CNA's active role in legislative policy influences the health care decisions that affect nursing professionals every day.

[2] CNA created a National Expert Commission (NEC) in the spring of 2011 so it could draw on both external and internal expertise, gather evidence and participate effectively in the dialogue associated with the anticipated renewal of a national Health Accord for Canada in 2014.

CNA certification Archived 2015-11-19 at the Wayback Machine is a nationally recognized nursing specialty credential.

In January 2022, three Ontario nurses who had previously been investigated and disciplined for their social media posts about the COVID-19 pandemic filed a lawsuit against the CNA and British Columbia-based Together News alleging defamation and seeking $1 million in damages.

The lawsuit stemmed from an article published September 9, 2021 on CNA's website which "the reckless views of a handful of discredited people who identify as nurses."