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Staff Profiles

Dr Linda Biesty

M.Sc. B.Sc. PgDip

Contact Details

Lecturer Above The Bar
School of Nursing and Midwifery
NUI Galway

E: LINDA.BIESTY@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher

Biography

I am a registered midwife, nurse and nurse tutor with the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland. I hold an MSc Midwifery, Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Sciences Education (with distinction) & PhD from Trinity College Dublin. My PhD focused on the culture of birth; my thesis title -  "The Culture of Birth in Ireland at the Interface Between Home and Hospital: An ethnographic study of in-labour transfer to hospital during planned home birth". I was awarded a Research Training Fellowship for Health Care Professionals by the Health Research Board (HRB), Ireland to support this work.

I am a midwife since 1997 and have practised  midwifery in London, Australia and Ireland, in hospital and home / community settings within obstetric-led and midwife-led models of maternity care.  I have 15 years experience in midwifery education, 10 of those as a university lecturer facilitating teaching & learning across undergraduate and postgraduate nursing & midwifery education. 

Research Interests

My topic ares of expertise include exploring Models of Maternity Care, Home Birth, Breastfeeding and the Education of Midwifery Students.

My methodological areas of interest lie in evidence synthesis, qualitative research methodologies (including the synthesis of qualitative research), Ethnography, using Participant Observation as a research method, involving women and other key stakeholders in research to inform the provision of the Maternity Services.  

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2017) 'Factors that impact on recruitment to randomised trials in health care: a qualitative evidence synthesis (Protocol)'
Houghton C, Dowling M, Meskell P, Hunter A, Gardner H, Conway A, Treweek S , Sutcliffe K, Noyes J, Devane D, Nicholas JR, Biesty LM. (2017) 'Factors that impact on recruitment to randomised trials in health care: a qualitative evidence synthesis (Protocol)'. Cochrane Database Of Systematic Reviews , CochraneDatabase of Systematic Reviews 2017, Issue 5. Art. No.: MR000045. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.MR000045 [Details]
(2014) ''I found the OSCE very stressful': Student midwives' attitudes towards an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)'
Muldoon K, Biesty L, Smith V (2014) ''I found the OSCE very stressful': Student midwives' attitudes towards an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)'. Nurse Education Today, 34 :468-473 [Details]
(2013) 'The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as a strategy for assessing clinical competence in midwifery education in Ireland'
Smith V, Muldoon K, Biesty L (2013) 'The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as a strategy for assessing clinical competence in midwifery education in Ireland'. Nurse Education Today, 12 (5):242-247 [Details]
(2012) 'The best laid plans of women and midwives'
Biesty L (2012) 'The best laid plans of women and midwives'. The Practising Midwife, 15 (3) [Details]
(2006) 'Midwifery led care in Ireland: An education'
Daly D, Millar S, Gallagher L, Biesty L (2006) 'Midwifery led care in Ireland: An education'. The Practising Midwife, 9 (9):26-28 [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2015) 5th International Nursing & Midwifery Conference, NUIG
Biesty L, Lalor J, OBoyle C, Begley C (2015) Choosing home birth in Ireland 5th International Nursing & Midwifery Conference, NUIG [Details]
(2014) 15th Healthcare Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Muldoon K, Smith V, Biesty L (2014) Midwifery students' experiences of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as a strategy for assessing clinical competence 15th Healthcare Interdisciplinary Research Conference [Details]
(2014) Ethnography Symposium, University of Liverpool Management School & Keele University
Biesty L (2014) Walking a space 'in between' - an outsider with a professional insider status Ethnography Symposium, University of Liverpool Management School & Keele University [Details]
(2014) An Interdisciplinary Maternity Care Conference, Optimising Childbirth Across Europe
Biesty L, Lalor J, OBoyle C (2014) The home and hospital interface of maternity care in Ireland - experiences of Self Employed Community Midwives during in-labour transfers An Interdisciplinary Maternity Care Conference, Optimising Childbirth Across Europe [Details]
(2013) 14th Health Interdisciplinary Research Conference, Trinity College Dublin
Biesty L, Lalor J, OBoyle C (2013) Ethnography of home birth - my midwife 14th Health Interdisciplinary Research Conference, Trinity College Dublin [Details]
(2013) 4th International Nursing & Midwifery Conference, NUI Galway
Smith V, Mudloon K, Biesty L (2013) Student midwives' attitudes towards the Objective Structured Clinical Examination as a strategy for assessing clinical competence 4th International Nursing & Midwifery Conference, NUI Galway [Details]
(2012) 13th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference and Student Colloquium
Biesty L (2012) An ethnographic study of in-labour transfer to hospital during planned home birth. Participant Observation - the challenges 13th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference and Student Colloquium [Details]
(2011) Ethnography Symposium, University of Liverpool & Keele University
Biesty L, Lalor J, OBoyle C (2011) An ethnographic study of in-labour transfer to hospital during planned home birth - to be there or not to be there ...? Ethnography Symposium, University of Liverpool & Keele University [Details]
(2011) 3rd International Nursing & Midwifery Conference, NUI Galway
Biesty L, Lalor J, OBoyle C (2011) An ethnographic study of in-labour transfer to hospital for planned home birth- the beginning 3rd International Nursing & Midwifery Conference, NUI Galway [Details]
(2011) 12th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference, Trinity College Dublin
Sweetman S, Dunlea M, Biesty L, Brady V, Lawlor D, Andrews L (2011) Women's experiences of vaginal examination in labour: A meta-study 12th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference, Trinity College Dublin [Details]
(2011) International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) 29th Triennial Conference
Biesty L (2011) Transfer from home to hospital for women planning a home birth - women's experiences in Ireland International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) 29th Triennial Conference [Details]
(2004) Transforming Healthcare through Research, Education & Technology (Annual Conference), Trinity College Dublin
Biesty L (2004) Breastfeeding 'I didn't expect that' Transforming Healthcare through Research, Education & Technology (Annual Conference), Trinity College Dublin [Details]
(2002) Transforming Heathcare through Research, Education & Technology, Trinity College Dublin
Biesty L (2002) The physical expectations and experiences of breastfeeding Transforming Heathcare through Research, Education & Technology, Trinity College Dublin [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2008) The Rotunda and the women of north inner city Dublin: An exploratory, descriptive study.
Gallagher L, Biesty L, Millar S, Treanor P (2008) The Rotunda and the women of north inner city Dublin: An exploratory, descriptive study. Trinity College Dublin, Dublin. [Details]

Conference Poster

  Year Publication
(2010) Sustaining a community breastfeeding support group - Gort mothers tell their story. All Ireland Annual Midwifery Conference (INMO, RCM).
Biesty L, Gallagher L, Millar S (2010) Sustaining a community breastfeeding support group - Gort mothers tell their story. All Ireland Annual Midwifery Conference (INMO, RCM). Conference Poster [Details]
(2009) Community breastfeeding support group - Gort mothers lead the way! All Ireland Annual Midwifery Conference (INMO, RCM).
Biesty L, Gallagher L, Millar S (2009) Community breastfeeding support group - Gort mothers lead the way! All Ireland Annual Midwifery Conference (INMO, RCM). Conference Poster [Details]
(2009) The Rotunda Hospital and the women of north inner city Dublin, All Ireland Annual Midwifery Conference (INMO, RCM).
Biesty L, Gallagher L, Millar S (2009) The Rotunda Hospital and the women of north inner city Dublin, All Ireland Annual Midwifery Conference (INMO, RCM). Conference Poster [Details]
(2008) Peer supporters perceptions of a breastfeeding education programme, ICM 28th Triennial Congress.
Biesty L, Gallagher L, Millar S (2008) Peer supporters perceptions of a breastfeeding education programme, ICM 28th Triennial Congress. Conference Poster [Details]

Other Item

  Year Publication
(2009) Baby led weaning - from theory to practice: A mother's experience. Association of Lactation Consultants of Ireland Conference.
Biesty L (2009) Baby led weaning - from theory to practice: A mother's experience. Association of Lactation Consultants of Ireland Conference. Other Item [Details]
(2009) The impact of birthing practices on breastfeeding. La Leche League Ireland, Annual Conference.
Biesty L (2009) The impact of birthing practices on breastfeeding. La Leche League Ireland, Annual Conference. Other Item [Details]
(2007) The wonder of breasts. Galway Breastfeeding Conference.
Biesty L (2007) The wonder of breasts. Galway Breastfeeding Conference. Other Item [Details]
(2003) Women's expectations and experiences of breastfeeding. The Rotunda Hospital, Research Conference.
Biesty L (2003) Women's expectations and experiences of breastfeeding. The Rotunda Hospital, Research Conference. Other Item [Details]
(2003) Breastfeeding: Expectations versus reality, a qualitative study of maternal perspective. The Association of Lactation Consultants, Ireland (Annual Conference).
Biesty L (2003) Breastfeeding: Expectations versus reality, a qualitative study of maternal perspective. The Association of Lactation Consultants, Ireland (Annual Conference). Other Item [Details]

Teaching Interests

I have an in-depth knowledge of midwifery education and vast experience of teaching midwifery and facilitating learning at undergraduate and postgraduate level across all midwifery programmes in the classroom, skills lab and clinical setting, using a variety of strategies. I also participate/ have participated in the teaching of nursing students, neonatal nurses, medical students, obstetric and paediatric doctors, GPs, maternity care assistances, peer supporters and ambulance personnel. 

I have a passion and enthusiasm for teaching all aspects of midwifery; however, I have developed a special interest in breastfeeding, postnatal care, intrapartum care, place of birth and research including qualitative research methodologies and methods.

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
Year 3 Midwifery Studies II NU 308 Bachelor of Midwifery Science
Year 3 Midwifery Studies III NU 309 Bachelor of Midwifery Science
Year 1 Child and Maternal Health NU 6585 MSc. Public Health Nursing
Year 1 The Nature of Midwifery NU172 Bachelor of Midwifery Science
Year 1 Normal Midwifery Care II NU 556 Higher Diploma in Midwifery
Year 4 Leading and Developing Practice NU 405 Bachelor of Midwifery Science
Year 1 Midwifery Anatomy, Physiology and Applied Midwifery Skills NU1101 Bachelor of Midwifery Science
Year 1 Normal Midwifery Care I NU 554 Higher Diploma in Midwifery
Year 2 Care of the Woman at Risk I NU 557 Higher Diploma in Midwifery
Term 1 High Dependency Maternity Care NU 568 Professional Credit Award Module
Year 1 Principles and Practices of Midwifery NU186 Bachelor of Midwifery Science
Year 1 Biological Sciences NU 553 Higher Diploma in Midwifery
Year 2 Care of the Woman at Risk I NU 560 Higher Diploma in Midwifery
Year 2 Midwifery Studies I NU 246 Bachelor of Midwifery Science
Year 2 Care of the Woman at Risk II NU 560 Higher Diploma in Midwifery