-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 K1AXVQ9/Eaoa193kymr2K1nLqMZycQIV7grrhB727wVdzfEXP71NpP8v7UzPVqgS
 Z1g2rIxhidh6MV8mCbddsQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-09-026110.txt : 20090520
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-09-026110.hdr.sgml : 20090520
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090520180536
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-09-026110
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090518
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090520
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090520

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANDREWS R BRUCE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001073167

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09028
		FILM NUMBER:		09843682

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ARV ASSISTED LIVING INC
		STREET 2:		245 FISCHER AVE SUITE D-1
		CITY:			COSTA MESA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92626

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONWIDE HEALTH PROPERTIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000780053
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				953997619
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		610 NEWPORT CENTER DR
		STREET 2:		STE 1150
		CITY:			NEWPORT BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92660-6429
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9497184400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		610 NEWPORT CENTER DR
		STREET 2:		STE 1150
		CITY:			NEWPORT BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92660-6429

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BEVERLY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19890515
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd243250.xml
<DESCRIPTION>OPTION EXERCISE 05/18/09
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000780053</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONWIDE HEALTH PROPERTIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NHP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001073167</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ANDREWS R BRUCE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>610 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1150</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWPORT BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92660</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>31319</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.5625</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>189188</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>31319</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.0507</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>157869</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.5625</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>31319</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-01-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-01-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>31319</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This price represents the weighted average sale price for multiple transactions reported on this line. The price of the transactions reported on this line ranged from $26.0000 to $26.1304. Upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the issuer or security holder of the issuer, the reporting person will undertake to provide full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options became exercisable in three tranches on January 22, 2000, January 22, 2001 and January 22, 2002.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ R. Bruce Andrews</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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