Dr Karen Rennie is a lecturer in the Nursing division of Queen Margaret University.
- Overview
- Research Interests
- Research Publications
- Awards and Activities
- Teaching & Learning
I qualified as a Registered Nurse from Queen Margaret University in 2017. I then was then awarded a bursary to pursue a full-time PhD and I successfully defended my Viva in March 2021 and achieved my doctorate degree. Throughout my PhD studies I continued to work one day per month in as a Registered Nurse in a nursing home in Edinburgh and continue to do this in my new role as Lecturer. I believe it is crucial to bridge the gap between clinical practice and academia in nursing and healthcare, so it is important for me to always create links and connections between nursing research, education, scholarship and practice.
I am delighted to now be part of the Division of Nursing at Queen Margaret University. My teaching commitments are spread across the Pre-registration Master of Nursing Programme and the Post-graduate Advancing Care Home Pratice programme.
I have recently taken on the role of PgCert/PgDip Person-Centred Practice: Advancing Care Home Practice and look forward to this new challenge at a very exciting time for nursing at QMU and beyond.
Affiliations (including memberships) to other organisations:
Associate Member of The Centre for Person-centredPractice Research
Research Overview:
I am passionate about ensuring that the nursing care for older persons and persons living with dementia is of a high standard and my research interests correlate with this passion. I have an interest in ensuring that sexuality and intimacy is an important aspect in person-centred nursing practice in nursing and care homes. My PhD research explored ‘Sexual Expression in Persons living with Dementia in a Nursing Home Setting’, which was the first research project to explore sexual expression with persons living with dementia. Additionally, I have a strong interest in phenomenological and participatory research approaches and ensuring that older persons, including those living with dementia, have a central voice within any research that is about them.
Active research interests:
- Person-centredness
- Sexuality and Intimacy
- Sensuousness
- Persons living with dementia
- Older persons
- Nursing and care homes.
- Touch and nursing care
Research Methods:
- Phenomenology
- Participatory research
- Practice Development
- Act of Kindness Award - 2020
- Student Nursing Times Awards Finalist: Post-registration: Learner of the Year - 2019
- Best Poster Presentation, NHS Lothian NMAHPPs Conference - 2018
- Best Undergraduate Research Award – 2017
- Joan and Muriel Burnside award for care of persons living with dementia – 2017
I am the programme leader for the Advancing Care Home Practice Programme.
