Iowa PBJ Nursing Home StaffingIowa PBJ Staffing
Iowa's statewide staffing ratio is 3.80 HPRD in Q1 2026. Iowa's statewide staffing ratio remains in line with Q1 2025 (3.80 HPRD). This level is near the national ratio of 3.75 HPRD and ranks #26 out of 51 states.
- Q2 2025: 3.82
- Q3 2025: 3.81
- Q4 2025: 3.80
- Q1 2026: 3.80
Staffing hours per resident day for Iowa, calculated by PBJ320 from CMS’s quarterly PBJ nurse staffing files.
Iowa
Direct staff excludes Admin/DON. State min. (~1.76-2.06 HPRD) may reflect calculated equivalents by MACPAC. Direct staff excludes Admin/DON. State min. (~1.76-2.06 HPRD) may reflect calculated equivalents by MACPAC.
Iowa
Iowa
Iowa
Explore Iowa
PBJ320 High-risk facilities in Iowa
85 facilities flagged for staffing or quality concerns.
| Facility | City | CMS ratings | Risk flags | Total HPRD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accura Healthcare of CarlisleCarlisle | Carlisle | 1★ | 3.11 HPRD | |
| Accura Healthcare of CarrollCarroll | Carroll | 1★ | 2.93 HPRD | |
| Accura Healthcare of Cascade LLCCascade | Cascade | ⚠ | 4.26 HPRD | |
| Accura Healthcare of MarshalltownMarshalltown | Marshalltown | ⚠1★1★S | 3.60 HPRD | |
| Accura Healthcare of Newton East, LLCNewton | Newton | 1★1★S | 3.14 HPRD |
Staffing snapshot
Latest state staffing metrics for Iowa.
| Metric | Iowa | CMS Region 7CMS Region 7 includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.Regional figures are calculated from facility-level data using the same methodology as the state figures. | U.S. | State rankRanks compare the 50 states and D.C. by the displayed metric value. A higher or lower rank is not inherently positive or negative for every metric, including contract staffing share and rural-facility share. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Nurse Staffing HPRD | 3.80 | 3.66-0.14 vs IA | 3.75-0.05 vs IA | #26 of 51 |
| Direct Care Nurse HPRD | 3.52 | 3.41-0.11 vs IA | 3.48-0.04 vs IA | #25 of 51 |
| RN HPRD | 0.71 | 0.56-0.15 vs IA | 0.62-0.09 vs IA | #21 of 51 |
| RN Direct Care HPRD | 0.49 | 0.38-0.11 vs IA | 0.44-0.05 vs IA | #23 of 51 |
| Nurse Aide HPRD | 2.53 | 2.45-0.08 vs IA | 2.26-0.27 vs IA | #14 of 51 |
| Contract Staff Percentage | 4.7% | 4.7%Same as IA | 5.3%+0.6 pts vs IA | #32 of 51 |
| Median Case-Mix HPRD (Acuity) | — | 3.42 | 3.74 | #45 of 51 |
| Rural Facilities (Share) | 58% | 52%-6.8 pts vs IA | 27%-31.1 pts vs IA | #10 of 51 |
State rank reflects the displayed value, not necessarily stronger or weaker performance.
Ownership groups in Iowa
Most facilities linked in CMS owner data (Iowa).
Ownership changes in Iowa
107 ownership changes at 107 Iowa facilities · 01/01/2016 – 02/01/2026.
Showing 10 of 40
Showing the most recent 40 of 107 indexed changes. Browse full IA ownership & CHOW search.
Need daily staffing records?
Daily PBJ data, employee rosters, and facility-level analysis.
How these figures are calculatedMethods, definitions, and data sources
Staffing from CMS Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) public nurse files (2017–2026), plus Provider Information (September 2026 processing snapshot) and chain data where shown. State staffing context via March 2022 compendium. Methodology · PBJ guide.
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.