Wisconsin PBJ Nursing Home StaffingWisconsin PBJ Staffing

320 providers • 17,464 residents • 4.16 HPRD

Phoebe J
PBJ Takeaway: Wisconsin
PBJ320

4.16 HPRD (rank: 10)4.16 HPRD · Rk 100.94 RN HPRD9.2% contract

Wisconsin's statewide staffing ratio is 4.16 HPRD in Q4 2025. Wisconsin's statewide staffing ratio is up (+0.12) since Q4 2024. This level is above the national ratio of 3.76 HPRD and ranks #10 out of 51 states.

Total Staffing: Wisconsin
Total Staffing

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Total Staffing

Direct staff excludes Admin/DON. State min. (~2.06-3.31 HPRD) may reflect calculated equivalents by MACPAC. Direct staff excludes Admin/DON. State min. (~2.06-3.31 HPRD) may reflect calculated equivalents by MACPAC.

RN Staffing: Wisconsin
RN Staffing

Wisconsin

Wisconsin RN Staffing

Resident Census: Wisconsin
Resident Census

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Resident Census
Contract Staff %: Wisconsin
Contract Staff %

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Contract Staff %
WI Staffing Stats
State rank reflects the displayed value, not necessarily stronger or weaker performance.
MetricWisconsinCMS Region 5CMS Region 5 includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.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 HPRD4.163.69-0.47 vs WI3.76-0.40 vs WI#10 of 51
Direct Care Nurse HPRD3.853.41-0.44 vs WI3.50-0.35 vs WI#10 of 51
RN HPRD0.940.69-0.25 vs WI0.62-0.32 vs WI#7 of 51
RN Direct Care HPRD0.660.48-0.18 vs WI0.43-0.23 vs WI#7 of 51
Nurse Aide HPRD2.562.20-0.36 vs WI2.28-0.28 vs WI#10 of 51
Contract Staff Percentage9.2%4.6%-4.6 pts vs WI5.3%-3.9 pts vs WI#12 of 51
Median Case-Mix HPRD (Acuity)3.863.95+0.09 vs WI3.74-0.12 vs WI#24 of 51
Rural Facilities (Share)40%30%-9.7 pts vs WI27%-12.6 pts vs WI#21 of 51
PBJ320 High-Risk (72)

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 Wisconsin (72 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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