<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-11-03</periodOfReport>
  <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-11-03</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000780053</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONWIDE HEALTH PROPERTIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NHP</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001070021</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PASQUALE DOUGLAS M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>610 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1150</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWPORT BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92660</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <officerTitle>COO and Executive VP</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>common stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>500</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable />
  <footnotes />
  <remarks>The purpose of this amendment is to indicate that the insider is both an officer and director of Nationwide Health Properties, Inc. and that the initial filing only reflected his officer status.  There were no changes in his security holdings.</remarks>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Douglas M. Pasquale</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2004-01-15</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

