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): July 23, 2003 (July 22, 2003)

National Health Investors, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

333-41863

62-1470956

(Commission File No.)

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

100 Vine Street, Suite 1202

Murfreesboro, TN 37130

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(615) 890-9100

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)





Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition



On July 22, 2003, National Health Investors, Inc. made its second quarter earnings announcement. A copy of the press release is furnished as an exhibit to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.



SIGNATURES

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



National Health Investors, Inc.
By: /s/ W. Andrew Adams
Name: W. Andrew Adams
Title: Chief Executive Officer
By:/s/ Donald K. Daniel
Name: Donald K. Daniel
Title: Principal Accounting Officer
Date: July 23, 2003




Exhibit Index



Number Exhibit
99 Press release, dated July 22, 2003.




EXHIBIT 99



For Release: July 22, 2003

Contact: Gerald Coggin, VP of Investor Relations

Phone: (615) 890-9100



NHI reports second quarter income

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- National Health Investors, Inc., (NYSE: NHI and NHIPr) announced funds from operations ("FFO") from continuing operations for the second quarter ended June 30, of $14,319,000 or 53 cents per diluted share of common stock compared to $14,221,000 or 53 cents per share in 2002.

For the six months ended June 30, FFO from continuing operations was $28,039,000 or $1.04 per diluted share of common stock compared to $25,257,000 or 94 cents per share in 2002.

Income from continuing operations applicable to common stock for the second quarter ended June 30 was $10,816,000 or 39 cents per diluted share of common stock compared to $10,635,000 or 39 cents per diluted share of common stock for the same period in 2002.

Income from continuing operations applicable to common stock for the six months ended June 30, was $21,004,000 or 75 cents per diluted share of common stock compared to $17,949,000 or 64 cents per diluted share of common stock for the same period in 2002.

Net income for the three months and six months ended June 30, were $10,816,000 and $22,936,000, respectively, versus $14,772,000 and $22,409,000, respectively, for 2002.

National Health Investors, Inc. is a long-term health care real estate investment trust that specializes in the financing of health care real estate by first mortgage and by purchase and leaseback transactions. The common and preferred stocks of the company trade on the New York Stock Exchange with the symbols NHI and NHIPr, respectively. Additional information including NHI's most recent press releases may be obtained on NHI's web site at www.nhinvestors.com. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. NHI cautions investors that any forward-looking statements made involve risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. All forward-looking statements represent NHI's judgment as of the date of this release.

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Page 2 NHI's Second Quarter Results

Condensed Statements of
(in thousands, except share and per share Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30
2003 2002 2003 2002
Revenues:
Mortgage interest income $ 4,705 $ 8,109 $ 10,248 $ 13,888
Rental income 13,080 11,869 26,437 23,859
Investment income 1,157 1,469 2,801 2,708
Facility operating revenues 23,313 22,552 45,932 43,474
42,255 43,999 85,418 83,929
Expenses:
Interest 3,176 4,215 7,164 8,828
Depreciation of real estate 3,863 3,912 7,751 7,899
Amortization of loan cost 40 472 223 566
Legal expense 265 166 184 302
Franchise and excise tax 67 171 463 235
General and administrative 721 651 1,434 791
Loan losses --- 2,000 1,500 4,500
Facility operating expenses 23,307 21,777 45,695 42,859
31,439 33,364 64,414 65,980
Income from continuing operations 10,816 10,635 21,004 17,949
Discontinued operations
Operating income - discontinued --- 350 --- 673
Gain on sale of real estate --- 3,787 1,932 3,787
--- 4,137 1,932 4,460
Net Income 10,816 14,772 22,936 22,409
Dividends to preferred stockholders 398 398 795 795
Net income applicable to common $ 10,418 $ 14,374 $ 22,141 $ 21,614
Income from continuing operations per common share:
Basic $ .39 $ .39 $ .76 $ .65
Diluted $ .39 $ .39 $ .75 $ .64
Discontinued operations per common
Basic $ --- $ .15 $ .07 $ .17
Diluted $ --- $ .15 $ .07 $ .17
Net income per common share:
Basic $ .39 $ .54 $ .83 $ .82
Diluted $ .39 $ .54 $ .82 $ .81
Funds from operations
Basic $ 14,281 $ 14,149 $ 27,960 $ 25,053
Diluted $ 14,319 $ 14,221 $ 28,039 $ 25,257
Funds from operations per common
Basic $ .53 $ .53 $ 1.05 $ .95
Diluted $ .53 $ .53 $ 1.04 $ .94
Weighted average common shares
Basic 26,720,197 26,473,742 26,704,59 26,274,332
Diluted shares for net income 26,976,360 26,930,077 26,960,44 26,917,314
Diluted shares for FFO purposes 26,976,360 26,930,077 26,960,44 26,917,314
Dividends per common share $ .40 $ .35 $ .80 $ .70
Balance Sheet Data
(in thousands) June 30 December
2003 2002
Real estate properties, net $ 308,207 $ 304,394
Mortgages receivable, net 173,674 201,236
Preferred stock investments 38,132 38,132
REMIC investments 36,366 36,366
Cash and marketable securities 50,546 58,825
Debt 165,964 161,763
Convertible debt 1,500 41,633
Stockholders' equity 405,790 400,429

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Page 3 NHI's second quarter results



Reconciliation of Funds From Operations (1)

The following table reconciles net income applicable to common stockholders to funds from operations applicable to common stockholders:

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June
2003 2002 2003 2002
Net income applicable to common stockholders $ 10,418 $ 14,374 $ 22,141 $ 21,614
Adjustments:
Real estate depreciation 3,863 3,912 7,751 7,899
Other Items:
Discontinued operations:
Operating Income - discontinued --- (350) --- (673)
Gain on sale of real estate --- (3,787) (1,932) (3,787)
Basic funds from operations applicable to
common stockholders 14,281 14,149 27,960 25,053
Interest on convertible subordinated debentures 38 72 79 204
Diluted funds from operations applicable to
common stockholders $ 14,319 $ 14,221 $ 28,039 $ 25,257
Basic funds from operations per share $ .53 $ .53 $ 1.05 $ .95
Diluted funds from operations per share $ .53 $ .53 $ 1.04 $ .94
Shares for basic funds from operations per share 26,720,197 26,473,742 26,704,594 26,274,332
Shares for diluted funds from operations per share 26,976,360 26,930,077 26,960,445 26,917,314


(1) We believe that funds from operations is an important supplemental measure of operating performance. We, therefore, disclose funds from operations, although it is a measurement that is not defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. We generally use the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) measure of funds from operations. We define funds from operations as income before extraordinary items adjusted for certain non-cash items, primarily real estate depreciation, less gains/losses on sales of facilities. Our measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other REITs. Consequently, our funds from operations may not provide a meaningful measure of our performance as compared to that of other REITs. Funds from operations does not represent cash generated from operating activities as defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (funds from operations does not include changes in operating assets and liabilities) and, therefore, should not be considered as an alternative to net income as the primary indicator of operating performance or to cash flow as a measure of liquidity.

















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Page 4 NHI's second quarter results





National Health Investors, Inc. Portfolio Summary June 30, 2003

Investment
Portfolio Statistics Properties Investment Percentage
Equity Ownership 96 $ 308,207,000 60%
Mortgage Loan Receivables 87 204,728,000 40%
Total Real Estate Portfolio 183 $ 512,935,000 100%
Equity Ownership Properties Beds Investments
Nursing Homes 70 9,396 $ 197,557,000
Assisted Living 16 1,305 79,217,000
Medical Office Buildings 4 124,427 sq.ft 11,590,000
Retirement Homes 5 471 11,674,000
Hospitals 1 55 8,169,000
96 $ 308,207,000
Mortgage Loan Receivables Properties Beds Investments
Nursing Homes 53 5,872 $ 155,229,000
Assisted Living 2 156 6,219,000
Retirement Homes 1 60 2,332,000
Developmentally Disabled 17 108 4,582,000
73 $ 168,362,000
Remic 14 1,971 30,020,000
Remic II Investment 2,313 6,346,000
Total Mortgage Portfolio 87 $ 204,728,000
Summary of Facilities by Type: Percentage of Total
Properties Total Dollars Dollars
Nursing Homes 137 75.87% $ 389,153,000
Assisted Living 18 16.66% 85,435,000
Medical Office Buildings 4 2.26% 11,590,000
Retirement Homes 6 2.73% 14,006,000
Hospitals 1 1.59% 8,169,000
Developmentally Disabled 17 0.89% 4,582,000
183 100.00% $ 512,935,000

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Page 5 NHI's second quarter results
# of Percentage of Total
Properties Total Dollars Dollars
Public 103 51.96% $ 266,531,000
Regional 66 39.26% 201,388,000
Small Operator 14 8.78% 45,016,000
183 100.00% $ 512,935,000












Public Operators:
Percentage
Of Total Dollar
Portfolio Amount
National HealthCare Corp. 12.53% $ 64,294,000
Marriott Senior Living Services 8.75% 44,897,000
Integrated Health Services 8.08% 41,464,000
ElderTrust of Florida 5.62% 28,818,000
National Health Investors, Inc. 5.54% 28,430,000
Mariner Post Acute Network 3.29% 16,860,000
Community Health Systems, Inc. 2.92% 14,989,000
Sun Healthcare 1.87% 9,607,000
Midwest Nursing Home Investors, L.L.C. 1.23% 6,324,000
HCA - The Healthcare Company 0.93% 4,770,000
Res-Care, Inc. 0.89% 4,582,000
Centennial HealthCare Corp. 0.29% 1,497,000
51.96% $ 266,532,000










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Page 6 NHI's second quarter results

Summary of Facilities by State June 30, 2003
LTC Acute MOB Dev Asst. Retire- Total Current Percent of
1. Florida 25 1 14 7 47 $ 145,146,000 28.30%
2. Texas 28 2 1 1 32 101,503,000 19.79%
3. Tennessee 21 3 3 2 29 42,629,000 8.32%
4. Missouri 9 1 10 27,834,000 5.43%
5. New Jersey 2 1 3 27,233,000 5.31%
6. Arizona 1 4 5 19,823,000 3.86%
7. Virginia 7 7 19,773,000 3.85%
8. New Hampshire 3 1 4 18,201,000 3.55%
9. Georgia 7 7 18,112,000 3.53%
10. Kansas 7 7 13,083,000 2.55%
11. Massachusetts 4 4 12,932,000 2.52%
12. Washington 5 5 10,366,000 2.02%
13. Kentucky 4 1 5 10,228,000 1.99%
14. South Carolina 3 1 4 8,902,000 1.74%
15. Colorado 3 3 8,125,000 1.58%
16. Idaho 1 1 2 5,802,000 1.13%
17. Illinois 1 1 2 4,508,000 0.88%
18. Michigan 2 2 3,307,000 0.64%
19. Alabama 2 2 2,616,000 0.51%
20. Pennsylvania 1 1 2,249,000 0.44%
21. Wisconsin 1 1 2,108,000 0.41%
22. North Carolina 0 1 1 2,046,000 0.40%
137 1 4 17 18 6 183 $ 506,589,000 98.76%
Remic II 6,346,000 1.24%
$ 512,935,000 100.00%
































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