Note 1 - Description of Business (Detail)	Jun. 30, 2012
Number of Skilled Nursing Centers	75
Number Of Beds	9,460
Number of States in which Entity Operates	10

Number of skilled nursing centers operated or managed as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	nhc_NumberOfSkilledNursingCenters
Namespace Prefix:	nhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant