Hospitals in the Dakotas reported the highest nurse communication scores in 2024, while hospitals in the District of Columbia had the lowest, CMS data shows.
CMS collects and publicly reports data on nurse communication as part of its HCAHPS survey data. The nurse communication measure assesses the percentage of patients who reported that their nurses “always” communicated well. The data was collected in 2024 and published in CMS’ Provider Data Catalog Nov. 26
Nationwide, 80% of patients reported nurses always communicated well, the same percentage as in 2023, according to historical CMS data.
Nationally, 80% of patients reported that nurses always communicated well — unchanged from 2023 — signaling continued stability in the measure even as hospitals navigate ongoing workforce shortages and operational pressures.
See how each state and Washington, D.C., stack up below.
Note: The list includes ties.
- North Dakota — 85%
South Dakota — 85% - Alaska — 84%
Louisiana — 84%
Minnesota — 84%
Montana — 84%
Nebraska — 84% - Iowa — 83%
Kansas — 83%
Maine — 83%
Mississippi — 83%
New Hampshire — 83%
Wisconsin — 83%
West Virginia — 83% - Arkansas — 82%
Idaho — 82%
Kentucky — 82%
Ohio — 82%
Oklahoma — 82%
Pennsylvania — 82%
Vermont — 82%
Wyoming — 82% - Colorado — 81%
North Carolina — 81%
South Carolina — 81%
Tennessee — 81%
Texas — 81%
Virginia — 81% - Alabama — 80%
Hawaii — 80%
Massachusetts — 80%
Michigan — 80%
Missouri — 80%
Oregon — 80%
Rhode Island — 80%
Utah — 80% - Georgia — 79%
Illinois — 79%
Indiana — 79%
Washington — 79% - New Mexico — 78%
- Arizona — 77%
Connecticut — 77%
Delaware — 77
Nevada — 77%
New York — 77% - California — 76%
Florida — 76%
New Jersey — 76% - Maryland — 75%
- District of Columbia — 70%
