CNA Day
June 12, Thursday

Brief historical background
1. Nursing aides first appeared during World War I: the American Red Cross trained over 8,000 volunteers to support overburdened nurses.
2. During World War II, a similar service was reestablished and continued after the war.
3. In 1977, National Nursing Assistants’ Week was established; CNA Day has been celebrated annually since then.
4. In 1987, the OBRA Act in the US mandated certification, formalizing the profession of Certified Nursing Assistant.
5. Since 1977, CNA Day and Week have become an annual tradition recognizing the contribution of over 1.3 million CNAs in the US.
Purpose and significance of the celebration
* National Day of Certified Nursing Assistants is an opportunity to thank them for daily care, patient support, and collaboration with medical staff.
* It reminds society of the importance of their work: assisting with mobility, feeding patients, measuring health indicators, and providing emotional support.
How CNA Day and National Nursing Assistants’ Week are celebrated
* expressing gratitude through cards, gifts, sweets;
* organizing recognition ceremonies, educational and wellness events;
* decorating workplaces with posters, balloons, banners;
* hosting contests, sharing CNA stories on social media;
* arranging communal lunches or coffee breaks;
* official proclamations by mayors or councils in honor of CNA Week.
Example ideas for celebrating
1. Official thank-you ritual – cards;
2. Festive lunches or coffee breaks;
3. Photo zones, decorations in medical facilities;
4. Gift sets: water bottles, souvenirs, stress-relief gifts;
5. Organizing educational or wellness sessions for staff;
6. Sharing CNA stories in media and social networks.