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Biography

Dr. Louise Bennett is a Lecturer and Researcher in the Department of Nursing and Healthcare. 

She is the program leader of the postgraduate nursing program 'Certificate in Clinical Pre Assessment for Nurses and Midwives'. She has a research background in epilepsy healthcare, and a clinical background in perioperative nursing. 

Louise trained as a general nurse at St James’s Hospital, Dublin and qualified in 1996. She has a wide range of clinical experience and has held a number of clinical positions in acute general settings both nationally and internationally. She specialised in perioperative nursing at St James’s Hospital, Dublin, where she was awarded a distinction in a postgraduate Diploma in Perioperative Nursing at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) in 2000.  She continued her studies by undertaking a MSc in Nursing at TCD (2010), and a post graduate Diploma in Clinical Science Education at TCD (2011). In 2012 she was awarded a distinction in the Nurse-Midwife Prescribing program at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI), Dublin.    

Whilst undertaking her PhD at Waterford Institute of Technology she took up a full time position in 2014 as a Lecturer in the Department of Nursing and Healthcare at WIT. She was awarded a PhD by research from WIT in 2019 with a thesis entitled ‘Empowerment in Epilepsy Services: A ‘Soft Systems’ Study Referenced to Critical Social Theory and a Specialist Service in Ireland. Supervisors: Dr. Michael Bergin (Head of the Department of Applied Arts, School of Humanities, WIT) and Professor John S.G. Wells (Head of School of Health Sciences, WIT).

Dr Bennett is Registered Nurse Tutor (RNT) with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. She teaches across a range of nursing and healthcare modules both at undergraduate and postgraduate level and these include: Technical Roles in Applied Health Care; Fundamentals of Care; Pre-admission Nursing;  Research Methods; and Ethical and Legal issues in healthcare.  She also engages with the Multiple Intelligence Teaching Approach (MITA) that is promoted within the Department. 

Research interests:

Dr. Bennett’s research interests lie in the area of empowerment, epilepsy health care and service delivery. Her thesis adopted a three phase mixed methods design to promote data triangulation to explore and analyse the epilepsy service as a system with reference to dimensions of empowerment using Critical Social Theory. This study has contributed to knowledge and state of the art through: publication of three papers in peer reviewed journals in the field of epilepsy; and oral presentations at a number of conferences.

Research Methods:

Specialising in Critical Social Theory, Systems theory, Soft Systems Methodology, frameworks approach, quantitative and qualitative data analysis and the use of SPSS and NVivo software.

She is also involved in a funded HSE project: An Exploration of Mental Health Care Provision for People with Epilepsy using Experience Based Co-Design.

Research funding:

Health Service Executive: Research Grant - €50000

Current and Previous positions

Lecturer & Course Leader, Waterford Institute of Technology (2014-Present).

Researcher & Doctoral Student, Waterford Institute of Technology (2012-2014).

Registered General Nurse (Theatre Department), Wexford General Hospital (2003-2012).

Registered General Nurse (Theatre Department), Our Lady of Lourdes, Crumlin, Dublin (2002-2003).

Registered General Nurse (Theatre Department), Mater Private Hospital, Dublin (2001-2002).

Registered General Nurse (Theatre Department), Strathfield Private Hospital, Sydney, Australia (2000- 2001).                   

Registered General Nurse (Theatre Department), St James’s Hospital, Dublin (1998-2000)

Registered General Nurse (ICU and A&E Department), Ryde Hospital, Sydney, Australia (1997-1998).

Registered General Nurse (Surgical Ward), St James’s Hospital, Dublin (1996-1997).

Journal Publications:

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2020) Exploring user empowerment and service improvement within an Irish epilepsy service using Checkland’s ‘Soft-Systems’ approach. Journal of Nursing Management, 1-11.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2020) Exploring Dimensions of Empowerment from the Patients’ Perspective in One Specialist Epilepsy Service in Ireland. Journal of Patient Experience 1-8.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2016a) The potential of critical social theory as an educational framework for people with epilepsy.  Epilepsy & Behavior 43:80-87.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2016b) The social space of empowerment within epilepsy services: The map is not the terrain’. Epilepsy & Behavior 56: 139-148.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2015) Epilepsy services in Ireland: A survey of people with epilepsy in relation to satisfaction, preferences and information provision. Epilepsy Research 113:11-18.

 

Bennett L. and O Gorman C.  (2014) ‘Review: The impact of the economic crisis and austerity on the nursing and midwifery professions in the Republic of Ireland – 'boom', 'bust' and retrenchment’, Journal of Research in Nursing, 19(7-8) pp. 578-579.

Conference Proceedings:

 

Bergin M., McCarthy M., Bennett L & Wells JSG. (2017) People with Epilepsy and Irish Mental Health Care Provision, 25th International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services, Vienna, Austria, 12-14th April.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2016) Empowerment within Irish epilepsy services: An exploratory analysis. Oral presentation. 17th Annual interdisciplinary research conference, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2015) Epilepsy services in Ireland: ‘A survey of people with epilepsy in relation to satisfaction, preferences and information provision’. 5th Annual Research Day. Connect, Innovate, Inspire. Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland. Oral presentation.

 

Bennett L, Bergin M, Wells J.S.G. (2014) Patients’ perspectives of epilepsy services: A survey of patient satisfaction, preferences and information provision in people with epilepsy. 33rd Annual International Nursing & Midwifery Research Conference, RCSI Dublin, Ireland. Oral presentation.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2014) The potential of Friere’s Critical Social Theory as an approach for the study of education and people with epilepsy. 14th Annual interdisciplinary research conference, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Oral presentation.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2013) The potential of Critical Social Theory as a philosophical framework for the study of empowerment and epilepsy care. 13thAnnual interdisciplinary research conference, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Oral presentation

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2013) Empowerment in Irish epilepsy services: A Systems study. 4th Annual Research Day Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland. Poster presentation.

Kelly Mason, C., Anderson, V., Bennett, L., Gooney, M., Kennedy, S., & Pembroke, C. (2025). Exploring an inclusive educational program within Higher Education for individual with Intellectual Disabilities. Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 4(2), 37–46. 

 

Komal, K., Cleary, F., Wells, J. S. G., Narayanan, R. P., & Bennett, L. (2025) Assessing contact impedance of embroidered textrodes for biopotential measurements. The Design Journal, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/14606925.2025.2565156

 

Mukwashi V., Sharvin B., Maher R., Davitt M., Bennett L. (2025) Residential care staff working knowledge of reporting restrictive practices within Intellectual Disability and Older Persons care settings: A scoping review Journal of Health abd Rehabilitation Sciences 4(1), 48-61,

 

Komal, K., Cleary, F., Wells, J. S. G., & Bennett, L. (2024). A systematic review of the literature reporting on remote monitoring epileptic seizure detection devices. Epilepsy Research, 201, 107334. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EPLEPSYRES.2024.107334

 

Merrigan G., Bennett L. (2023) Rehabilitation nurses knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of the provision of psychological care patients post stroke in Ireland : A cross-sectional study. Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 1-16

 

Merrigan G., Bennett L. (2023) Health Care Professionals knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of the provision of psychological care patients post stroke: A systematic review. Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 1-16

 

Bennett, L., Bergin, M. & Wells, J.S.G. (2020). Exploring dimensions of empowerment from the patients’ perspective in one specialist service in Ireland. Journal of Patient Experience 1-8.

 

Bennett, L., Bergin, M. & Wells, J.S.G. (2020).Exploring user empowerment and service improvement within an Irish epilepsy service using Checklands Soft Systems approach. Journal of Nursing Management.1-8 

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2016) The potential of critical social theory as an educational framework for people with epilepsy.  Epilepsy & Behavior 43:80-87.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2016) The social space of empowerment within epilepsy services: The map is not the terrain’. Epilepsy & Behavior 56: 139-148. 

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2015) Epilepsy services in Ireland: A survey of people with epilepsy in relation to satisfaction, preferences and information provision. Epilepsy Research 113:11-18.

 

Bennett L. and O Gorman C.  (2014) ‘Review: The impact of the economic crisis and austerity on the nursing and midwifery professions in the Republic of Ireland – 'boom', 'bust' and retrenchment’ Journal of Research in Nursing 19(7-8), 578-579.

 

Conference Proceedings

 

Komal K., Bennett L., Wells J., Cleary F (2023) Design of embroidered electrodes for monitoring epileptic seizures. Presented at pushing boundaries @SETU Carlow Campus May 31st 2023

 

Egan S., Bennett L., Moylan M., Kennedy S. (2023) An exploration of risk feeding in Intellectual disability services; a soft systems study. Presented at the Trinity College Dublin (TCD) Conference 7th-9th March 2023.

 

Bergin M.., McCarthy M., Bennett L., & Wells J.S.G. (2017) People with Epilepsy and Irish Mental Health Care Provision, 25th International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services, Vienna, Austria, 12-14th April.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2016) Empowerment within Irish epilepsy services: An exploratory analysis. Oral presentation. 17th Annual interdisciplinary research conference, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.  

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2015) Epilepsy services in Ireland: ‘A survey of people with epilepsy in relation to satisfaction, preferences and information provision’. 5th Annual Research Day. Connect, Innovate, Inspire. Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland. Oral presentation.

 

Bennett L, Bergin M, Wells J.S.G. (2014) Patients’ perspectives of epilepsy services: A survey of patient satisfaction, preferences and information provision in people with epilepsy. 33rd Annual International Nursing & Midwifery Research Conference, RCSI Dublin, Ireland. Oral presentation.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2014) The potential of Friere’s Critical Social Theory as an approach for the study of education and people with epilepsy. 14th Annual interdisciplinary research conference, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Oral presentation.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2013) The potential of critical social theory as a philosophical framework for the study of empowerment and epilepsy care. Presented at the 13th Annual interdisciplinary research conference, Trinity College Dublin 5th - 7th November 2013.

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2013) Empowerment in Irish epilepsy services: A Systems study. 4th Annual Research Day Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland. Poster presentation.

Journal Publications:

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2020) Exploring user empowerment and service improvement within an Irish epilepsy service using Checkland’s ‘Soft-Systems’ approach. Journal of Nursing Management, 1-11.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2020) Exploring Dimensions of Empowerment from the Patients’ Perspective in One Specialist Epilepsy Service in Ireland. Journal of Patient Experience 1-8.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2016a) The potential of critical social theory as an educational framework for people with epilepsy.  Epilepsy & Behavior 43:80-87.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2016b) The social space of empowerment within epilepsy services: The map is not the terrain’. Epilepsy & Behavior 56: 139-148.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G (2015) Epilepsy services in Ireland: A survey of people with epilepsy in relation to satisfaction, preferences and information provision. Epilepsy Research 113:11-18.

 

Bennett L. and O Gorman C.  (2014) ‘Review: The impact of the economic crisis and austerity on the nursing and midwifery professions in the Republic of Ireland – 'boom', 'bust' and retrenchment’, Journal of Research in Nursing, 19(7-8) pp. 578-579.

Conference Proceedings:

 

Bergin M., McCarthy M., Bennett L & Wells JSG. (2017) People with Epilepsy and Irish Mental Health Care Provision, 25th International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services, Vienna, Austria, 12-14th April.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2016) Empowerment within Irish epilepsy services: An exploratory analysis. Oral presentation. 17th Annual interdisciplinary research conference, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2015) Epilepsy services in Ireland: ‘A survey of people with epilepsy in relation to satisfaction, preferences and information provision’. 5th Annual Research Day. Connect, Innovate, Inspire. Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland. Oral presentation.

 

Bennett L, Bergin M, Wells J.S.G. (2014) Patients’ perspectives of epilepsy services: A survey of patient satisfaction, preferences and information provision in people with epilepsy. 33rd Annual International Nursing & Midwifery Research Conference, RCSI Dublin, Ireland. Oral presentation.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2014) The potential of Friere’s Critical Social Theory as an approach for the study of education and people with epilepsy. 14th Annual interdisciplinary research conference, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Oral presentation.

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2013) The potential of Critical Social Theory as a philosophical framework for the study of empowerment and epilepsy care. 13thAnnual interdisciplinary research conference, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Oral presentation

 

Bennett L., Bergin M., Wells J.S.G. (2013) Empowerment in Irish epilepsy services: A Systems study. 4th Annual Research Day Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland. Poster presentation.