St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
St. Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center has received an impressive Trust Grade of A, indicating it is highly recommended and considered excellent among nursing homes. It ranks #73 out of 392 facilities in Iowa, placing it in the top half, and #4 out of 18 in Linn County, suggesting there are only three local options that are better. The facility is on an improving trend, with issues decreasing from three in 2024 to only one in 2025. Staffing is rated well with a score of 4 out of 5, and while the turnover rate is 54%, which is average for Iowa, there is good RN coverage that exceeds 83% of state facilities, ensuring better care for residents. On the downside, the facility has had some concerns; for instance, staff failed to label and date opened food items, which increases the risk of contamination. Additionally, there were issues with secure storage and counting of narcotics, and access to care plans was not as streamlined as it could be, potentially impacting timely resident care. Despite these weaknesses, the lack of fines and strong overall ratings make it a favorable choice for families considering care options.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Iowa
- #73/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 54% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 60 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Iowa nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 11 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
-
5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Iowa avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
The Ugly 11 deficiencies on record
Jan 2025
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, clinical record review, staff interview, and facility policy review the facility failed to toilet 1 out o...
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Apr 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0655
(Tag F0655)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, policy review, family and resident interviews, the facility failed to address the Baseline Care...
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Jan 2024
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(E)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, staff interview, and facility policy review, the facility failed to label and date food items when opened to reduce the risk of contamination and food-borne illness. The facility...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0582
(Tag F0582)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on clinical record review, facility document review and staff interview, the facility failed to comply with all applicable Federal Regulations regarding Medicare requirements governing billing p...
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Nov 2022
7 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0578
(Tag F0578)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on clinical record review, facility policy review and staff interviews the facility failed to implement Advance Directives, and establish mechanisms for documenting and communicating resident ch...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Notification of Changes
(Tag F0580)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, staff and family interviews, and policy review, the facility failed to notify the Power of Attorney (POA...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0658
(Tag F0658)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, facility policy review and staff interview the facility failed to follow physician orders and a...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Incontinence Care
(Tag F0690)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, clinical record review, staff interview, and facility policy review the facility failed to maintain infection control practices while caring for a catheter for 1 out of 2 residen...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0655
(Tag F0655)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
5. On 11/9/22 at 7:20 AM, an interview was completed with Staff J, Registered Nurse/ MDS Coordinator. When asked about individual resident Care Plans, Staff J stated the facility Care Plan process had...
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CONCERN
(E)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, staff interview, record review and facility policy review, the facility failed to adequately count narcoti...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0582
(Tag F0582)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on record review, staff interview and Facility Matrix Form review, the facility failed to adequately inform residents of their right to appeal a decision for discontinuation of Skilled Services ...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Iowa.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- • 11 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is St Luke'S Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Iowa, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is St Luke'S Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center Staffed?
CMS rates St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 54%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%.
What Have Inspectors Found at St Luke'S Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center?
State health inspectors documented 11 deficiencies at St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center during 2022 to 2025. These included: 9 with potential for harm and 2 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates St Luke'S Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center?
St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 46 certified beds and approximately 36 residents (about 78% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
How Does St Luke'S Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (54%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting St Luke'S Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is St Luke'S Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Iowa. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at St Luke'S Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center Stick Around?
St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center has a staff turnover rate of 54%, which is 7 percentage points above the Iowa average of 46%. Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was St Luke'S Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center Ever Fined?
St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is St Luke'S Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center on Any Federal Watch List?
St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.