Dr Tessa Watts

Reader: Adult Nursing

School of Healthcare Sciences

: wattst1@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44(0)29 225 10963
: 13.14, Eastgate House, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AB

: Available for postgraduate supervision

I am a researcher, qualified teacher and registered nurse (adult field) with a clinical background in palliative and end of life care in advanced cancer and a Reader in the School of Healthcare Sciences at Cardiff University. I am the Deputy research theme lead for Optimising wellbeing and the management of long-term conditions.

In my research I work with multiprofessional researchers, healthcare professionals and members of the public, nationally and internationally. Currently I am leading the investigation of people's experiences of being treated with cancer immunotherapy and healthcare professionals education and training needs in relation to these exciting treatments. I am also leading a study investigating the impact of COVID-19 on Nurses in Wales in collaboration with Public Health Wales and Health for Health Professionals Wales and the Welsh arm of a UK wide study investigating factors that help promote resilience and support the clinical education of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic which is funded by the ESRC.

I am an Honorary Professor at Swansea University and Editor for the international peer reviewed journal, Nurse Education in Practice.

I have an academic grounding in the social and political sciences and nursing and am an active qualitative researcher, publishing, making conference presentations with a focus on chronic illness/conditions, most particularly advanced cancer, workforce wellbeing, particularly moral distress, and examining at doctoral level. I review grant applications for the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Scheme, Research Capacity Building Collaboration Wales (RCBC Wales) and Tenovus. I am a member of the Scientific Review Panel for the International Nursing Education Conference (NET/NEP) and International Conference of Cancer Nursing (ICCN). I regularly review for several journals as detailed on my publons account and am editor for the international peer review journal Nurse Education in Practice.

August 2021- current: Reader Cardiff University School of Healthcare Sciences

December 2019 - ongoing: Honorary Professor Swansea University

September 2018 - August 2021: Senior Lecturer Cardiff University, School of Healthcare Sciences.

2003- 2018 - Associate Professor, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University

In this post I also held Institutional and College senior stategic education leadership roles including: Deputy Chair, Swansea University Programme Approval Committee; College Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies); College Strategic Lead Recruitment and Admissions (2009-2015), College Strategic Lead Widening participation and inclusion (2008-2105); Programme Director Professional Doctorate (2016-2018); Programme Director MSc Long Term and Chronic Conditions Managment (2009-2018); Programme Director BSc Cancer Care (2009-2014); Acting Head of Nursing and Midwifery (2004 -2006); BN Programme Director (all fields) (2003-2009). I represented Swansea University on the All Wales Fitness for Practice Nursing Education Steering Comittee between 2004 and 2009.

1996-2003 - Senior Lecturer, Swansea University.

Lecturer in Nursing Theory; initiated, developed and led the first BSc in Palliative Nursing (with spq) in Wales and Swansea’s first BSc Cancer Nursing and multiprofessional Cancer Care programmes. Module Leader Post registration Death Dying and Bereavement.

Honours and awards

Visiting international researcher University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Western Australia: 2020

Honorary Professor Swansea University 2019

Advance HE National Teaching Fellow Nominee 2018 (Swansea University)

International travel fellowship College of Human and Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Swansea University 2017 – visited School of Nursing at Sydney University and University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Faculty of Health/ Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care

Professional memberships

Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy

Registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Academic positions

2003-2018 Associate Professor, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University

1996-2003 Senior Lecturer, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Swansea University.

Speaking engagements

Invited speaker, Notre Dame University, Freemantle Campus, Perth, Western Australia (2020)

Invited speaker Macmillan Cancer Support Professionals' Conference, Manchester (2019)

Invited seminar presentation University Technology Sydney, Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care (2017).

Committees and reviewing

Editor Nurse Education in Practice (from 2021)
Associate Editor Nurse Education in Practice (from 2019)
Editorial Board, Nurse Education in Practice (from 2014)
Grant reviewer, Tenovus Cancer Care
Grant reviewer, Research Capacity Building Collaboration (RCBC) Wales
Grant reviewer, Research for Public and Patient Benefit (England)

2023

Temeng, E., Hewitt, R., Pattinson, R., Sydor, A., Whybrow, D., Watts, T. and Bundy, E. 2023. Nurses' coping strategies caring for patients during severe viral pandemics: A mixed methods systematic review. Journal of Clinical Nursing

2022

Smith, L., Meggy, A., Watts, T., Knight, L., Torkington, J. and Cornish, J. 2022. Incisional hernia prevention: risk-benefit from a patient perspective (INVITE) - protocol for a single-centre, mixed-methods, cross-sectional study aiming to determine if using prophylactic mesh in incisional hernia prevention is acceptable to patients. BMJ Open 12(12), article number: e069568. (10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069568)
Cable, M., Watts, T., Reagon, C. and Kelly, D. 2022. Experiences of early-career nurses working in specialist adolescent/young adult cancer units: A narrative inquiry. Journal of Advanced Nursing (10.1111/jan.15488)
Watts, T. et al. 2022. Contributing factors and impacts of moral distress among nurses: a systematic review. Presented at: European Nursing Congress 22: Future Proof Nursing: Nurses as key drivers of change, Netherlands, 4-7 October 2022.
Watts, T. et al. 2022. Perceived helpfulness of a tiered mental health support intervention for moral distress: a qualitative, exploratory study. Presented at: European Nursing Congress 22: Future Proof Nursing: Nurses as key drivers of change, Netherlands, 4-7 October 2022.
Watts, T., Anstey, S. and Jennings, S. 2022. 'Where they've got bad side effects or less response it's a difficult treatment?: Oncology health professionals' experiences of supporting people receiving immunotherapy. Presented at: RCN International Nursing Research Conference, Cardiff, UK, 5-6 Sept 2022.
Watts, T., Csontos, J., Roche, D. and Jennings, S. 2022. Patients' experiences of cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis. Presented at: RCN International Nursing Research Conference, Cardiff, UK, 5-6 Sept 2022.
Cable, M., Kelly, D., Watts, T. and Reagon, C. 2022. The experiences of early career nurses working in specialist adolescent/young adult cancer units: a narrative inquiry. Presented at: RCN International Nursing Research Conference, Cardiff, UK, 5-6 Sept 2022.
Watts, T. et al. 2022. Symposium of four papers: Identifying and mitigating moral distress in the nursing workforce: insights from the UK and the United States. Presented at: RCN International Nursing Research Conference, Cardiff, UK, 5-6 Sept 2022.
Watts, T., Jennings, S. and Anstey, S. 2022. 'We're in new territory': oncology health professionals' experiences with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Presented at: Cancer Care in the Digital Age, Belfast, 11-12 November 2022.
Silva, L., Abbas, S., Watts, T., Torkington, J. and Cornish, J. 2022. Patient reported outcomes and experiences following emergency laparotomy: a mixed methods patient survey. British Journal of Surgery 109(S5), pp. v102-v102. (10.1093/bjs/znac248.254)
Silva, L., Mohammed, S., Strong, P., Watts, T., Torkington, J. and Cornish, J. 2022. Patient reported outcomes and experiences following emergency laparotomy: a mixed methods patient survey. Presented at: Annual Scientific Meeting of the Surgical Research Society, East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, UK, 24-25 March 2022. , (10.1093/bjs/znac242.040)
Watts, T. and Arthur, J. 2022. An exploratory study identifying a possible response shift phenomena of the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile. Presented at: The National PROMS Annual Research Conference, Virtual, 14 -15 June 2022.
Watts, T. et al. 2022. Addressing moral distress during COVID-19 recovery: a mixed methods systematic review and narrative synthesis of moral distress in nurses and supportive moral distress interventions. Public Health Wales: Cardiff University.
Francis-Coad, J., Watts, T., Bulsara, C. and Hill, A. 2022. Designing and evaluating falls prevention education with residents and staff in aged care homes: a feasibility study. Health Education 122(5), pp. 546-563. (10.1108/HE-08-2021-0113)
Silva, L., Crole Rees, C., Watts, T., Bisson, J. and Cornish, J. 2022. Recovery after emergency laparotomy – what do patients want?. Presented at: ASGBI 2022 'Recharge and reset'. International Surgical Congress, Liverpool, 3-5 May 2022.
Watts, T., Roche, D., Jennings, S. and Csontos, J. 2022. Experiences of immune checkpoint inhibitors from the perspectives of people affected by cancer: a qualitative evidence synthesis. Presented at: Cancer Care in the Digital Age, Belfast, UK, 11-12 November 2022Completed Abstracts presented at the UKONS Annual Conference, 11–12 November 2022, The ICC Belfast.
Csontos, J., Roche, D. and Watts, T. 2022. Understanding how two cancer rehabilitation services work for people in South Wales, UK: findings from a mixed methods study. Presented at: European Cancer Summit 2022, Brussels, Belgium, 17 November 2022.
Csontos, J., Roche, D. and Watts, T. 2022. Understanding how two cancer rehabilitation services work for people in South Wales, UK: findings from a mixed methods study. Presented at: All-Wales WAHPN Cancer Research Network Conference, Virtual, 29 September 2022.
Watts, T. 2022. 'Toxicities can occur at any timepoint': Doing checkpoint inhibitor toxicity management. Presented at: All-Wales WAHPN Cancer Research Network Conference, Virtual, 29th September 2022.
Watts, T. et al. 2022. Addressing moral distress among nurses after the COVID-19 emergency: The ASSISTANCE study. Presented at: Canopi Synposium, Cardiff University, May 2022.
Silva, L., Mohammed, S. A., Watts, T., Torkington, J. and Cornish, J. 2022. Patient reported outcomes and experiences following emergency laparotomy. Presented at: Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland International Congress 2022, Liverpool, UK., 3-5 May 2022.

2018

Tajic, A. et al. 2018. The effect of Tai Chi on quality of life in male older people: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 33, pp. 191-196. (10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.10.009)
Csontos, J. et al. 2018. The perception and operation of cancer rehabilitation services in South Wales from healthcare professionals' perspective: a qualitative study. Presented at: Crossing Boundaries in Cancer Care UKONS Annual Conference 2018, Glasgow, 16-17 November 2018.
Watts, T. 2018. Four cornerstones of lymphoedema care. Nursing and Residential Care 20(7), pp. 310-318. (10.12968/nrec.2018.20.7.310)
Watts, T. and Francis-Coad, J. 2018. Falls and falls prevention in residential care: perspectives of older people in Western Australia and Wales, UK.. Presented at: RCN International Nursing Research Conference, Birmingham, UK, 16-18 April 2018.
Watts, T., Bower, J. and Samuel, H. M. 2018. The needs and concerns of adult haematology patients on completion of initial active chemotherapy treatment in West Wales: a qualitative investigation. Presented at: Crossing Boundaries in Cancer Care, Glasgow, 16th - 17th November 2018.
Coad, J. F., Anderson, M., Beer, C. E., Griffiths, E., Hill, A., Panes, G. and Watts, T. 2018. Australian and Welsh care home residents' views about falls and falls prevention. Presented at: Eight Biennial Australian and NEw Zealand Falls Prevention Conference, Hobart, Tasmania, 18-20 November 2018.
Watts, T. 2018. Falls and falls prevention in residential care: perspectives of older people in Western Australia and Wales UK. Presented at: Royal College of Nursing International Nursing Research Conference, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 16-18 April 2018. pp. -.

2017

Watts, T. and Davies, R. 2017. Chronic oedema "on-the-ground" education programme. British Journal of Community Nursing 22(11), pp. 526-534. (10.12968/bjcn.2017.22.11.526)
Watts, T. et al. 2017. Evaluation of older people's knowledge, awareness, motivation and perceptions about falls and falls prevention in residential aged care homes: A tale of two cities. Presented at: Welsh Public Health Conference, Newport, Wales, UK, 26-27 October 2017.
Francis-Coad, J. et al. 2017. Evaluation of older people’s knowledge, motivation and perceptions about falls and falls prevention in residential aged care homes across continents: “A tale of two cities”.. Presented at: British Society of Gerontology Conference, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom, 5-7 July 2017.

2016

Watts, T. and Davies, R. 2016. A qualitative national focus group study of the experience of living with lymphoedema and accessing local multiprofessional lymphoedema clinics. Journal of Advanced Nursing 72(12), pp. 3147-3158. (10.1111/jan.13071)
Arthur, J., Watts, T., Davies, R., Manchaiah, V. and Slater, J. 2016. An exploratory study identifying a possible response shift phenomena of the Glasgow hearing aid benefit profile. Audiology Research 6(2), pp. 44-48. (10.4081/audiores.2016.152)
Watts, T. 2016. Types of review and their purpose. In: Glasper, A. and Rees, C. eds. Nursing and Healthcare Research at a Glance. Wiley Blackwell, pp. 4-6.
Watts, T., Arthur, J., Davies, R., Slater, J. and Jones, P. 2016. An analysis of hearing aid use: data logging as an adjunct with the Glasgow Hearing Benefit Profile Questionnaire. Journal of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology 49, pp. 27-33.

2014

Watts, T. and Davies, R. 2014. Tensions and ambiguities: A qualitative study of final year adult field nursing students' experiences of caring for people affected by advanced dementia in Wales, UK. Nurse Education Today 34(8), pp. 1149-1154. (10.1016/j.nedt.2014.04.012)
Watts, T. 2014. Final-year nursing undergraduates’ understandings of palliative care: a qualitative study in Wales, UK. International Journal of Palliative Nursing 20(6), pp. 285-293. (10.12968/ijpn.2014.20.6.285)
Watts, T. 2014. Secondary breast cancer: the role of primary care nurses. Practice Nurse 44(5), pp. 36-41.

2013

Watts, T. E. 2013. Big ideas: 'Les Rites De Passage' Arnold Van Gennep 1909. Nurse Education Today 33(4), pp. 312-313. (10.1016/j.nedt.2012.09.010)
Watts, T. 2013. End-of-life care pathways and nursing: a literature review. Journal of Nursing Management 21(1), pp. 47-57. (10.1111/j.1365-2834.2012.01423.x)
Watts, T. 2013. The media critique of the Liverpool Care Pathway: some implications for nursing education. International Journal of Palliative Nursing 19(6), pp. 275-280. (10.12968/ijpn.2013.19.6.275)
Watts, T. 2013. Primary breast cancer: an overview and update. Practice Nurse 43(2), pp. 36-42.

2012

Watts, T. 2012. End-of-life care pathways as tools to promote and support a good death: a critical commentary. European Journal of Cancer Care 21(1), pp. 20-30. (10.1111/j.1365-2354.2011.01301.x)
Watts, T. 2012. Initiating end-of-life care pathways: a discussion paper. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(10), pp. 2359-2370. (10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05924.x)
Allen, M. and Watts, T. 2012. Promoting health and wellbeing at the end of life: the contribution of care pathways. International Journal of Palliative Nursing 18(7), pp. 348-354. (10.12968/ijpn.2012.18.7.348)

2011

Watts, T. 2011. Support on schedule. Nursing Standard 25(40), pp. 61. (10.7748/ns2011.06.25.40.61.p5527)
Watts, T. E. 2011. Supporting undergraduate nursing students through structured personal tutoring: some reflections. Nurse Education Today 31(2), pp. 214-218. (10.1016/j.nedt.2010.06.005)
Watts, T. 2011. Caring for cancer survivors. Practice Nurse 41(12), pp. 40-45.

2010

Watts, T. 2010. Chronic conditions management. In: Kell, C. and Helme, M. eds. Interprofessional Education in Wales: case studies in health and social care.. London: Higher Education Academy

2004

Watts, T., Merrell, J., Murphy, F. and Williams, A. 2004. Breast health information needs of women from minority ethnic groups. Journal of Advanced Nursing 47(5), pp. 526-535. (10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03125.x)

2001

Watts, T., Jones, M., Wainwright, P. and Williams, A. M. 2001. Methodologies analysing individual practice in health care: a systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing 35(2), pp. 238-256. (10.1046/j.1365-2648.2001.01841.x)

1999

Watts, T. and Jenkins, K. 1999. Palliative care nurses' feelings about death rattle. Journal of Clinical Nursing 8(5), pp. 615-616. (10.1046/j.1365-2702.1999.0270a.x)

1997

Watts, T., Jenkins, K. and Back, I. 1997. Problem and management of noisy rattling breathing in dying patients. International Journal of Palliative Nursing 3(5), pp. 245-252. (10.12968/ijpn.1997.3.5.245)

I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and was an Advance HE National Teaching Fellow Nominee in 2018 when I was still working at Swansea University. I have designed, developed, validated and led full and part time pre and post registration professional body-approved programmes in Palliative Nursing, Cancer Nursing, Undergraduate Pre-Registration Nursing (adult; mental health and child fields) and multi professional post graduate programmes: Long Term and Chronic Conditions Management and a Professional Doctorate. I now teach, supervise and examine at pre-registration undergraduate, taught postgraduate and doctoral levels.

My current, specific, module responsibilities are:

MSc Advanced Practice: Understanding Cancer: Patient and professional perspectives HCT 150
MSc Advanced Practice: Introduction to research methods HCT 206
MSc Advanced Practice: Research methods and data analysis in healthcare HCT 343
BSc Nursing: Evaluation of care: HC 3288
BSc Nursing: Dissertation Supervision
MSc Advanced Practice: Dissertation Supervision
Doctoral student supervision

I am also a personal tutor for undergraduate pre-registration nursing students (adult field)

I enjoy collaborating and working with multiprofessional researchers, healthcare professionals and member of the public in my research. I am an active member of the School's Optimising wellbeing and the management of long term conditions research theme and the Healthcare Cancer Research group.

Research projects

Current funded projects

Moral distress among nurses and supportive interventions: a mixed methods systematic review and narrative synthesis. Public Health Wales. Dr Tessa Watts (CI), Professor Christine Bundy, Dr Sally Anstey, Dr Anna Sydor, Ms Eunice Temeng, Ms Rachael Pattinson, Ms Rachael Hewitt, Ms Liz Gillen (all Cardiff University), Dr Dean Whybrow (Swansea University),

The mental health impacts on RN's of caring throughout COVID-19 and the perceived acceptablility of the Health for Health Professionals Wales (HHPW) intervention for moral distress. Burdett Trust for Nursing. Dr Tessa Watts (CI), Professor Christine Bundy, Dr Sally Anstey, Dr Anna Sydor, Dr Bethan Jones (all Cardiff University), Dr Dean Whybrow (Swansea University), Dr Richard Kyle (Public Health Wales), Professor Jonathan Bisson (Cardiff University), Ms Naomi Marfell (Health for Health Professionals Wales), Dr Thomas Kitchen (Health for Health Professionals Wales). Announcing £1.2 million of grants awarded under our COVID-19 Supporting Nursing Resilience programme – The Burdett Trust for Nursing (btfn.org.uk)

Investigating how nurse education prior to and during Covid prepares nurses for the pandemic: an analysis of what works. ESRC/UKRI funded (Dr Mary Malone (CI) Oxford Brookes University, Professor Eila Watson, Oxford Brookes University, Professor Jane Appleton, Oxford Brookes University, Dr Cathy Henshall, Oxford Brookes University, Professor Danny Kelly, Cardiff University, Professor Dame Anne Marie Rafferty, Kings College London, Dr Lynn Sayer, Kings College London, Professor Caroline Bradbury Jones, Birmingham University, Professor Laura Serrant, Manchester Metropolitan University, Dr Michael Ramsey, University of Dundee, Professor Sonia McIlfatrick, University of Ulster. https://www.brookes.ac.uk/about-brookes/news/covid19-research-into-student-nurse-experiences/

Experiences of cancer immunotherapy with immune-checkpoint inhibitors. I am leading a multiprofessional team of academic researchers, clinicians and members of the public. (Dr Tessa Watts (CI), Stephen Jennings, Professor Deborah Fitzsimmons-Warm (Swansea University), Emeritus Professor Debbie Fenlon (Swansea University), Dr Sally Anstey (Cardiff University), Dr Alison Brewster (Hywel Dda University Health Board), Ms Janet Richards (Hywel Dda University Health Board), Mr John Buckman) (Service User Representative). Macmillan Cancer Support funded https://www.macmillan.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/evidence/research-funding/funded-research.html#295346

The community and economic impact of multidimensional cancer rehabilitation interventions in supporting people to live well with and after their cancer: PhD studentship (Macmillan Cancer Support/College of Human and Health Sciences/ Cardiff University) (Dr Tessa Watts (CI))

I am committed to growing research capacity and capability within nursing and allied health professionals. I have knowledge and skills in qualitative research methods, particularly ethnography. I am interested in supervising PhD students who would like to explore dimensions of supportive care for people and families living with chronic illnesses, including cancers, and also workforce support in the context of health and social care, particularly the nursing workforce and nursing students using qualitative methodologies and drawing on the social sciences.

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:

Optimising wellbeing in cancer, particularly among people being treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors;
People's experiences of chronic illness
Optimising supportive care in chronic illness;
Cancer nursing, notably supportive care
Moral distress among the nursing workforce and interventions to mitigate and prevent moral distress

I am an experienced postgraduate supervisor. I have supervised seven doctoral level students (PhD and Professional Doctorate) to timely completion and in excess of 20 postgraduate (MSc) students with their dissertations. I have examined externally at Sheffield Hallam University and University of South Wales and am external examiner for the Professional doctorate (Nursing and Midwifery) at Oxford Brookes University.

Current doctoral students also include:

Eunice Temeng (PhD)

Louise Silva (MD)

Laurie Smith (MD)

Harriet Coxon (MD)

Current supervision

Francesca Mada

Research student

Past projects

Previous PGR supervision

Awarded 2022 Experiences of Early Career Nurses Working in Specialist Adolescent/Young Adult Cancer Units: A Narrative Inquiry (Doctor of Advanced Healthcare Practice - Part Time Cardiff University)

Awarded 2021 Realist evaluation of cancer rehabilitation services in South Wales (PhD - Full Time Cardiff University)

Awarded 2021 Can 3D camera imaging provide information to assess and manage lymphoedema in clinical practice (Professional Doctorate - Part Time Swansea University)

Awarded 2020 Effects of rehabilitation on cardiac patients' health-related quality of life in Kuwait: role of exercise, cultural and social factors (PhD- Full Time International Swansea University)

Awarded 2020 An exploratory mixed-methods investigation of adult hearing aid users and the relationships of hearing aid use with anxiety, depression, lonliness and social inclusion. (PhD – Part Time Swansea University)

Awarded 2018 The impact of the lymphoedema risk reducing recommendations on people treated for breast cancer and the implications for clinical practice. (Professional Doctorate – Part Time Swansea University)

Awarded 2015 The transition after active treatment:exploring the journeys for older people with cancer in South-West Wales (PhD- Full Time Swansea University)