Nurse Practitioner in Chattanooga

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 Chattanooga, a city of roughly 186,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) anchoring the southeastern corner of the state, nurse-practitioner-led clinics serve as a practical entry point for primary care, family medicine, urgent and walk-in visits, behavioral health, geriatric care, 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 region’s larger hospital-affiliated groups.

How nurse practitioners are regulated in Tennessee shapes what patients can expect from these clinics. 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. In a Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga spans the breadth of outpatient medicine. Family and primary care NPs manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, perform physicals and wellness visits, treat acute illness, and order labs and imaging. Some Chattanooga NP clinics extend into behavioral health, geriatric medicine, and in-home care for seniors, while others focus on medical weight loss, including GLP-1 medications, along with hormone therapy, IV hydration, and aesthetic services such as Botox and dermal fillers. Because cosmetic and weight-loss services frequently fall outside insurance, several of these clinics publish transparent self-pay pricing, which patients should confirm before booking.

Tennessee’s consumer-protection framework gives Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga

1. Jenks Family Medicine

Address: 3908 Tennessee Avenue, Suite 110, Chattanooga, TN 37409
Phone: (423) 373-5457
Website: https://www.jenksfamilymedicine.com
Services: sick visits, annual physicals, chronic disease management, DOT physicals, pre-employment physicals, sports and camp physicals, compensation and pension disability examinations, primary care through VA Community Care Network
Description: Jenks Family Medicine is a nurse-practitioner-led clinic on Tennessee Avenue in the St. Elmo area of Chattanooga, serving the St. Elmo and Alton Park communities with a stated special focus on supporting veterans. Its provider team consists of board-certified family nurse practitioners, including Ehrin Irvin, NP, Anne Jenks, NP, and Heather Mayo, NP, working with supervising physician David Redd, MD, an arrangement consistent with Tennessee’s collaborative practice model. The clinic offers sick visits, annual physicals, and chronic disease management across a broad age range, along with DOT, pre-employment, sports, and camp physicals. It also provides Compensation and Pension disability examinations and delivers primary care through the VA Community Care Network, reflecting its emphasis on accessible care for veterans and the surrounding neighborhoods.

2. Scenic City Wellness

Address: 105 Lee Pkwy Dr, Suite A, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 643-8000
Website: https://www.sceniccitywellness.com
Services: primary and internal medicine, acute care, chronic disease management, mental health, weight loss management
Description: Scenic City Wellness is a nurse-practitioner-owned primary care and wellness practice in Chattanooga that takes a whole-person approach to care. The clinic is owned by Michalle Morris, MSN, ANP-C, an adult nurse practitioner, and its provider team includes Rashunika Patillo, MSN, FNP-C. The practice combines primary and internal medicine with acute care, chronic disease management, mental health services, and weight-loss management, aiming to help patients address both ongoing conditions and immediate needs in one setting. It uses an athenahealth patient portal for scheduling and payment and notes that it is accepting new patients. The blend of primary care, behavioral health, and weight management under nurse-practitioner ownership reflects the integrated model that has grown across the Chattanooga market.

3. Partners in Care

Address: 5616 Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411
Phone: (423) 803-1379
Website: https://www.drterrymelvin.com
Services: primary care for teens and adults, geriatric medicine, in-home care for seniors, acute and chronic illness management, palliative care
Description: Partners in Care, PLLC, is a Chattanooga primary-care practice on Brainerd Road that combines office-based care with geriatric and in-home services for seniors. Its advanced practice team includes family nurse practitioners Christina G. Jolander, FNP, and Shenandoah Hobbs, FNP, working in collaboration with physician Terry A. Melvin, MD, FAAHPM, an arrangement that reflects Tennessee’s collaborative practice structure. The practice provides comprehensive primary care for teens and adults, geriatric medicine, and home-based care for seniors, with attention to both acute and chronic illness and palliative needs. It accepts most insurance and offers self-pay options, and its inclusion of in-home senior care distinguishes it from clinics that provide office visits alone, making it a resource for families managing care for older adults.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nurse Practitioners in Chattanooga

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 Chattanooga 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 treats 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 Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga NP-led clinics accept insurance, or are they self-pay?

It depends on the clinic and the service. Many primary-care and family-practice NPs bill insurance, and some Chattanooga practices accept most insurance while also offering self-pay options. Elective services such as medical weight loss, aesthetics, and IV therapy 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 Chattanooga?

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. Chattanooga NP-led clinics commonly offer primary and family care, urgent visits, chronic disease management, behavioral health, geriatric and in-home care, medical weight loss, hormone therapy, and aesthetics.

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

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.