra Hospital Medical Center in Alhambra, Calif., voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying a new four-year contract on July 22, winning protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention,
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

Large group of nurses in front of Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., holding banner "Nurses for Democracy"

Defending Our Right to Health: NNU nurses challenge attacks on our public health system

Lodi nurses win their first union contract

RN's at Adventist Health Lodi Memorial voted to ratify a four-year contract 

University of California RNs kick off 2025 bargaining

Critical round of talks as system dramatically expands

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.