Washington PBJ Nursing Home StaffingWashington PBJ Staffing

185 providers • 13,810 residents • 4.21 HPRD

Phoebe J
PBJ Takeaway: Washington
PBJ320

4.21 HPRD (rank: 8)4.21 HPRD · Rk 80.87 RN HPRD3.8% contract

Washington's statewide staffing ratio is 4.21 HPRD in Q4 2025. Washington's statewide staffing ratio is down (−0.08) since Q4 2024. This level is above the national ratio of 3.76 HPRD and ranks #8 out of 51 states.

Total Staffing: Washington
Total Staffing

Washington

Washington Total Staffing

Direct staff excludes Admin/DON. State min. (~3.46 HPRD) may reflect calculated equivalents by MACPAC. Direct staff excludes Admin/DON. State min. (~3.46 HPRD) may reflect calculated equivalents by MACPAC.

RN Staffing: Washington
RN Staffing

Washington

Washington RN Staffing

Resident Census: Washington
Resident Census

Washington

Washington Resident Census
Contract Staff %: Washington
Contract Staff %

Washington

Washington Contract Staff %
WA Staffing Stats
State rank reflects the displayed value, not necessarily stronger or weaker performance.
MetricWashingtonCMS Region 10CMS Region 10 includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.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 HPRD4.214.41+0.20 vs WA3.76-0.45 vs WA#8 of 51
Direct Care Nurse HPRD3.894.11+0.22 vs WA3.50-0.39 vs WA#9 of 51
RN HPRD0.870.81-0.06 vs WA0.62-0.25 vs WA#9 of 51
RN Direct Care HPRD0.660.60-0.06 vs WA0.43-0.23 vs WA#10 of 51
Nurse Aide HPRD2.542.77+0.24 vs WA2.28-0.25 vs WA#12 of 51
Contract Staff Percentage3.8%5.4%+1.6 pts vs WA5.3%+1.5 pts vs WA#36 of 51
Median Case-Mix HPRD (Acuity)3.973.80-0.17 vs WA3.74-0.23 vs WA#7 of 51
Rural Facilities (Share)14%21%+7.9 pts vs WA27%+13.8 pts vs WA#42 of 51
PBJ320 High-Risk (36)

PBJ320 high-risk 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. nursing homes in Washington (36 facilities).

Facility Census CMS ratings Indicators Total HPRD
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Methodology

Staffing from CMS Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) public files (2017–2025), 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.

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