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.

CNA 101

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

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

Hazel Hawkins RNs and community holding signs in front of hospital to "Save our community hospital. Save Hazel Hawkins."

Hazel Hawkins nurses to outline demands for lease-to-purchase contract with private buyer

Registered nurses at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister, Calif. will outline their demands for a lease-to-purchase contract with Insight Health on Thursday, Feb. 27, at the San Benito Health Care District meeting.

February 25, 2025

Large group of nurses outside California capitol building, CNA and NNU logos

Sutter nurses respond to Emeryville expansion

In response to Sutter’s announcement on Feb. 19, 2025 that the hospital system is finalizing plans for a $1 billion complex in Emeryville, Kate Freeman, RN in the emergency department at Summit Medical Center and member of California Nurses Association, provided the following statement.

February 24, 2025

California nurses applaud new bill introduced to track and expose systematic insurance claim denials

California Nurses Association and its more than 100,000 members across California today share their support for Assembly Bill 682. The new bill would mandate public reporting on the denials of insurance claims for California’s patients, something nurses believe can expose the broken trust between insurers and patients at the root of our broken health care system.

February 24, 2025

St. Rose nurses holding signs reading "Patients first in the community."

Nurses call for action to oppose sudden closure of St. Rose Family Birthing Center

Registered nurses on Monday, February 10, are holding an action to protest St. Rose Hospital’s suddenly announced plans to close its Family Birthing Center in Hayward, California, which provides care for expecting and post-partum patients and infants in the city as well as the neighboring cities of Castro Valley, Fremont, and Union City.

February 7, 2025

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

Two nurses outside hospital smiling and holding signs, "Stand up for something or fall for anything" and "We won't give up"

Let the strike times roll! New Orleans nurses stage historic walkout for a fair first contract

Hemet RNs successfully delay obstetrics closure

HGMC registered nurses successfully prevented the planned closure of the hospital’s obstetrics department.

Two CNA-sponsored bills signed into law

Legislation tackle medical debt and dearth of clinical placements

Nursing the Nation

Our solidarity and courage mean everything on the road ahead

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Campaigns

Nurses inside hosptial hold signs "Safe Staffing Saves Lives"