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 in front of California state capitol building holding banners and signs: "Insist on an RN"

Salinas Valley Health nurses overwhelmingly ratify new contract with precedent-setting gains

RNs at Salinas Valley Health Medical Center in Salinas, Calif., voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying a new four-year contract that features key gains to ensure retention and recruitment of nurses, enhance patient care and nursing practice, and includes new provisions for health and safety, prevention of workplace violence, and dedicated break relief protections.
Four nurses inside hospital

Santa Clarita Valley nurses to hold solidarity candlelight vigil as they begin contract negotiations

Registered nurses at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, in Valencia, Calif., will hold a solidarity candlelight vigil on Monday, Dec.16, as they begin negotiations for a new union contract. RNs say their priorities for a new contract are improving patient care and working conditions at the hospital.
Nurses outside, holding signs "Enloe Nurses United"

Enloe Health nurses ratify new contract with strong measures to improve patient safety and nurse retention

Registered nurses at Enloe Health in Chico, Calif., voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying a new four-year contract on Monday, Nov. 18, winning protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention.
Group of nurses walking outside holding banner "AVH Nurses Union Strong" and signs "Nurses are the heart of patient care"

Antelope Valley Medical Center nurses ratify new contract with strong measures to improve patient safety and nurse retention

Registered nurses at Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, Calif., voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying a new four-year contract on Nov. 19, 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

National Nurse magazine July-August-September issue cover

Shot in the Arm: NNU nurses inject values of care, compassion, community into presedential election, endorse Harris-Walz

Winning Big

How UCLA’s PPC stopped the practice of doubling patients in single-occupancy rooms

Public-sector RNs fight back

CNA nurses are speaking out, standing up for patients, their communities, and themselves

Permanent Damage

Because our government and employers failed to protect nurses, thousands of us will struggle to live with Long Covid for the rest of our lives, jeopardizing our livelihoods and careers.

Full Issue See All Issues

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.