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CNAs are the heartbeat of patient care. They're the ones present for the small moments that matter most—a steady hand, a warm word, a watchful eye when patients need it most. And yet, recognition doesn't always match the weight of what they carry.
National Nursing Assistants Appreciation Week is a dedicated opportunity for facilities to change that. More than a gesture, meaningful recognition tells your CNAs that their work is seen, valued, and essential—not just to your operations, but to every patient in your care. Here are some creative ways to make the celebration one your team will actually remember.
5 Ways to celebrate CNAs
Recognition doesn't have to be elaborate to be meaningful. What matters most to CNAs is knowing that their facility sees them, not just during Appreciation Week, but as a consistent part of the culture. These 5 ideas are a great place to start.
1. Written messages
People feel more appreciated when a message or a written detail is personalized. They know that you thought of them, that you see their daily contributions to compassionate healthcare delivery, and that they are essential.
- Personalized letters: Write letters or notes to show appreciation for each individual.
- “Thank you” board for CNAs: A board in one of the staff areas could be the perfect place for individual shout-outs to CNAs for their hard work. On this board, healthcare professionals in the facility can post messages to show their gratitude for the CNAs.
- Memory board: Another idea for a workplace board is to create a memory board, encouraging CNAs to share positive stories about their experiences with patients.
For many, a personalized message is thoughtful, but gifts are also well-received.
2. Give gifts
What better way to say thank you than with a gift? Some ideas for simple gifts you can distribute include the following:
- Order a catered meal for the breakroom
- Badge reels
- Pens
- Mini hand lotions
- Stethoscope accessories
- Quality coffee for the breakroom
- A discount code for scrubs
Remember, the details count for each CNA, so each healthcare facility should evaluate what gift would be best received by their nursing assistants.
3. Organize wellness activities for your personnel
Organize wellness activities, both in and outside the workplace, for CNAs. These include outdoor group walks or hikes, workshops, dialogue spaces, training spaces, step-counter competitions, and more. Healthcare facilities can look for activities that support and encourage their CNAs.
4. Organize a spa day and encourage mindfulness
CNAs need and deserve time to relax. Compile a list of your CNAs with a local spa and have them schedule a massage during their time off. Healthcare facilities can also encourage the practice of mindfulness in the workplace, which may help with communication, stress, and attention to detail.
Overall, relaxing, meditating, and practicing mindfulness help CNAs get the most out of their workday and thus provide the best care for patients.
5. Just say, "thank you"
Saying "thank you" to CNAs is one of the most essential parts of celebrating Appreciation Week and every day after it. Whether each healthcare facility does a big or a small celebration for their CNAs, receiving a thank you from their colleagues and supervisors will help them feel appreciated.
We hope that every healthcare facility finds a way to celebrate its CNAs and, above all, recognize the indispensable work that these nursing professionals do on a daily basis.
Why should we celebrate CNAs?
Undoubtedly, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate CNAs. Above all, CNAs provide close and personalized attention to patients, a compassionate duty that they carry out with great diligence and joy.
Some of the vital functions CNAs perform in healthcare facilities include the following:
- Checking vital signs
- Assisting with personal care (bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, etc.)
- Cleaning rooms
- Stocking supplies
- Transporting patients
- Turning patients or repositioning them
- Taking care of the general environment for patients
Additionally, CNAs might be of the utmost importance for their patients' emotional well-being, as they listen to patients or their families and are present in situations where patients are most vulnerable. When a CNA does their work properly, they can prevent significant long-term damage. This is because the CNA has the skills and opportunity to detect subtle changes in behavior and mood that could indicate a deterioration of the patient's overall health, thus preventing potential complications.
Above all, CNAs deserve our respect, recognition, and appreciation throughout the year.
A bit of history
In 1909, the American Red Cross started the Volunteer Nurses' Aid Service, the first nursing assistant organization that helped tend soldiers. Eventually, President Reagan officially recognized certified nursing assistants as a profession in 1987 after realizing just how much they were needed in the US.
History has taught us that healthcare facilities need CNAs. A shortage of CNAs is one of the most frustrating challenges of any healthcare facility because they are vital to patient care. That's why Nursa's mission is to "put a nurse at the bedside of every patient in need" and prevent shortages in healthcare facilities.
Thank you to all the CNAs working—we see you
One of the best ways to show appreciation is by providing support and care to all CNAs, helping them avoid feelings of burnout that often stem from feeling overworked and underappreciated.
With Nursa, healthcare facilities can avoid overburdening their staff CNAs by shoring up shift gaps with PRN CNAs.
Nursa thanks all the CNAs across the country for their continued hard work and dedication to the patients they serve with such passion.
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