MISSOURI SLOPE
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Missouri Slope in Bismarck, North Dakota has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is recommended and above average in quality. It ranks #6 out of 72 facilities in the state, placing it in the top half, and is the best-rated nursing home among the six options in Burleigh County. The facility is currently improving, as the number of issues has decreased from three in 2024 to two in 2025. Staffing is a strong point, with a perfect 5/5 star rating, although the 56% turnover rate is average compared to the state average of 48%. There have been no fines, which is a positive sign, but it has less RN coverage than 89% of North Dakota facilities, meaning there may be less oversight in resident care. However, there are some concerns to note. Recent inspections revealed issues such as an ice machine lacking a required air gap that could risk contamination and instances of poor infection control practices, where staff failed to properly follow hand hygiene protocols while assisting residents. Additionally, there was a serious lapse in reporting a case of potential abuse involving a resident who sustained significant bruising, which could put residents at risk. Overall, while Missouri Slope has many strengths, families should be aware of these specific weaknesses when considering care for their loved ones.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In North Dakota
- #6/72
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 56% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most North Dakota facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 48 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for North Dakota. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ○ Average
- 6 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
Near North Dakota avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
8 points above North Dakota average of 48%
The Ugly 6 deficiencies on record
May 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
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review, review of the facility investigation, review of facility policy, and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure all alleged violations involving possible abuse and/or negle...
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Mar 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
Deficiency F0658
(Tag F0658)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, review of manufacturer's instructions for use, review of facility policy, and staff interview, the facil...
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Jan 2024
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, review of the Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) 3.0 User's Manual (Version 1....
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, record review, review of the facility's policy, review of an operator's manual, and staff interview, the facility failed to properly utilize assistive devices necessary to preven...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, review of facility policy, and staff interview, the facility failed to follow standards of infection control for 4 of 11 sampled residents (Residents #4, #5, #9 and #175) observe...
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Jan 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0921)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, review of the North Dakota Plumbing Code, and staff interview, the facility failed to provide an air gap for 2 of 2 active ice machines (kitchen and [NAME] View) observed. Failur...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Why is there high staff turnover? How do you retain staff?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade B+ (85/100). Above average facility, better than most options in North Dakota.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most North Dakota facilities.
- • 56% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is Missouri Slope's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns MISSOURI SLOPE an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within North Dakota, 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 Missouri Slope Staffed?
CMS rates MISSOURI SLOPE's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 56%, which is 10 percentage points above the North Dakota average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs.
What Have Inspectors Found at Missouri Slope?
State health inspectors documented 6 deficiencies at MISSOURI SLOPE during 2023 to 2025. These included: 6 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Missouri Slope?
MISSOURI SLOPE 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 55 certified beds and approximately 31 residents (about 56% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in BISMARCK, North Dakota.
How Does Missouri Slope Compare to Other North Dakota Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in North Dakota, MISSOURI SLOPE's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (56%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Missouri Slope?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "How do you ensure continuity of care given staff turnover, and what is your staff retention strategy?" "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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate.
Is Missouri Slope Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, MISSOURI SLOPE 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 North Dakota. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Missouri Slope Stick Around?
Staff turnover at MISSOURI SLOPE is high. At 56%, the facility is 10 percentage points above the North Dakota average of 46%. High turnover means new staff may not know residents' individual needs, medications, or preferences. It can also be disorienting for residents, especially those with dementia who rely on familiar faces. Families should ask: What is causing the turnover? What retention programs are in place? How do you ensure care continuity during staff transitions?
Was Missouri Slope Ever Fined?
MISSOURI SLOPE 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 Missouri Slope on Any Federal Watch List?
MISSOURI SLOPE 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.