Britney Benoit

Britney Benoit is an Associate Professor in the Rankin School of Nursing at St. Francis Xavier University, concurrently serving as a Health Sciences Research Chair at Nova Scotia Health Authority and an Affiliated Scientist. She holds a PhD in Nursing from Dalhousie University, with prior degrees from McGill and StFX. Her research focuses on optimizing care for infants, children, and families through non-invasive methods during pain, stress, and transitions. Key areas include breastfeeding analgesia, neonatal pain management, and kangaroo care efficacy.

Dr. Benoit’s work employs mixed-methods approaches, including neurophysiological assessments and systematic reviews. Notable contributions include studies on cortical responses to pain in newborns and the efficacy of kangaroo care for repeated procedures in NICUs. She has presented at international conferences like the International Symposium on Pediatric Pain and the Canadian Pain Society Annual Meeting.

Her research emphasizes translating evidence into clinical practice, particularly through eHealth interventions and policy implementation. She has contributed to initiatives like the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and explored telehealth’s role in postpartum support during the pandemic. Ongoing projects address barriers to breastfeeding in marginalized populations and neonatal pain assessment protocols.