<?xml version="1.0" encoding="US-ASCII"?>
<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!-- -->
<link:linkbase xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd" xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.nhireit.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformationDocument" xlink:href="nhi-20191106.xsd#DocumentAndEntityInformationDocument" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedNetLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedNetLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedPeriodEndLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedPeriodEndLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedPeriodStartLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedPeriodStartLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedTerseLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedTerseLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/negatedTotalLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/negated-2009-12-16.xsd#negatedTotalLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/netLabel" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/net-2009-12-16.xsd#netLabel" xlink:type="simple" />
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://www.nhireit.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformationDocument" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:href="nhi-20191106.xsd#nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract" xlink:label="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_B4BDDEB39D63556A824D8D0A69FE2FDA" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="1" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_B4BDDEB39D63556A824D8D0A69FE2FDA" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_9F066DD5E9205C71B3212E9CCB50FD28" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="2" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_9F066DD5E9205C71B3212E9CCB50FD28" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_5C796EB7536E57709B49D4D9D5053061" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="3" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_5C796EB7536E57709B49D4D9D5053061" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_2126BD5B93F95A5D957EBD4FD32A5EF2" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="4" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_2126BD5B93F95A5D957EBD4FD32A5EF2" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_A11321E454FB5A00937695C944204994" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="5" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_A11321E454FB5A00937695C944204994" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_BB8DEA13137750FDBD5EF3FB41BDD754" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="6" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_BB8DEA13137750FDBD5EF3FB41BDD754" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_FA9026D5BA495EE6B09F28B412D2C7E8" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="7" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_FA9026D5BA495EE6B09F28B412D2C7E8" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_2ABDB1E0EAF8538D8F7103927A5AC940" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="8" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_2ABDB1E0EAF8538D8F7103927A5AC940" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_19E56B3A5F0B5B23971D9B7169C8B9C9" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="9" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_19E56B3A5F0B5B23971D9B7169C8B9C9" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_455A6912777F54AE8DAF885A6DA35EE2" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="10" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_455A6912777F54AE8DAF885A6DA35EE2" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_8E7D6980CBBC57C59E631F0EBFA45912" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="11" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_8E7D6980CBBC57C59E631F0EBFA45912" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_874506824913560AB977236D3755C536" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="12" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_874506824913560AB977236D3755C536" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_FCFC8C2DF4ED5E49A1CA00C8C97FF41C" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="13" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_FCFC8C2DF4ED5E49A1CA00C8C97FF41C" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_ACFF0762E1235EB98059B85BDD4EE854" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="14" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_ACFF0762E1235EB98059B85BDD4EE854" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_23B85712490F5D59B08B7BBFB3B2DB58" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="15" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_23B85712490F5D59B08B7BBFB3B2DB58" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_C92F81E4168B5B01BE53FF2EE3D821DE" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="16" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_C92F81E4168B5B01BE53FF2EE3D821DE" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_278A17654F0F52ABAAED8B0E975D62C4" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="17" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_278A17654F0F52ABAAED8B0E975D62C4" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_C1335558BA21541ABAD4C1E04D8FFB71" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="18" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_C1335558BA21541ABAD4C1E04D8FFB71" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_EF7325BBD501544D99CCC481DDDA9010" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="19" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_EF7325BBD501544D99CCC481DDDA9010" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_695831361DEF5C6EA568D03EDF71A457" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="20" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_695831361DEF5C6EA568D03EDF71A457" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_0B8B6C8A88EE5652A32EEC8B71AE7FA8" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="21" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_0B8B6C8A88EE5652A32EEC8B71AE7FA8" xlink:type="arc" />
    <link:loc xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_F615DF52C2A25CF7B7F00677A481B21D" xlink:type="locator" />
    <link:presentationArc order="22" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_nhi_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract_E0A1AF131DDB554FA2147518DA4CDA19" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_F615DF52C2A25CF7B7F00677A481B21D" xlink:type="arc" />
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
