<ARTICLE> 5
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0001047335
<NAME> NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
       
                                                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995             MAR-31-1996             JUN-30-1996             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                       6,556,000               7,530,000               4,750,000               5,527,000
<SECURITIES>                                 1,514,000               3,197,000              16,718,000              17,069,000
<RECEIVABLES>                               81,843,000              74,184,000              57,538,000              54,585,000
<ALLOWANCES>                               (4,441,000)             (4,699,000)             (4,889,000)             (5,214,000)
<INVENTORY>                                  3,075,000               3,031,000               3,579,000               3,780,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            89,440,000              84,285,000              78,673,000              76,546,000
<PP&E>                                     218,386,000             192,395,000             201,697,000             214,293,000
<DEPRECIATION>                            (61,465,000)            (40,547,000)            (42,809,000)            (45,537,000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             355,491,000             358,060,000             361,106,000             386,355,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       59,047,000              50,517,000              52,034,000              63,521,000
<BONDS>                                    171,642,000             179,956,000             176,865,000             184,874,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0                       0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 108,899,000             111,442,000             116,073,000             120,957,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               355,491,000             358,060,000             361,106,000             386,355,000
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           350,957,000              92,632,000             184,631,000             281,551,000
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              296,220,000              87,167,000             173,159,000             262,009,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             2,182,000                 643,000               1,140,000               1,695,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          16,891,000               3,472,000               6,169,000               8,474,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             21,115,000               5,465,000              11,472,000              19,542,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0                       0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                21,115,000               5,465,000              11,472,000              19,542,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.67                     .65                    1.36                    2.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.32                     .56                    1.18                    2.00