This Schedule 13D is filed on behalf of Ira Sochet (the “Reporting Person”), relating to the common stock of National Healthcare Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Item 1. Security and Issuer.

     This Statement relates to the common stock (the “Common Stock”), of National Healthcare Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”). The Issuer’s principal executive offices are located at 100 Vine Street, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130.

Item 2. Identity and Background.

     (a) Ira Sochet.

     (b) 1602 Micanopy Avenue, Miami, Florida 33133.

     (c) The Reporting Person is the President and sole shareholder of Sochet & Company, Inc., a registered broker/dealer located at 1602 Micanopy Avenue, Miami, Florida 33133. The Reporting Person is also the sole member and managing member of Investors Risk Advantage LLC, a Florida limited liability company, which is the sole general partner of Investors Risk Advantage L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“IRA”).

     (d) The Reporting Person has not been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) in the last 5 years.

     (e) During the last 5 years, the Reporting Person has not been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, Federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

     (f) United States of America.

Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

     This Statement relates to the beneficial ownership of the Reporting Person of 594,100 shares of Common Stock, all of which are directly owned by the Reporting Person except for 7,000 shares owned by IRA. The aggregate purchase price of the Common Stock beneficially owned by the Reporting Person was approximately $11,600,000. The source of funds for acquiring the foregoing shares of Common Stock was the Reporting Person’s personal funds and working capital of IRA.

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.

     This Statement reports the beneficial ownership by the Reporting Person of over 5 percent of the Issuer’s outstanding Common Stock. The purpose of the Reporting Person’s acquisition of Common Stock was to acquire a significant equity interest in the Issuer as an investment. The

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Reporting Person intends to review his investment in the Common Stock on a regular basis and, depending upon changes in his analysis of the Issuer, general economic and market conditions, investment opportunities and other factors, including applicable legal constraints, the Reporting Person may at any time determine to increase or decrease the amounts of his investment in Common Stock. The Reporting Person reserves the right to acquire additional Common Stock or to dispose of some or all of the Common Stock beneficially owned by him either in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, or to take such other action or actions with respect to the Common Stock as he deems advisable. The determination of the Reporting Person to seek to acquire additional shares of Common Stock will depend on various factors including, but not limited to, the availability of additional Common Stock for purchase at what he considers to be reasonable prices, the terms and conditions available for such purchases and other investment opportunities.

     Except as described above, the Reporting Person has no plans or proposals that would result in any actions specified in clauses (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

     (a) As of the close of business on April 1, 2004, the Reporting Person beneficially owned an aggregate of 594,100 shares of Common Stock, which constituted approximately 5.1 percent of the 11,664,120 shares of Common Stock outstanding on February 29, 2004, as reported in the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

     (b) The Reporting Person has the sole power to vote or direct the vote, and the sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of, all the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by him.

     (c) The following table sets forth all transactions in Common Stock effected by the Reporting Person during the past 60 days. All of such transactions were open market sales effected through brokers.

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     (d) Not applicable.

     (e) Not applicable.

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     None.

SIGNATURE

     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

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