UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                       -----------------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) November 11, 2003
                                                        -----------------






                            BEVERLY ENTERPRISES, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

           Delaware                    1-9550               62-1691861
-------------------------------- ----------------- -----------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of      (Commission         (I.R.S. Employer
        Incorporation)               File Number)       Identification No.)



              One Thousand Beverly Way                            72919
------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------
                Fort Smith, Arkansas                            (Zip Code)
      (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


        Registrant's telephone number including area code     (479) 201-2000



                    INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT


ITEM 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE
ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION


On November 11, 2003, Beverly  Enterprises,  Inc. (the "Company") issued a press
release  regarding  financial  results for the quarter ended September 30, 2003.
The Company  also  announced  that its Board of  Directors  has  authorized  the
Company to purchase up to $20 million of its outstanding shares of common stock.
The  authorization  will be effective  December 1, 2003 and remain in effect for
one year.  The full  text of the press  release  is set  forth in  Exhibit  99.1
attached hereto.

Information contained in this report (including the exhibit hereto) shall not be
deemed  filed  under  the  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission's   rules  and
regulations  and shall not be deemed  incorporated  by  reference  in any filing
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


Exhibit 99.1* - Press Release of Beverly  Enterprises,  Inc.  dated November 11,
2003

*Filed with this document

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                                    SIGNATURE


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:    November 12, 2003             BEVERLY ENTERPRISES, INC.




                                       By: /s/ PAMELA H. DANIELS
                                           Pamela H. Daniels
                                           Senior Vice President, Controller and
                                           Chief Accounting Officer

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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.       Exhibit
-----------       -------
  99.1            Press Release of Beverly Enterprises, Inc. dated November 11,
                  2003

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