Nurse Practitioner in Knoxville

June 15, 2026

A nurse practitioner in Tennessee is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licensed by the Tennessee Board of Nursing, holding a graduate nursing degree and national board certification in a population focus such as family practice, adult-gerontology, or women’s health. In Knoxville, a city of roughly 195,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) and the hub of the East Tennessee region, nurse-practitioner-led clinics serve as a common entry point for primary care, family medicine, urgent and walk-in visits, pediatrics, chronic disease management, medical weight loss, and aesthetics. For many residents, an NP-led practice offers accessible scheduling and a clear self-pay or insurance option alongside the area’s larger hospital-affiliated groups.

The way nurse practitioners are regulated in Tennessee shapes what patients can expect. To prescribe medication, including controlled substances within an approved formulary, a Tennessee NP must hold a Certificate of Fitness (CF) from the Board of Nursing in addition to the APRN certificate. Tennessee is not a full-practice-authority state, so an NP practices under a collaborating or supervising physician arrangement. Under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 63, Chapter 7, and the Board of Medical Examiners rules, that relationship includes a written protocol, periodic chart review, and a defined controlled-substance prescribing arrangement. At a Knoxville NP-led clinic, the nurse practitioner provides care directly while a collaborating physician remains part of the practice structure even when not on site for each visit.

The clinical scope of NP-led practices in Knoxville covers the range of outpatient medicine. Family and primary care NPs manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, perform physicals and wellness visits, treat acute illness, see pediatric and walk-in patients, and order labs and imaging. A number of Knoxville-area NP clinics also emphasize functional, integrative, and lifestyle medicine, and many add medical weight loss, including GLP-1 medications, along with hormone therapy, IV nutrition, and aesthetic services such as Botox and dermal fillers. Because cosmetic and weight-loss services frequently fall outside insurance, several of these clinics operate on a transparent self-pay basis, which patients should confirm before booking.

Tennessee’s consumer-protection framework gives Knoxville patients clear ways to verify a provider and resolve disputes. An APRN license, and a Certificate of Fitness where prescribing applies, can be confirmed through the Tennessee Department of Health Board of Nursing license verification portal at tn.gov or by calling the Board’s APRN support line; the record shows license status, dates, and any disciplinary history. Complaints about deceptive business practices tied to non-medical services can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), while clinical and licensing concerns go to the Board of Nursing. This article is informational and is not medical advice; patients should discuss individual care decisions with a licensed provider.

Top Nurse Practitioner Providers in Knoxville

1. South Knox Family Care

Address: 4206 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920
Phone: (865) 345-3514
Website: https://www.southknoxfamilycare.com
Services: primary care, annual physicals, urgent and walk-in care, sick visits, pediatrics, wound care, allergy and asthma management, telehealth
Description: South Knox Family Care is a nurse-practitioner-led primary care and walk-in clinic on Chapman Highway in South Knoxville. The practice is led by Rose Cunningham, FNP, and its provider team includes family nurse practitioners Lana Spence, FNP, Amber Hope Nelson, NP, and Samuel Wood, FNP. The clinic combines primary care with same-day urgent and walk-in availability, handling preventive care, pediatrics, sick visits, wound care, and chronic disease management for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. It accepts a range of insurance plans and is noted for affordability for uninsured patients, and it offers a video-visit option for established patients. The mix of a family-medicine foundation with walk-in convenience makes it a practical neighborhood resource for the South Knoxville community.

2. Primary Care of Tennessee

Address: 11509 Hardin Valley Rd, Knoxville, TN 37932
Phone: (865) 200-4101
Website: https://www.primarycareoftn.com
Services: primary care, functional and integrative medicine, weight loss injections, IV nutrition therapy, testosterone replacement, allergy testing and shots, rapid testing, physicals (DOT, school, sports), skin cancer screening, diabetes management, telehealth
Description: Primary Care of Tennessee is a nurse-practitioner-led clinic in the Hardin Valley area of West Knoxville, operated by Diane B. Knights, FNP-BC, a board-certified family nurse practitioner. The practice describes itself as a patient-centered medical home with a strong emphasis on functional, integrative, and lifestyle medicine, blending conventional primary care with wellness-oriented services. Its offerings include laboratory testing, IV nutrition therapy, weight-loss prescriptions and injections, testosterone replacement, allergy testing and shots, and rapid testing for illnesses such as flu, strep, and COVID, along with a range of physical exams and preventive screenings. The clinic is available for telehealth and self-scheduling and keeps extended weekday hours, with IV services offered seven days a week on request.

3. Be Well, A Healthy Weight & Skin Center

Address: 10918 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37934
Phone: (865) 288-7100
Website: https://www.bewellknoxville.com
Services: medical weight loss, aesthetics, injectables, supplements, wellness consultations
Description: Be Well, A Healthy Weight & Skin Center is a nurse-practitioner-owned weight-loss and aesthetics clinic in the Farragut area of West Knoxville. The practice was established by Heather Whittemore, FNP-BC, who is listed as the owner and a board-certified family nurse practitioner, and its provider team includes additional family nurse practitioners. The clinic organizes its services around a wellness theme that spans weight management, aesthetics, supplements, and injectable treatments. As an NP-owned practice focused on elective weight-loss and skin services, it reflects the wellness-clinic model that has grown across the Knoxville market, pairing medically supervised weight management with cosmetic offerings under nurse-practitioner ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nurse Practitioners in Knoxville

Q: What is a nurse practitioner, and how is one licensed in Tennessee?

A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who holds a graduate nursing degree and national board certification in a population focus such as family practice or women’s health. In Tennessee, NPs are licensed by the Board of Nursing under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 63, Chapter 7. To prescribe medication, an NP must also hold a Certificate of Fitness (CF) from the Board, which carries additional pharmacology and controlled-substance prescribing requirements.

Q: Can a nurse practitioner in Knoxville practice independently?

No. Tennessee is not a full-practice-authority state. A prescribing nurse practitioner must maintain a collaborating or supervising physician relationship that includes a written protocol, periodic chart review, and a defined controlled-substance prescribing arrangement, consistent with the Board of Medical Examiners rules. The NP cares for patients directly, but a physician collaborator remains part of the practice structure even when not present at every visit.

Q: How do I verify that a Knoxville nurse practitioner is properly licensed?

Use the Tennessee Department of Health Board of Nursing license verification portal at tn.gov to confirm that an APRN license is active and unencumbered, and to check for a Certificate of Fitness where prescribing is involved. The record shows license type, status, issue and expiration dates, and any disciplinary actions. The Board also maintains an APRN support line for questions.

Q: Do Knoxville NP-led clinics accept insurance, or are they self-pay?

It depends on the clinic and the service. Primary-care and family-practice NPs often bill insurance, and some Knoxville clinics are noted for affordability for uninsured patients, while elective services such as medical weight loss, aesthetics, and IV nutrition are frequently offered on a self-pay basis because they typically fall outside insurance coverage. Confirm the payment policy before scheduling.

Q: What services can a nurse practitioner provide in Knoxville?

Within their certified population focus, Tennessee NPs can perform exams, diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions, order and interpret labs and imaging, and prescribe medications under their Certificate of Fitness. Knoxville NP-led clinics commonly offer primary and family care, pediatrics, urgent and walk-in visits, chronic disease management, functional and integrative medicine, medical weight loss, hormone therapy, and aesthetics.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a nurse practitioner or an NP-led clinic in Knoxville?

Clinical care and licensing concerns about a nurse practitioner go to the Tennessee Board of Nursing, which can investigate and impose discipline. Complaints about deceptive business or billing practices connected to non-medical services can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping appointment records, written estimates, and receipts strengthens a complaint.