Washington PBJ Nursing Home StaffingWashington PBJ Staffing
Washington's statewide staffing ratio is 4.21 HPRD in Q1 2026. Washington's statewide staffing ratio is down (−0.09) since Q1 2025. This level is above the national ratio of 3.75 HPRD and ranks #9 out of 51 states.
- Q2 2025: 4.31
- Q3 2025: 4.25
- Q4 2025: 4.21
- Q1 2026: 4.21
Washington
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.
Washington
Washington
Washington
Explore Washington
PBJ320 High-risk facilities in Washington 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.
37 facilities flagged for staffing or quality concerns.
| Facility | City | CMS ratings | Risk flags | Total HPRD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Gardens Health and RehabilitationTacoma | Tacoma | 1★ | 3.90 HPRD | |
| Alderwood Post Acute & RehabilitationLynnwood | Lynnwood | ⚠ | 4.15 HPRD | |
| Auburn Post AcuteAuburn | Auburn | SFF cand.c.⚠1★ | 3.66 HPRD | |
| Avalon Care Center at NorthpointeSpokane | Spokane | 1★ | 3.54 HPRD | |
| Avalon Health & Rehabilitation Center - PascoPasco | Pasco | 1★ | 3.93 HPRD |
Staffing snapshot
Latest state staffing metrics for Washington.
| Metric | Washington | CMS 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 HPRD | 4.21 | 4.39+0.18 vs WA | 3.75-0.47 vs WA | #9 of 51 |
| Direct Care Nurse HPRD | 3.88 | 4.07+0.19 vs WA | 3.48-0.41 vs WA | #9 of 51 |
| RN HPRD | 0.90 | 0.83-0.07 vs WA | 0.62-0.28 vs WA | #9 of 51 |
| RN Direct Care HPRD | 0.68 | 0.61-0.07 vs WA | 0.44-0.25 vs WA | #8 of 51 |
| Nurse Aide HPRD | 2.53 | 2.75+0.21 vs WA | 2.26-0.27 vs WA | #13 of 51 |
| Contract Staff Percentage | 3.7% | 4.9%+1.3 pts vs WA | 5.3%+1.6 pts vs WA | #37 of 51 |
| Median Case-Mix HPRD (Acuity) | 3.91 | 3.74-0.17 vs WA | 3.74-0.17 vs WA | #9 of 51 |
| Rural Facilities (Share) | 14% | 21%+7.9 pts vs WA | 27%+13.8 pts vs WA | #42 of 51 |
State rank reflects the displayed value, not necessarily stronger or weaker performance.
Ownership groups in Washington
Largest organizations linked to facilities in CMS owner data.
Most facilities linked in CMS owner data (Washington).
| Organization | Facilities |
|---|---|
| Soon Burnam | 17 |
| Pennant Healthcare LLC | 16 |
| The Ensign Group Inc | 16 |
| Chad Keetch | 15 |
| Stephen W Farnsworth | 15 |
| Ensign Services Inc | 14 |
| Couve Healthcare Consulting LLC | 13 |
| Yisroel E Herzka | 13 |
Ownership changes in Washington
Recent CMS change-of-ownership activity.
87 ownership changes at 87 Washington facilities · 01/01/2016 – 02/01/2026.
Showing 10 of 40
Showing the most recent 40 of 87 indexed changes. Browse full WA 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 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.