Name:	nhi_ConversionOfConvertibleDebt
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Convertible Debt Instrument, Conversion Ratio, Principal Amount, Basis

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_ConvertibleDebtInstrumentConversionRatioPrincipalAmountBasis
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of current revolving borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_CreditFacilityCurrentRevolvingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

This item represents the contractual minimum for a variable rate basis such as LIBOR for a debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_DebtInstrumentVariableRateBasisMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This item represents the debt leverage limit that would trigger an increase in the interest rate to be paid on outstanding debt balances.

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_DebtLeverageLimitCouponChangeTrigger
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

This item represents the net book value of real estate pledged toward mortgage.

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_NetBookValueofRealEstatePledgedTowardMortgage
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

This concept represents the outstanding balance of term loans.

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_TermLoansOutstandingBalance
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of contractual principal due at origination of mortgage loan within investment in mortgage loan on real estate by entity with substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate or interest in real estate.

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Interest rate of mortgage loan within investment in mortgage loan on real estate by entity with substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate or interest in real estate.

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Number of mortgage loans within investment in mortgage loan on real estate by entity with substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate or interest in real estate.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in additional paid in capital (APIC) resulting from recognition of deferred taxes for convertible debt with a beneficial conversion feature.

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117331294&loc=d3e34017-109320

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying amount of debt identified as being convertible into another form of financial instrument (typically the entity's common stock) as of the balance sheet date, which originally required full repayment more than twelve months after issuance or greater than the normal operating cycle of the company.

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Name:	us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt
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Period Type:	instant

Fair value portion of borrowing which can be exchanged for a specified number of another security at the option of the issuer or the holder, for example, but not limited to, the entity's common stock.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtFairValueDisclosures
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Period Type:	instant

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Ratio applied to the conversion of debt instrument into equity with equity shares divided by debt principal amount.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionRatio1
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Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The amount by which the convertible debt's if-converted value exceeds its principle amount at the balance sheet date, regardless of whether the instrument is currently convertible. This element applies to public companies only.

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The number of equity instruments that the holder of the debt instrument would receive if the debt was converted to equity.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleNumberOfEquityInstruments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
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Period Type:	duration

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt discount.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value of the assets less the liabilities of a derivative or group of derivatives.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118260190&loc=d3e13433-108611

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payment on derivative.

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-SubTopic 10
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-Paragraph 1B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5580258-113959

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
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-Paragraph 1A
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Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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-Topic 230
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-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
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Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
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For a debtor, the aggregate gain (loss) recognized on the restructuring of payables arises from the difference between the book value of the debt before the restructuring and the fair value of the payments on the debt after restructuring is complete.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of convertible debt securities using the if-converted method.

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The estimated net amount of unrealized gains or losses on interest rate cash flow hedges as of the balance sheet date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months.

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The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
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Period Type:	instant

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The loss recognized in earnings during the reporting period representing the amount of the cash flow hedges' ineffectiveness.

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The amount of debt that an Entity assumes in acquiring a business or in consideration for an asset received in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

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Name:	us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionDebtAssumed1
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Period Type:	duration

Dividend or interest rate associated with the financial or equity instrument issued as noncash or part noncash consideration for a business or asset acquired. Noncash are transactions that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments. Part noncash refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments.

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Name:	us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNoncashFinancialOrEquityInstrumentConsiderationRate
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Period Type:	duration

The total amount of [all] liabilities that an Entity assumes in acquiring a business or in consideration for an asset received in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

Name:	us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionValueOfLiabilitiesAssumed1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The cash inflow from the issuance of a long-term debt instrument which can be exchanged for a specified amount of another security, typically the entity's common stock, at the option of the issuer or the holder.

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