
Dr Karen Gillett RGN, MSc. PhD, FHEA
Lecturer in Adult Nursing
Research interests
- Nursing
Biography
Post-registration clinical experience working in cancer and palliative care nursing and completed a Graduate Diploma in Cancer Nursing with the Royal Marsden Hospital. Spent 9 years working as a Lecturer in Cancer Nursing at City University London developing and leading a variety of post-qualification cancer and palliative care modules.
Since joining King’s College London in 2009 has led and contributed to a variety of pre-registration and post-qualification modules. Has developed and is currently delivering palliative care modules in collaboration with St Christopher’s Hospice, Sydenham, London. An experienced supervisor from BSc to PhD level.
Currently chair of King’s College London ethics health subcommittee and member of the College Research Ethics Committee. Qualifications:
- MSc Social Research, University of Surrey, 1995
- Post Graduate Diploma in Nursing Studies (Education), South Bank University, 2000
- PhD Educational Research, Lancaster University, 2007 – title ‘A Discourse of Division: How policy constructs the relationship between nurse education and nursing service providers’
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2013
Research Interests
- Qualitative research
- Palliative care
Enquiring about potential PhD supervision
If you are considering applying for one of our PhD programmes and are looking for potential supervisors, please complete our Microsoft Form.
Our Postgraduate Research (PGR) Team will contact potential supervisors on your behalf and will update you once they have received a response.
The form will ask you to provide:
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Details of your funding plans
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The names of supervisors you have identified as having expertise in your chosen research area.
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Your CV
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A short PhD research proposal.
If you have any issues completing the form, please contact the Postgraduate Research Team at: nmpc_pgr_enquiries@kcl.ac.uk.
Research profile
News
The use of metaphors enables patients and caregivers to communicate their experiences of living with long-term conditions
Patients can provide a unique insight into their own physical and emotional world through their own words with intentional or unintentional metaphors

- PhD Supervision
- Pre and post registration MSc and BSc dissertation supervision
- Module Leader Palliative and End of Life Care: Symptom Management Level 6 (6KNIN643) and Level 7 (7KNIM745)
- Module Leader: Student Project (post registration BSc Dissertation) (6KNIN420)
- Module Deputy: Palliative and End of Life Care: Foundations (6KNIS321)
Karen is teaching on other modules pre and post registration
News
The use of metaphors enables patients and caregivers to communicate their experiences of living with long-term conditions
Patients can provide a unique insight into their own physical and emotional world through their own words with intentional or unintentional metaphors

- PhD Supervision
- Pre and post registration MSc and BSc dissertation supervision
- Module Leader Palliative and End of Life Care: Symptom Management Level 6 (6KNIN643) and Level 7 (7KNIM745)
- Module Leader: Student Project (post registration BSc Dissertation) (6KNIN420)
- Module Deputy: Palliative and End of Life Care: Foundations (6KNIS321)
Karen is teaching on other modules pre and post registration