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Minnesota passed a $22.50/hour CNA minimum wage. The federal staffing mandate got killed for the next decade. And today, 23,000 nurses are walking off the job over AI. Let's get into it.
THE PAY CHECK
Money, wages, and what you’re worth.
Minnesota Passed a $22.50/hr CNA Minimum. You're Probably Not Getting That.
Minnesota became the first state to create a board specifically for nursing home worker wages. They approved a $22.50/hour CNA minimum starting January 2026, rising to $24/hour in 2027. The national average? About $18-19/hour.
Here's the frustrating part: three months in, the raise still hasn't kicked in. It needs federal CMS approval first, and that hasn't come through. Minnesota CNAs were promised a raise and they're still waiting on paperwork.
But here's why it matters even if you don't work in Minnesota. This is the first time any state said "CNAs deserve their own wage floor, set by a board that includes the people who actually do the work." If that model spreads, it could change what you earn too. Right now, most states let the market decide, and you already know how that's going.
SHIFT REPORT
What’s happening in CNA world.
23,000 Kaiser nurses are walking out today over AI replacing healthcare workers
Kaiser Permanente started using AI and scripted telephone operators to triage mental health patients instead of trained staff. Today, 2,400 therapists and 23,000 nurses are striking across California in response. One worker put it plainly: "Kaiser is taking the humanity out of health care." If you've used apps like Clipboard or ShiftKey to pick up shifts, AI is already part of how CNAs get scheduled and hired. This strike is the first big pushback from healthcare workers asking where the line is.
SOURCEWhen big investors buy your nursing home, the data isn't good
Research from NYU looked at what happens when large investment groups buy nursing homes. The findings: 11% higher death rates, 4.4% fewer staff on the floor, and 10 times the risk of the facility going bankrupt. These facilities were also 50% more likely to sedate residents instead of having enough aides to actually care for them. If your facility recently changed ownership and things got worse, more patients per aide, more turnover, fewer supplies, this research explains the pattern.
SOURCEThe federal staffing mandate is dead for the next 10 years
There was a rule that would have required nursing homes to provide at least 2.45 hours of direct aide care per resident per day. That rule was repealed in February and is effectively off the table until at least 2034. That means there is no federal minimum for how many CNAs your facility has to schedule. Eighteen state attorneys general are pushing for a replacement, but for now, staffing levels are entirely up to your employer. What that looks like in practice, read on.
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FROM THE FLOOR
Real talk from the job.
One CNA. 66 Patients
A brand new CNA was scheduled as the only aide for 66 patients. It was her fourth shift. Ever. She was still in training.
The other CNA called off. Nobody replaced them. She was told it was just her.
There is no way I can provide proper care to 66 people by myself. I'm torn between going in because they're short and I don't want to look unreliable, and calling off because this assignment seems completely unsafe.
With the federal staffing rule now repealed, there's nothing requiring a minimum number of CNAs on the floor. If your facility puts you in this spot, that's not a you problem. That's a system problem.
Quick question: what's the highest number of patients you've ever been assigned on a shift? Hit reply and tell us. We read every response.
YOUR MOVE
Career paths, certifications, and what comes next.
Your Facility Might Pay You to Move Up. Ask.
Most CNAs figure out career advancement on their own: researching LPN bridge programs, paying out of pocket, juggling school around shifts. But some nursing home chains are starting to build that path for you. Diversicare now offers a formal track from CNA to medication technician to LPN or RN. Other companies are rolling out similar programs modeled after hospital career ladders, where you apply for promotion and corporate reviews it monthly.
The problem is most facilities don't advertise these programs. If yours has one, you might not know about it unless you ask. So ask. And if you want a sense of what each step up is actually worth: Minnesota's new wage tiers put CNAs at $22.50, med aides at $23.50, and LPNs at $27/hour. That's roughly a $4.50 raise per rung.
Ask your scheduler or admin this week: "Do we have any internal programs for CNAs to move into med aide or LPN roles?"
BREAK ROOM
You’ve earned a laugh.
The Giant Inflatable Rectum
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. One hospital decided to go all in on the educational props and erected a giant inflatable rectum in their lobby.
Yes. A giant. Inflatable. Rectum.
We have nothing to add. Just respect for the commitment.
Education comes in all shapes and sizes
That's your brief for this week. Back in your inbox next Wednesday.
Always improving: hit reply and tell us what you'd like to see more of, or less of. We read every response.
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See you next week
The CNA Brief
A publication of thecnaguide.com