PBJ320 Snapshot (Q1 2026)

California PBJ Nursing Home StaffingCalifornia PBJ Staffing

Phoebe J
PBJ Takeaway

California's statewide staffing ratio is 4.36 HPRD in Q1 2026. California's statewide staffing ratio is up slightly (+0.04) since Q1 2025. This level is above the national ratio of 3.75 HPRD and ranks #6 out of 51 states.

Total HPRD
  • Q2 2025: 4.35
  • Q3 2025: 4.36
  • Q4 2025: 4.37
  • Q1 2026: 4.36
Providers1,142
Residents101,181
National rank#6 of 51
RN0.59HPRD
State minimumState Standard3.56HPRD
Total Staffing: California
Total Staffing

California

California Total Staffing

Direct staff excludes Admin/DON. State min. (~3.56 HPRD) may reflect calculated equivalents by MACPAC. Direct staff excludes Admin/DON. State min. (~3.56 HPRD) may reflect calculated equivalents by MACPAC.

RN Staffing: California
RN Staffing

California

California RN Staffing

Resident Census: California
Resident Census

California

California Resident Census
Contract Staff %: California
Contract Staff %

California

California Contract Staff %

Explore California

PBJ320 High-risk facilities in California PBJ320 high-risk uses CMS-assigned indicators only (PBJ320 does not assign them): Special Focus Facility or SFF Candidate; abuse icon; one-star overall; one-star staffing.

249 facilities flagged for staffing or quality concerns.

Facility City CMS ratings Risk flags Total HPRD
Advanced Rehab Center of TustinSanta AnaSanta AnaOvr☆☆☆☆Stf★★★☆☆1★4.27 HPRD
Ahmc Seton Medical CenterDaly CityDaly CityOvr☆☆☆☆Stf★★★★1★5.81 HPRD
Alameda Care CenterBurbankBurbankOvr☆☆☆☆Stf★★★★1★4.00 HPRD
Alameda Hospital D/p SnfAlamedaAlamedaOvr★★★☆☆Stf★★★★5.11 HPRD
Alexandria Care CenterLos AngelesLos AngelesOvr☆☆☆☆Stf★★★★1★3.91 HPRD

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How these figures are calculatedMethods, definitions, and data sources

Staffing from CMS Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) public files (2017–2026), plus Provider Information and chain data where shown. State staffing context via MACPAC (2022). Methodology · PBJ explained.

Metrics

  • Hours Per Resident Day (HPRD): Total staff hours ÷ average residents. Example: 350 hours for 100 residents = 3.5 HPRD.
  • Direct Care (excl. Admin, DON): Hours per resident day for direct care staff only (RN, LPN, CNA, NAtrn, MedAide), excluding administrative and supervisory roles.
  • Contract Staff %: Share of hours provided by contract staff.
  • Census: Average number of residents during the period.

Note: Some states set minimums (e.g., NJ, CA, NY at 3.5 HPRD); a federal 3.48 minimum was recently overturned (2025). A 2001 federal study linked 4.1 HPRD to better outcomes in that study. Staffing needs vary by resident acuity (case-mix), day, and shift. Estimates on PBJ Takeaway assume roughly 60% of staff are CNAs.

Data transparency

The PBJ Dashboard pulls directly from CMS data and is carefully vetted for accuracy. Still, sometimes a bug sneaks into the jelly. That could mean: a systemic CMS data reporting issue (e.g., Q2 2017 contract staffing, missing data in 2020 due to COVID) or there could be a coding error on our part. If you spot something that looks off, please let me know via the contact form so I can set things right.

Trend charts omit quarters with implausible submitted HPRD (total/direct below 0.25; RN, LPN, and aide use role floors and neighbor-quarter rules). Full criteria.

Rankings, within-state percentiles, CMS flags (including abuse icon): How metrics are calculated.