3 Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in Nashville, TN (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Nashville’s reputation as the country music capital of the U.S. sometimes obscures the fact that the city is also a dynamic healthcare hub. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is one of the nation’s finest healthcare facilities, and the Music City also serves as headquarters for companies like HCA Healthcare and Community Health Systems, operators of the country’s largest hospital chains. Nashville, in other words, is a great place to attend a nurse practitioner program. If you’ve been scratching your head over the question, “What are the best NP programs in Nashville, Tennessee?” we have all the info you need on the 3 best nurse practitioner programs in Nashville.
TOP 5 REASONS WHY NASHVILLE IS A GREAT PLACE TO PURSUE NP PROGRAMS
Proximity to a thriving healthcare scene is one of the main reasons to choose a nurse practitioner program in Nashville. You won’t have any problems finding a part-time job, and if you plan to continue living in the Music City after you graduate, you’ll have your choice of employment opportunities. But Nashville has many other things going for it as well. Here are five:
1. Affordability:
Nashville’s cost of living is two percent lower than the cost of living throughout the U.S. as a whole. The price of housing, groceries, utilities, healthcare, and transportation are all significantly lower in the Music City than in other parts of the nation. As an NP student, you’ll have to put yourself on a tight budget. Your money will have greater purchasing power in Nashville than it will in many other locations.
2. No state income tax:
Are you planning to work part-time while you’re in nurse practitioner school? If so, expect your take-home pay to be significantly higher because Tennessee doesn’t have a state income tax.
3. Robust economy:
Nashville’s economy is strong and growing steadily stronger. Its unemployment rate is significantly lower than the national unemployment rate. When people are employed, they value the primary care services designed to keep them healthy. These are exactly the types of services you are being trained to provide as a nurse practitioner. You’ll find employment opportunities galore in Nashville as well as respect for the kind of work you do.
4. Multicultural population:
Did you know that Nashville has one of the largest immigrant populations of any city of comparable size in the nation? The Music City is also racially diverse and a mix of all ages and socioeconomic statuses. Your clinical nurse practitioner rotations will give you the opportunity to work with many of these residents. In Nashville, not only will you learn therapeutic health interventions, but you’ll also learn how to interact with patients from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.
5. Friendly Community:
Nashville has a reputation for friendliness. The Music City is often described as a big city that feels just like a small town. You won’t have any trouble meeting new pals here, and that will go a long way toward relieving any relocation blues you may feel when you move here to go to nurse practitioner school.
HOW LONG ARE NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN NASHVILLE?
Nurse practitioner programs in Nashville typically take between 12 and 34 months to complete. This is because Nashville-based NP programs are primarily offered as part of a Master’s of Nursing Science or Doctor of Nursing Practice degree to ensure that NPs have a strong foundation in nursing theory and evidence-based practice. The classes needed to complete a nurse practitioner specialty seldom entail more than 12 months though such stripped-down sequences—known as post-graduate NP certificates—are only available to nurses who’ve previously completed APRN training and certification.
Some nursing schools in Nashville are better at streamlining curricula than others. Thus,
full-time students at Vanderbilt University should be able to finish the MSN/NP track in a single year, while
full-time students at Belmont University will require 32 months even though it’s the same degree.
MSN students at Tennessee State University spend approximately 20 months earning their degree.
The lengthiest NP programs in Nashville are those affiliated with a DNP program.
Vanderbilt University’s BSN-to-DNP/NP program requires eight semesters (32 months.) The shortest NP sequences are post-graduate certificate tracks, which usually entail a year.
HOW MUCH DO NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN NASHVILLE COST?
Nurse practitioner education in Nashville is an expensive proposition: Depending upon the school you choose and the academic pathway your NP course is part of, you will end up spending anywhere between $7,000 and $145,000 in tuition.
However, you should begin seeing a return on your investment as soon as you pass your nurse practitioner certification exam. In Nashville, for example, nurse practitioners earn 39 percent more than registered nurses.
Tuition at public universities is usually less costly than it is at private universities because state taxes subsidize a portion of each student’s educational costs.
Tennessee State University, for example, charges residents of the Volunteer State $458 per credit, which means that tuition for the 49-credit MSN/FNP degree will cost $22,442. Out-of-state residents at public universities typically pay more than state residents: Thus, non-resident tuition at TSU comes to $582 per credit or $28,518 for the 49-credit MSN/FNP track.
Private universities charge higher tuition than public universities because they tend to have smaller classes. Universities like Vanderbilt University—categorized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an “R1: Doctoral University – Very high research activity”—also use the money they collect for tuition to fund their research activities.
Vanderbilt University charges tuition of $1,883 per credit, so the 40-credit MSN/FNP will set you back $75,320.
Belmont University is also a private university with a comparatively high tuition rate of $1,450 per credit; an MSN/FNP degree from Belmont will cost $82,650.
When calculating costs, remember that tuition isn’t the only cost you’ll have to pay for nurse practitioner programs in Nashville. Most schools charge fees as well as tuition, and that can easily increase your total costs by several thousand dollars per semester.
WHAT ARE THE BEST NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN NASHVILLE, TN (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
(Based on our
ranking methodology, the following are the 3 Best NP programs in Nashville, Tennessee (Online & Campus) for the year 2025.)
1. Vanderbilt University
Programs Offered: MSN,
BSN-to-DNP, and
Post-Master's Certificate
MSN Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner/Emergency Nurse Practitioner (FNP/ENP), Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Nurse-Midwifery/Family Nurse Practitioner - Dual Focus, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Lifespan), Women's Health/Gender-Related Nurse Practitioner, and Women's Health Gender-Related/Agpcnp — Dual Focus
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner/Emergency Nurse Practitioner (FNP/ENP)
Post-Master's Certificate Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Nurse Practitioner (FNP/ENP), Emergency Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate for Family Nurse Practitioners, Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Lifespan), and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
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About the School: Vanderbilt University’s School of Nursing is one of the most prestigious institutions of nursing education in the U.S. Since its founding, it’s been known for its innovative approach to nursing instruction. In the 1970s, VUSN pioneered the first family nurse practice and psychiatric-mental health nurse practice specialties. In 1986, it became the first nursing school in the nation to customize an MSN program for students whose bachelor’s degrees are outside the nursing field. The school’s NP training tracks are considered the best nurse practitioner programs in Nashville.
Vanderbilt’s School of Nursing offers three pathways that lead to nurse practitioner certification: an MSN degree, a BSN-to-DNP degree, and a post-master’s NP certificate. The MSN program is affiliated with eight single NP specialties: an AGACNP track, an AGPCNP track, an FNP track, an NNP track, a PACNP track, a PPCNP track, a PMHNP track, or a Women's Health/Gender-Related Nurse Practitioner track (WHGRNP.) The MSN program is also affiliated with three dual-focus NP tracks: a Nurse-Midwifery/Family Nurse Practitioner (NM-FNP) specialty, a Women’s Health Gender-Related/AGPCNP specialty, and a Family Nurse Practitioner/Emergency Nurse Practitioner (FNP/ENP) specialty.
If you enroll in the BSN-to-DNP program, you can choose either the AGACNP track or the FNP/ENP track.
Advanced practice RNs can expand their areas of clinical expertise by enrolling in one of nine post-master’s certificates: an AGACNP track, an AGPCNP track, an FNP/ENP track, an ENP track, an FNP track, an NNP track, a PACNP track, a PPCNP track, a PMHNP track, or a WHNP track. Additionally, the Vanderbilt School of Nursing offers a customized Emergency Nurse Practitioner post-master’s certificate specifically for FNPs.
MSN Program Details: Most students who enroll in Vanderbilt’s MSN/NP programs will be able to pursue their educational goals using a hybrid learning model. However, there are exceptions to this: AGACNP students with less than two years of professional nursing experience must complete the program at Vanderbilt’s campus in Nashville, and inexperienced nurses pursuing the PMHNP track are encouraged to relocate to Nashville. For students pursuing the dual Nurse-Midwifery/FNP track, all midwifery classes will be taught on campus.
The hybrid learning model allows students to access most of their educational materials online using asynchronous technology. All students are required to attend a three-day orientation session on campus, however, and they’re also required to attend “block classes” at the Vanderbilt School of Nursing lasting anywhere from three to five days and meeting anywhere from five to 10 times a year.
The AGACNP track entails 40 credits and 630 clinical hours; the AGPCNP track 40 credits and 530 clinical hours; the FNP track 40 credits and 630 clinical hours; the NNP track 41 credits and 700 clinical hours; the PACNP track 40 hours and 630 hours; the PPCNP track 40 credits and 700 clinical hours; the PMHNP track 41 credits and 560 clinical hours, and the WHGRNP track 40 hours and 630 clinical hours. As you might expect, the two dual-focus NP tracks are more intensive; the NM-FNP track involves 66 credits and 1,365 clinical hours, while the FNP/ENP track comprises 51 credits and 980 clinical hours.
The MSN curriculum is divided into advanced practice RN coursework, NP specialty coursework, and clinical practicums. APRN coursework includes classes like “Professional Formation 1: Roles and Contexts for Advanced Nursing Practice,” “Professional Formation 2: Application of Evidence in Healthcare Environments,” and “Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning.”
Clinical placements are a collaborative effort, and VUSN staff will work with you in identifying and securing an appropriate site and preceptor. If you are residing outside of the Middle Tennessee area, VUSN will help you find a suitable clinical placement in your home area. The university partners with many prestigious hospitals, clinics, and community agencies within the Greater Nashville Metropolitan Area on practicums for NP students who remain in the Middle Tennessee area, including the top-ranked Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
MSN Program Length: Vanderbilt offers full-time and part-time options. Full-time students should be able to complete the MSN/NP curriculum in a single year, while part-time students should complete it in two years. Vanderbilt University Medical Center staff who enroll in VUSN’s MSN program have the option of completing the program in three years. All classes begin in the fall semester.
MSN Admission Requirements: Entry into Vanderbilt University’s MSN-NP program is extremely competitive. You must have a BSN from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and hold an active, unencumbered RN license in the state where you intend to do your practicums. You’ll need to submit a statement of purpose and three professional references with your application.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: In addition to the advanced practice RN competencies that are an essential part of the university’s MSN curriculum, Vanderbilt University’s BSN-to-DNP curriculum includes coursework that emphasizes nursing leadership skills, such as the evaluation of evidence and the development of meaningful interventions with the potential to improve health outcomes based upon that evidence.
The AGACNP specialty requires 65 to 67 credits, while the FNP/ENP specialty entails 77 credits. You must complete a scholarly DNP project. You’ll complete your APRN and NP specialty training first before you begin taking DNP-specific classes.
All DNP programs require a minimum of 1,000 clinical practicum hours. For students pursuing the AGACNP track, 630 clinical hours must be related to their NP specialty; for students pursuing the FNP/ENP track, 980 clinical hours must be connected to their NP specialty.
Most coursework is offered online, but students must visit Vanderbilt’s campus in Nashville for one week each semester to participate in orientations and skills intensives. Online coursework is primarily offered in an asynchronous format. You must have APRN certification before you begin the DNP integrative portions of your clinical practicums.
BSN-to-DNP Program Length: Vanderbilt’s BSN-to-DNP NP program is only offered full-time. All classes begin in the fall semester. The entire program takes eight semesters (32 months) to complete.
BSN-to-DNP Admission Requirements: You must have a BSN from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must have an active, unrestricted RN license in the state where you’ll be completing your clinical practicums.
BSN-to-DNP/AGACNP program applicants must be prepared to live in the Middle Tennessee area.
Applicants to the BSN-to-DNP/FNP-ENP program must have two or more years of professional RN experience, one of which involved working in an emergency department. They must also have current TNCC, ACLS, and PALS certifications.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: Vanderbilt University’s post-master’s NP certificate program is intended for APRN-certified professionals who are interested in extending their expertise into a new area of clinical practice. The curriculum you follow will be individualized since, upon admission into this program, VUSN does a gap analysis to determine whether you can transfer over any credits from previous graduate nursing classes you’ve taken.
In general, however, the AGACNP, AGPCNP, PACNP, and WHGRNP certificates involve 30 credits; the FNP, NNP, and PPCNP certificates 31 credits; and the PMHNP certificate 32 credits. Students pursuing post-master’s NP certificates must complete at least 500 clinical hours.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Length: Classes begin in the fall semester. The post-master’s NP certificate sequence takes one year (three semesters) to complete.
If you have an MSN but have not yet earned a DNP degree, you have the option of adding a DNP degree to your post-master’s NP certificate training. This will involve an additional 32 DNP credits.
Post-Master’s Certificate Admission Requirements: You must have a master’s degree from an accredited nursing program and an active, unencumbered RN license in the state where you’ll be participating in clinical practicums.
Scholarships & Financial Aid for Vanderbilt University NP Students: This nurse practitioner program in Nashville is known for the scholarship support it gives to its graduate nursing students. For example, all Vanderbilt University’s MSN program students may qualify for tuition reductions. Students may be eligible for other types of federal and state financial aid based on the information they submit in their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.
Interesting Highlights About Vanderbilt University NP School
• In 2021, Vanderbilt University awarded 347 MSN and 49 DNP degrees.
•
U.S. News & World Report dubbed VUSN’s MSN program the 6th best in the nation and its DNP program the 13th best in the U.S. In addition,
U.S. News & World Report has named Vanderbilt’s MSN/PPCNP the best of its kind in the nation, its MSN/FNP, MSN/AGACNP, and MSN/PMHNP tracks the second-best of their kind, and the DNP/AGACNP and DNP/PMHNP tracks the second best of their kind.
• Vanderbilt’s AGACNP track has 12 subspecialties: Cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery
critical care, endocrinology (including diabetes), nephrology, oncology, pulmonology, neurology, neurosurgery, transplantation, trauma, and rehabilitation.
• BSN-to-DNP students will be awarded an MSN degree after they complete the requirements for that degree.
• Vanderbilt University also offers an MSN-to-DNP program whose advanced practice clinical track relies upon the completion of post-master’s certificates for its NP training.
2. Belmont University
Programs Offered: MSN and
Post Graduate Certificate
MSN Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Post-Graduate Certificate Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
About the School: Belmont University is the largest ecumenical Christian University in the U.S. While the university admits students of all faith backgrounds, Christianity plays a vital role in campus life, and nursing education at the university’s nursing Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing reflects a Christian orientation. This NP program in Nashville offers an MSN degree and a post-graduate NP certificate with an FNP specialization.
MSN Program Details: Belmont University’s 57-credit MSN-NP program is taught at the school’s campus in Nashville, although some educational materials may be made available online. Students are required to complete 620 to 770 clinical hours. The curriculum is divided into core MSN coursework, NP specialization coursework, and clinical practicums. Core MSN coursework includes classes like “Advanced Pathophysiology,” “Statistics in Health Care Research,” and “Population Health & Epidemiology.”
Belmont has a state-of-the-art simulation center where FNP students can learn the clinical hands-on skills they’ll be using in their nursing practice. Clinical practicums are scheduled in various primary healthcare settings across Nashville and other parts of Middle Tennessee.
MSN Program Length: Belmont University’s MSN/FNP program takes eight semesters (34 months) to complete. Classes begin in the fall semester.
MSN Admission Requirements: Belmont University relies upon the Nursing Central Application Service (Nursing CAS) to process its graduate nursing applications. You must have a BSN from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants must hold either a Tennessee RN license or an RN license from a compact state. You must submit a writing sample and two professional references with your application.
Post-Graduate Certificate Program Details: Belmont’s post-graduate FNP certificate is designed for APRN-prepared nurses who want to add proficiency in family practice to their other clinical competencies. As with other post-graduate certificate NP programs in Nashville, Belmont’s certificate curriculum is customized according to the number of credits you can transfer from previous graduate-level nursing coursework. In general, though, this program requires 24 credits and the completion of 620 to 770 clinical hours. The program deploys a hybrid teaching model that combines online coursework with campus-based skills intensives.
Post-Graduate Certificate Program Length: Full-time students should be able to complete this program in one year.
Post-Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements: For admission into this program, you’ll need a graduate nursing degree and APRN certification that’s not FNP certification.
Scholarships & Financial Aid for Belmont University NP Students: While the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing administers a few scholarships specifically for undergraduate nursing students, no internal scholarships have been designated for graduate nursing students. You may be able to qualify for federal and state grants and loans, however, based on the information you enter on your FAFSA form.
Interesting Highlights About Belmont University NP School
• Belmont University awarded 14 MSN degrees throughout the 2020-2021 academic year.
• Belmont University offers a BSN-to-DNP program that uses the university’s post-graduate FNP certificate training to impart advanced clinical practice RN skills.
• The Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing participates in mission activities in international destinations like Cambodia, China, Guatemala, Haiti, Ireland, and Africa.
3. Tennessee State University
Programs Offered: MSN and
Post Graduate Certificate
MSN Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Post-Graduate Certificate Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
About the School: While Tennessee State University is the only publicly funded, historically Black institution of higher learning in the Volunteer State, it’s open to students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. The university’s School of Nursing is committed to helping remediate the chronic shortage of primary healthcare providers in Nashville and surrounding communities throughout Middle Tennessee.
This nurse practitioner school in Nashville offers a Family Nurse Practice specialty in conjunction with both an MSN and a post-graduate certificate program.
MSN Program Details: TSU’s MSN curriculum was designed to accommodate the needs of working nurses. The curriculum consists of 49 credits and 600 clinical hours. Like other nurse practitioner programs in Nashville, this curriculum is split between core APRN classes, specialty nurse practitioner classes, and clinical practicums. Core APRN classes include “Nursing Theory,” “Role Development,” and “Health Policy.”
Tennessee State University’s MSN/FNP track is offered in a hybrid format. Though most educational materials will be available online, students will be required to make at least three visits to TSU’s campus in Nashville over the course of the program.
You’ll complete foundational nursing theory and research coursework before you move on to practicums so that you’ll get the most out of your clinical experiences. To graduate, you must either write a master’s thesis or complete an evidence-based project. You’ll also be required to take a comprehensive exam modeled after the exam you’ll have to pass before being certified as an FNP.
MSN Program Length: TSU accepts full-time and part-time students into its MSN/FNP track. Full-time students should be able to complete the course in six semesters (five 15-week semesters and one 10-week summer session), while part-time students should be able to complete it in nine semesters (seven 15-week semesters and two 10-week summer sessions.)
MSN Admission Requirements: You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program with a minimum GPA of 3.0. as well as a current unrestricted RN license in the state where you’ll be doing your practicum assignments. Separate applications must be made to Tennessee State University’s School of Graduate Studies and Research and its NursingCAS.
Post-Graduate Certificate Program Details: TSU’s 15-credit post-graduate FNP certificate curriculum is an abbreviated version of its MSN curriculum: Though it, too, requires the completion of 600 clinical hours, it does not include any APRN coursework.
If you’ve completed an MSN degree within the past five years, and your MSN degree included Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Pharmacology, you’ll be able to waive those class requirements and will only be responsible for completing nine credits.
Post-Graduate Certificate Program Length: You should be able to complete TSU’s post-graduate FNP certificate in a year as a full-time student.
Post-Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements: You must have an MSN or equivalent graduate nursing degree from an accredited college or university and an active, unrestricted RN license from the state where you’ll be participating in clinical assignments.
Scholarships & Financial Aid for Tennessee State University NP Students: Tennessee State University doesn’t appear to designate any scholarships explicitly for the needs of graduate nursing students. You may still qualify for other forms of state and federal financial aid, however, based on the information contained in your FAFSA form.
Interesting Highlights About Tennessee State University NP School
• Thirty-five students earned MSN degrees from Tennessee State University during the 2020-2021 academic year.
• TSU also offers an MSN with an APRN specialty in Holistic Nursing.
VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY
CAREER INFORMATION FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
HOW MANY NURSE PRACTITIONERS ARE THERE IN NASHVILLE?
Forty-four hundred nurse practitioners are employed in various practice settings throughout the Greater Nashville Metropolitan Area.
Employment |
4,400 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
WHERE DO NURSE PRACTITIONERS WORK IN NASHVILLE?
Nashville NPs work in many practice settings, including hospitals, ambulatory care settings, physician practices, community clinics, schools, and government organizations.
Work Setting |
Offices of Physicians |
General Medical & Surgical Hospitals |
Outpatient Care Centers |
Offices of Other Health Practitioners |
Home Health Care Services |
WHAT IS THE JOB OUTLOOK FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN NASHVILLE?
Employment opportunities for Nashville-based NPs are projected to increase by 57 percent within the next decade.
10-Year Job Outlook (2020-2030) |
+57.21% |
(Source: Careeronestop.org) |
HOW MUCH DO NURSE PRACTITIONERS MAKE IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE?
WHAT STARTING SALARY CAN NEW GRADUATES OF NP PROGRAMS IN NASHVILLE EXPECT?
As a new graduate from one of the NP programs in Nashville, you can expect to earn $25.28 an hour. This amounts to $1,1011 a week, $4,380 a month, or $52,580 annually.
Hourly | $25.28 |
Weekly | $1,011 |
Monthly | $4,380 |
Annual | $52,580 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
HOW MUCH CAN GRADUATES OF NP PROGRAMS IN NASHVILLE EARN WITH EXPERIENCE?
As they gain experience, nurse practitioners in Nashville become better at what they do and so can command higher salaries. An NP with one to four years of experience makes 51 percent more than an entry-level nurse practitioner, while an NP with five to nine years of experience makes nearly twice the Nashville nurse practitioner starting salary. A nurse practitioner with 20 or more years of experience earns more than one and a half times as much as a newly graduated NP in Nashville.
Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
Entry-Level | $25.28 | $1,011 | $4,380 | $52,580 |
1-4 Years of Experience | $38.06 | $1,523 | $6,600 | $79,170 |
5-9 Years of Experience | $49.07 | $1,963 | $8,510 | $102,060 |
10-19 Years of Experience | $52.18 | $2,087 | $9,050 | $108,540 |
20 Years or More Experience | $62.80 | $2,512 | $10,890 | $130,630 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE NURSE PRACTITIONER SALARY IN NASHVILLE?
On average, nurse practitioners in Nashville make $47.40 an hour. This is the same as $1,896 a week, $8,220 a month, or $98,600 a year. NPs typically reach this salary milestone during their eighth year of practice.
Hourly | $47.40 |
Weekly | $1,896 |
Monthly | $8,220 |
Annual | $98,600 |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
NURSE PRACTITIONER SALARY IN NASHVILLE VS. OTHER SALARIES
NP SALARY IN NASHVILLE VS. NP SALARY IN THE NATION
The average nurse practitioner salary in Nashville is 16 percent lower than elsewhere in the U.S. This is not surprising: Tennessee is one of the lowest-paying states for healthcare salaries.
Average Nashville NP Annual Salary | Average National NP Annual Salary | Difference |
Number | % |
$98,600 | $118,040 | -$19,440 | -16.47% |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
NP SALARY IN NASHVILLE VS. NP SALARY IN TENNESSEE
Nashville nurse practitioners earn 4 percent more than those in other parts of Tennessee.
Average Nashville NP Annual Salary | Average Tennessee NP Annual Salary | Difference |
Number | % |
$98,600 | $95,120 | +$3,480 | +3.66% |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
NP SALARY IN NASHVILLE VS. NP SALARIES IN OTHER TENNESSEE CITIES
Nurse practitioners in Nashville are not the most highly paid NPs in the state. They earn 6 percent less than NPs earn in Clarksville, just 40 miles to the north, and 5 percent less than NPs earn in Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee’s second-biggest city. On the other hand, they earn 2 percent more than NPs earn in Chattanooga and 12 percent more than NPs earn in Knoxville.
Metro | Average Annual Salary | Difference |
Number | % |
Clarksville | $105,070 | -$6,470 | -6.16% |
Memphis | $104,170 | -$5,570 | -5.35% |
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol | $99,250 | -$650 | -0.65% |
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $98,600 | $0 | 0.00% |
Cleveland | $98,310 | +$290 | +0.29% |
Morristown | $96,970 | +$1,630 | +1.68% |
Chattanooga | $96,570 | +$2,030 | +2.10% |
Jackson | $93,310 | +$5,290 | +5.67% |
Johnson City | $92,930 | +$5,670 | +6.10% |
Knoxville | $88,300 | +$10,300 | +11.66% |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
NP SALARY IN NASHVILLE VS. OTHER NURSE SALARIES IN NASHVILLE
Nurse practitioners are not the highest-paid representatives of Nashville’s nursing sector. They earn 5 percent less on average than nurse midwives. But NPs earn 39 percent more than registered nurses, more than twice the salary of licensed practical nurses, and more than three times the salary of nursing assistants.
Type of Nurse | Average Annual Salary | Difference |
Number | % |
Nurse Midwife | $103,460 | -$4,860 | -4.70% |
Nurse Practitioner | $98,600 | $0 | 0.00% |
Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $85,330 | +$13,270 | +15.55% |
Registered Nurse | $70,900 | +$27,700 | +39.07% |
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse | $45,670 | +$52,930 | +115.90% |
Nursing Assistant | $30,620 | +$67,980 | +222.01% |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
NP SALARY IN NASHVILLE VS. SALARIES OF OTHER CLOSELY RELATED OCCUPATIONS IN NASHVILLE
Nurse practitioner salaries tend to be low compared to the salaries of other healthcare professionals in Nashville. Although NPs are trained to diagnose and treat patients, they make significantly less than other professionals whose function is similar. NPs make 62 percent less than physicians, 40 percent less than dentists, and 32 percent less than podiatrists. They also earn 4 percent less than physician assistants with whom they share a similar scope of practice.
In contrast, NPs earn more on average than healthcare professionals specializing in rehabilitative therapies. Nurse practitioners make 9 percent more than physical therapists, 14 percent more than occupational therapists, and 18 percent more than chiropractors.
Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference |
Number | % |
Physician | $256,670 | -$158,070 | -61.58% |
Dentist | $164,780 | -$66,180 | -40.16% |
Podiatrist | $144,200 | -$45,600 | -31.62% |
Pharmacist | $120,450 | -$21,850 | -18.14% |
Optometrist | $118,370 | -$19,770 | -16.70% |
Veterinarian | $111,170 | -$12,570 | -11.31% |
Physician Assistant | $102,680 | -$4,080 | -3.97% |
Audiologist | $99,440 | -$840 | -0.84% |
Nurse Practitioner | $98,600 | $0 | 0.00% |
Physical Therapist | $90,640 | +$7,960 | +8.78% |
Occupational Therapist | $86,230 | +$12,370 | +14.35% |
Chiropractor | $83,290 | +$15,310 | +18.38% |
Speech-Language Pathologist | $75,490 | +$23,110 | +30.61% |
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT
1. Who Accredits Nurse Practitioner Programs In Nashville?
Nurse practitioner programs in Nashville are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE.)
2. How Many Accredited Nurse Practitioner Schools Are There In Nashville?
There are three accredited NP programs in Nashville: Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, and Tennessee State University.
3. On Average, How Long Does It Take To Become A Nurse Practitioner In Nashville?
It can take you anywhere from 12 to 34 months to become a nurse practitioner in Nashville.
4. On Average, How Much Do NP Programs Cost In Nashville?
The cost of a Nashville-based NP program ranges from $7,000 and $145,000.
5. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Hour In Nashville?
The hourly wage of a nurse practitioner in Nashville is $47.40 on average.
6. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Month In Nashville?
Nurse practitioners in Nashville can anticipate earning $8,220 a month.
7. How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make Per Year In Nashville?
The yearly pay of a nurse practitioner in Nashville comes to $98,600 on average.
8. Are Nurse Practitioners In Demand In Nashville?
Yes, nurse practitioners are in demand in Nashville because Nashville has a severe shortage of primary healthcare providers. In fact, employment opportunities for NPs are expected to increase by 57 percent over the next 10 years.
9. Can Nurse Practitioners Practice Independently In Nashville?
Nashville is a city in Tennessee, and in Tennessee, NPs can only practice under the terms of a written practice protocol with a supervising physician. The supervising physician must be available for consultation during working hours and must review at least 20 percent of the nurse practitioner’s charts every 30 days.
10. Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Medications In Nashville?
Nurse practitioners can prescribe medications in Nashville so long as prescriptive authority is part of the NP’s practice agreement with a supervising physician. The physician’s name and contact information must be on the dispensed medication, along with the NP’s name and contact information.
Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.
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