On graduating, Tennent became a nursing sister at Wellington Hospital, and was appointed Assistant Matron in 1920. During her tenure, she encouraged nursing staff to undertake postgraduate studies in specialised fields, and to enrol in university courses. In the
1937 Coronation Honours, she was appointed a
Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to nursing. During
World War II Tennent was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand Red Cross Voluntary Aids and travelled throughout the country organising and training volunteers, advising on preparations for the establishment of emergency hospitals, and recruiting trained nurses to the organisation. In 1942 she resigned due to ill health and died in
Lower Hutt on 7 June 1946. ==References==