Contact Us

By telephone
During office hours
(Monday-Friday 08:30-17:00)
+44 (0)1234 400 400

Outside office hours
(Campus Watch)
+44 (0)1582 74 39 89

By email
admission@beds.ac.uk (admissions)
international@beds.ac.uk (international)
sid@beds.ac.uk (student support)
help@beds.ac.uk (registration)

By post
University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU

Mary Beckwith

Senior Lecturer 

Mary BeckwithI started my professional career in 1984 as a certified surgical technologist in the United States. After gaining several years of experience in the surgical setting, I continued my education to become a registered nurse. I have been employed for many roles such as surgical technologist, perioperative nurse, clinical preceptor and mentor, team leader, private surgical assistant, tissue procurement technician, and consultation for research, development, and sales departments for a surgical instrument developer. In 2005 I began teaching full time as Programme Director of a Surgical Technology programme in Michigan. I joined the University of Bedfordshire as a Senior Lecturer in Operating Department Practice in 2008. I’ve since become a registered nurse in the UK as well as a registered operating department practitioner through university study and providing direct patient care in an area hospital trust.

I enjoy working with students as they are challenged to become health professionals in the fast paced high acuity patient care setting of the operating theatre department.

Qualifications

  • Certificate of Surgical Technology Programme, Lansing Community College, Lansing, Michigan, USA
  • Associate Degree of Nursing, Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse City, Michigan, USA
  • Diploma of Higher Education of Operating Department Practice, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, Bedfordshire
  • Overseas Nurses Programme, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, Bedfordshire
  • BSc (Hons) Nursing Practice (Perioperative Critical Care), 1st class, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, Bedfordshire 

Teaching Role

  • I specialise in intraoperative care or care that is provided to the patient during surgery

Research Interests

  • The use of reflections to help students develop as evidence based practitioners
  • Interprofessional learning
  • The student experience whilst participating in the clinical setting

Recent Research Projects

  • ‘Interprofessional learning: is there benefit to fostering mutual understanding between health profession students before the lessons begin?’ This is a study involving operating department practice  and midwifery students at the University of Bedfordshire
  • ‘Reporting concerns about standards of care and professional practice: learning from the challenges faced by students.’ This is a study aiming to understand the experiences of health care students in relation to reporting concerns about standards of care or professional practice at the University of Bedfordshire

Recent Conference Presentations

  • ‘Reflection-for-Learning, self-directed learning, and students’ perceptions of feedback.’ University of Bedfordshire Conference 2011: Outcomes and Impacts
  • ‘Reflection or Critical Thinking? A Pedagogical Revolution in North American Health Care Education’  Chinese American Scholars Association E-Leader Conference, Krakow, Poland

Recent Publications

  • Beckwith, M.A.R. & Beckwith, P.T. (2008) “Reflection or Critical Thinking?: A pedagogical revolution in North American health care education". Refereed Program of the E-Leader Conference at Krakow, Poland, Chinese American Scholars Association, New York, New York, USA June 2008, ISSN 1935-4819.

Contact Details

Office: Butterfield campus

T: 01582 743 812

E: mary.beckwith@beds.ac.uk

Bedfordshire University

Apply» Faculties & Departments» Department of Acute Health Care» Staff» Mary Beckwith

Top