Alexander "Sandy" Nininger State Veterans Nursing

Alexander "Sandy" Nininger State Veterans Nursing holds an overall 2-out-of-5-star rating from CMS, which places it below average compared to other nursing homes nationally. That overall score is built from three separate ratings, and in this case they tell a pretty mixed story. The health inspection rating is also 2 stars, meaning state inspectors found a number of citations that were above what you'd typically see at an average facility. That could mean issues with care practices, safety, or facility conditions that were flagged during official visits. The staffing rating, on the other hand, is a perfect 5 stars, which is genuinely encouraging. It means nurses and aides are spending more time with residents than at most facilities, and that kind of hands-on attention matters a lot day to day.

The area of real concern here is the quality measures rating, which sits at just 1 star. This is the lowest possible score, and it's based on 15 clinical indicators like things such as whether residents are experiencing pain, pressure ulcers, falls, or declining mobility. A 1-star score here suggests that resident health outcomes are tracking much worse than average, which is worth taking seriously regardless of how well-staffed the facility is. Good staffing ratios don't always translate directly into better outcomes, and that gap is exactly what families should be asking the facility to explain. If you're considering this home for a loved one, it would be worth a candid conversation with the administration about what's driving those outcome numbers and what steps they're taking to improve them.

Staffing at Alexander "Sandy" Nininger State Veterans Nursing is notably stronger than what you'll find at most Florida nursing homes. Registered nurses here log about 1.04 hours per resident each day, which is roughly double the Florida average of 0.52 hours. Total nurse hours, which include RNs, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants combined, come in at 5.47 hours per resident per day compared to the state average of 3.87. In practical terms, that means residents here tend to have more consistent access to trained nursing staff throughout the day, whether that's for medication management, responding to a health change, or just having someone available when a need comes up. More hours don't automatically guarantee better care, but higher staffing ratios generally mean nurses are less stretched thin, which can make a real difference in how quickly and attentively your loved one gets help.

Alexander "Sandy" Nininger State Veterans Nursing has a 2-out-5-star health inspection rating, which is below average and worth taking seriously as you weigh your options. The facility has one government penalty on record, with a fine of $38,659 issued as recently as January 2025. A single penalty does not automatically disqualify a facility, but the combination of a below-average inspection rating and a fairly substantial, recent fine suggests this is something families should dig into further before making a decision. Ask the facility directly about what led to the penalty and what steps have been taken to address it. Families evaluating this facility can compare it to others in Pembroke Pines on the Pembroke Pines nursing homes and assisted living page.

1. How many residents does each certified nursing assistant care for during the day shift, and does that number change at night or on weekends?
2. How long have most of your nursing staff been working here, and what do you do to keep staff from leaving?
3. If my loved one had a fall or a medical change overnight, how would you contact me, and how quickly does that typically happen?
4. Can I come back for an unannounced visit at a different time of day, and is there any time I am not allowed to visit?
5. What does a typical day look like for a resident who does not have many scheduled therapies, and how do you make sure they are not just staying in their room?
6. What were the findings from your most recent state inspection, and can I see a copy of the report before I leave today?

"For more guidance on evaluating facilities, see our guide to questions to ask when choosing a Florida nursing home."