In 2018 she was named as one of 70 of the most influential nurses in the 70 years of the NHS (National Health Service).

She went on to lead a research-based career [2] and became a senior academic nurse leader.

Roper, Logan and Tierney's model has underpinned much nursing practice in the UK and beyond.

After a final period as Head of Nursing Studies, Tierney left in 2002 to join the University of Adelaide in South Australia as Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Nursing,[5] and as Director of the South Australian Center of The Joanna Briggs Institute at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

For five years (2006-2011) she held a Scottish Government public appointment as a Non-Executive Director of NHS Lothian.