43 nursing jobs in Kingsport, TN
Framed by the Holston River and Bays Mountain, Kingsport offers nurses a grounded Appalachian rhythm where paychecks stretch further. With living costs nearly 14% below the national average, you can trade high-stress urban commutes for quiet mountain ridge trails, historic downtown walkable blocks, and a restorative, community-rooted base between hospital shifts.
Find a nursing job in Kingsport
Hiring here: American House Senior Living Communities (5) · Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (5) · SBH-Kingsport, LLC (5) · Ballad Health (4) · Adoration Health (3) · Creekside Behavioral Health (3)
Pre-Operative/PACU Recovery Nurse
$30–$40/hr
- RN
- Weekdays, No Holidays, No Weekends, Day Shift
- RN
- 7p-7a
- ADN accepted
American House Senior Living Communities
Kingsport, TN
LPN-Kingsport
$27–$28/hr
- Sign-on bonus
- LPN
- Night shift
- New grads welcomed
- RN
- Full-Time; Monday - Friday; 8AM-5PM
- CNA
- Full-Time 1st shift available (7am - 3pm).
- Tuition reimbursement
American House Senior Living Communities
Kingsport, TN
- LPN
- Per diem
- Floating required
- LPN
- Per diem
- Tuition reimbursement
American House Senior Living Communities
Kingsport, TN
- LPN
- Evening shift
- Per diem
- LPN/LVN
- 8-hour evenings
- Tuition reimbursement
Working and living in Kingsport
· 43 open roles
Living costs
- Median gross rent
- $907/mo
- Rent and tenant-paid utilities
- Median household income
- $52,490/yr
- All local households, not nurse pay
New to our board this week
3 current postings first appeared here in the past seven days.
Credentials accepted
- RN25
- LPN17
- LVN3
- CNA2
One posting may accept more than one credential.
Shifts listed
- Days8
- Nights7
- per-diem5
- Evenings2
Postings may list several shifts or leave the shift unspecified.
Living in Kingsport
Known as the Model City, Kingsport offers healthcare professionals a relaxed Appalachian lifestyle centered around regional clinical anchors like Holston Valley Medical Center and Indian Path Medical Center.
More about life hereShow less
The practical rhythm of life here is defined by low-stress commutes along Highway 11-W and Interstate 26, painless hospital parking, and distinct neighborhood choices ranging from walkable downtown loft conversions to peaceful residential streets in Colonial Heights, Fairacres, and Preston Forest. Outdoor recreation serves as a major post-shift perk, with trail systems and water activities readily available at Bays Mountain Park and Warriors' Path State Park.
The primary tradeoff lies in the entertainment scene: while downtown boasts comfortable gathering spots like The Proper Pig and Black Horse Pub & Brewery alongside traditions like Fun Fest, the late-night and indie dining options are modest. Healthcare workers looking for bustling nightlife will frequently drive twenty to twenty-five minutes to Johnson City or Bristol.
For nurses seeking an unhurried, community-oriented base with exceptional natural access, Kingsport delivers a balanced and welcoming setting.
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Neighborhoods
Young professionals and healthcare workers generally gravitate toward downtown Kingsport for walkable living in historic converted loft apartments, or toward established suburban neighborhoods like Colonial Heights and Bloomingdale. Those seeking classic architecture and tree-lined streets often look at Fairacres, while Ridgefields offers golf course living along the river, and Preston Forest provides traditional subdivisions popular with hospital staff.
County-line communities such as Rock Springs, Mount Carmel, and Church Hill provide quieter, acreage-style living with straightforward drives along Highway 11-W.
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Housing
Housing options range from converted brick loft apartments downtown to sprawling single-family brick ranches, split-levels, and new builds in surrounding residential pockets. Rental inventory is heavily concentrated downtown and along major thoroughfares, while neighborhoods such as Colonial Heights, Preston Forest, and Fairacres offer mature tree canopies and established homes for buyers.
Tradeoffs exist between incorporated city neighborhoods with municipal service access and unincorporated Sullivan County parcels that provide larger lot sizes and semi-rural seclusion.
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Getting around
Kingsport is an automobile-dependent city where traffic congestion is minimal compared to major metropolitan centers, with average drive times across town running around a quarter of an hour. Commutes to the city's primary clinical hubs, including Holston Valley Medical Center and Indian Path Medical Center, rely on direct arterial roads and regional highways like Highway 11-W and Interstate 26. Public transit is exceptionally limited, making a personal vehicle essential for shift workers, though surface parking at medical campuses is readily accessible and uncrowded.
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Food and dining
Downtown Kingsport serves as the focal point for dining and social gatherings, featuring spots like The Proper Pig for craft beer and patio barbecue, Black Horse Pub & Brewery for pints and trivia nights, and The Chop House for upscale dinners. Casual and international options include Ming Tree for late-night Asian fusion and The Black Olive for Italian fare.
Fast convenience is deeply anchored in local culture through Pal's Sudden Service drive-thrus, while regional favorites like Ridgewood BBQ sit just outside city limits.
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Outdoors
Outdoor recreation is a major draw anchored by Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium, a massive municipal nature preserve featuring a protected lake, wolf habitats, hiking trails, and mountain biking paths. Warriors' Path State Park sits on the shores of Fort Patrick Henry Lake, providing boating, paddle sports, camping, and disc golf along the Holston River basin.
For longer trail excursions, residents have quick access to regional attractions such as the Virginia Creeper Trail located a short drive to the northeast.
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Arts and culture
Kingsport's civic culture emphasizes family-oriented heritage and local pride, celebrated annually through the widespread community festival Fun Fest and landmarks like the hand-carved Kingsport Carousel. The city also claims historical origins for the Long Island Iced Tea and supports community theater and local arts through downtown galleries.
Live music and nightlife venues are comparatively sparse in town, leading many residents to tap into Bristol's roots-music scene or Johnson City's college-oriented creative hubs for weekend concerts and performances.
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Seasons and weather
The region experiences a humid subtropical climate marked by four distinct seasons tempered by the Appalachian foothills. Summers are typically warm and humid, creating ideal conditions for lake recreation and park outings, while autumn brings notable foliage shifts across the surrounding ridges.
Winters remain comparatively mild with occasional light snowfall and cold snaps that rarely cause protracted disruptions, transitioning into a lush, extended spring.
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For families
Kingsport is widely regarded as family-centric, offering a quiet, secure environment with strong neighborhood connections. The area is served by the Kingsport City School system, which is locally well-regarded, alongside secondary education options through East Tennessee State University's Kingsport campus.
Subdivisions like Preston Forest and Colonial Heights feature quiet residential streets close to city sports facilities, greenways, and family attractions such as the carousel and local water recreation parks.
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What locals say
Residents consistently praise Kingsport for its warm community spirit, peaceful pace of living, and scenic mountain backdrop, noting that daily necessities, schools, and hospitals are rarely more than a short drive away. However, community discussions frequently highlight limited nightlife and a modest selection of independent restaurants as significant downsides.
Singles and younger transplants often note that social scenes can feel subdued, prompting frequent weekend travel to neighboring Johnson City or Bristol.