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  <xsd:element id="nhi_NumberOfLessees" name="NumberOfLessees" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesToBeConstructed" name="NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesToBeConstructed" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_NumberofAdditionalPropertiesHUDMortgageSecurity" name="NumberofAdditionalPropertiesHUDMortgageSecurity" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_NumberofMasterLeases" name="NumberofMasterLeases" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_NumberofYearsUntilLeaseEscalatorChanges" name="NumberofYearsUntilLeaseEscalatorChanges" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:durationItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_OriginalCostOfCostMethodInvestments" name="OriginalCostOfCostMethodInvestments" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_PercentageOfContinuingRevenue" name="PercentageOfContinuingRevenue" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_PercentageRentRate" name="PercentageRentRate" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:decimalItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_PreferredDividendsMember" name="PreferredDividendsMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_PrestigeSeniorLivingMember" name="PrestigeSeniorLivingMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_PurchaseOptionAmount" name="PurchaseOptionAmount" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyPortfolioAssets" name="RealEstateInvestmentPropertyPortfolioAssets" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_RealEstatePurchaseLiabilities" name="RealEstatePurchaseLiabilities" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_SantePartnersCommitmentMember" name="SantePartnersCommitmentMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_ScheduleOfDebtAbstract" name="ScheduleOfDebtAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_ScheduleofDebtParentheticalsAbstract" name="ScheduleofDebtParentheticalsAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_ScheduleofInterestExpenseAbstract" name="ScheduleofInterestExpenseAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_ScheduleofInterestExpenseTableTextBlock" name="ScheduleofInterestExpenseTableTextBlock" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_SecuredByRealEstateMember" name="SecuredByRealEstateMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_SeniorHousingCommunityMember" name="SeniorHousingCommunityMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_SignificantAcquisitionCostCash" name="SignificantAcquisitionCostCash" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_SignificantBusinessCombinationProformaAbstract" name="SignificantBusinessCombinationProformaAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_SignificantDevelopmentAndLeaseTransactions" name="SignificantDevelopmentAndLeaseTransactions" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_SkilledNursingFacilityMember" name="SkilledNursingFacilityMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_StabilizedPortfolioMember" name="StabilizedPortfolioMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_SubleasedFacilitiesMember" name="SubleasedFacilitiesMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_SummaryOfNhcPercentageRentDetailsAbstract" name="SummaryOfNhcPercentageRentDetailsAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_SummaryOfNhcPercentageRentTableTextBlock" name="SummaryOfNhcPercentageRentTableTextBlock" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_SupplementalConstructionLoanCommitmentDraw" name="SupplementalConstructionLoanCommitmentDraw" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="nhi_TermLoansOutstandingBalance" name="TermLoansOutstandingBalance" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_TwoThousandFivePlanMember" name="TwoThousandFivePlanMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_TwoThousandFiveStockOptionPlanMember" name="TwoThousandFiveStockOptionPlanMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_TwoThousandTwelveStockOptionPlanMember" name="TwoThousandTwelveStockOptionPlanMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_UnstabilizedPortfolioMember" name="UnstabilizedPortfolioMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_VariableInterestRateDebtMember" name="VariableInterestRateDebtMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="nhi_WeatherlyAssociatesMember" name="WeatherlyAssociatesMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
</xsd:schema>


