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Dr Jessica Schults
Dr

Jessica Schults

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 66077

Overview

Background

Jessica is a paediatric critical care nurse and researcher with more than 15 years of clinical experience and expertise. Her research themes to date have focused on ventilation strategies to reduce ventilator associated pneumonia and interventions to improve the safety and quality of care related to invasive medical devices. Jessica's developing research themes focus on enhancing health service surveillance using electronic health information in two major spheres: hospital-level surveillance for hospital-acquired complications and unit level surveillance for vascular access device complications and ventilator associated events. She is particularly interested in advances in infectious disease surveillance and tracking, using a combination of mature platforms and new electronic platforms. Jessica has experience leading international consensus studies using Delphi methods and is interested in clinical trials which embed hybrid strategies to enable the rapid and sustainable translation of research findings upon study completion. Jessica is passionate about growing clinician researchers and nurses’ capacity to lead and undertake research which contributes to practice change and better outcomes in our vulnerable patient groups including paediatrics and minority groups.

Availability

Dr Jessica Schults is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Science, James Cook University
  • Masters (Coursework), Queensland University of Technology
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University

Research interests

  • Development of core indicators for paediatric intensive care quality and safety measurement

    Australia and New Zealand Delphi study to define and select a core set of PICU quality indicators to measure and benchmark care quality in PICU

  • Implementing appropriate use criteria for endotracheal suction interventions in the PICU

    Following an extensive process to develop appropriate use criteria for endotracheal suction interventions, we will implement these guidelines in the PICU to determine whether implementation of the guidelines for 'children with a highly infectious respiratory disease' will lead to improved clinical and unit outcomes.

  • Development of a tool to support identification and escalation of children with Difficult Intravenous Access

    Together with consumers and clinicians at the Queensland Children's Hospital we have developed a DIVA tool. We are now testing this tool in practice to determine whether this supports first attempt insertion success and increased patient satisfaction. Trial lead Ms Tricia Kleidon.

  • Measuring the burden of hospital acquired complications in the PICU

    We are conducting a retrospective cohort study of 5 years worth of PICU admissions to determine the frequency and cost of HACs in the PICU. Our preliminary work (scoping review and stakeholder consultation) has shown that there is a lack of paediatric specific measures to support quality measurement and practice improvement.

Works

Search Professor Jessica Schults’s works on UQ eSpace

91 works between 2015 and 2025

1 - 20 of 91 works

Featured

2021

Journal Article

Normal saline and lung recruitment with paediatric endotracheal suction (NARES): a pilot, factorial, randomised controlled trial

Schults, Jessica A., Cooke, Marie, Long, Debbie, Schibler, Andreas, Ware, Robert S., Charles, Karina, Irwin, Adam and Mitchell, Marion L. (2021). Normal saline and lung recruitment with paediatric endotracheal suction (NARES): a pilot, factorial, randomised controlled trial. Australian Critical Care, 34 (6), 530-538. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2021.01.006

Normal saline and lung recruitment with paediatric endotracheal suction (NARES): a pilot, factorial, randomised controlled trial

Featured

2020

Journal Article

International recommendations for a vascular access minimum dataset: a Delphi consensus-building study

Schults, Jessica, Kleidon, Tricia, Chopra, Vineet, Cooke, Marie, Paterson, Rebecca, Ullman, Amanda J., Marsh, Nicole, Ray-Barruel, Gillian, Hill, Jocelyn, Devrim, Ilker, Hammarskjold, Fredrik, Pedreira, Mavilde L., Bertoglio, Sergio, Egan, Gail, Mimoz, Olivier, Van Boxtel, Ton, Devries, Michelle, Magalhaes, Maria, Hallum, Carole, Oakley, Suzanne and Rickard, Claire M. (2020). International recommendations for a vascular access minimum dataset: a Delphi consensus-building study. BMJ Quality and Safety, 30 (9), 1-9. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2020-011274

International recommendations for a vascular access minimum dataset: a Delphi consensus-building study

2025

Journal Article

Expert consensus and recommendations for Healthcare-Associated Infection surveillance in Queensland, Australia: A modified Delphi study

Schults, Jessica A., Havers, Sally, Henderson, Belinda, Healy, Sally, Runnegar, Naomi, Hurst, Trish, Charles, Karina, Smith, Alison, Clark, Julia E., Birch, Robyn, Campbell, Joanne, Carrucan, Janine, Gamlin, John, Geary, Janice, Heather, Christopher, MacBeth, Deborough A, Maxwell, Kylie, Simpson, Paul, Smith, Sarah, Lovegrove, Josphine, Ball, Daner, Hall, Lisa and Rickard, Claire M. (2025). Expert consensus and recommendations for Healthcare-Associated Infection surveillance in Queensland, Australia: A modified Delphi study. American Journal of Infection Control. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.02.012

Expert consensus and recommendations for Healthcare-Associated Infection surveillance in Queensland, Australia: A modified Delphi study

2025

Journal Article

A Prospective Cohort Study of Technique and Technology Used to Improve First Time <scp>PIVC</scp> Insertion Success in Hospitalised Paediatric Patients

Kleidon, Tricia M., Takashima, Mari, Rickard, Claire M., Schults, Jessica A., Bulmer, Andrew C. and Ullman, Amanda J. (2025). A Prospective Cohort Study of Technique and Technology Used to Improve First Time PIVC Insertion Success in Hospitalised Paediatric Patients. Journal of Advanced Nursing. doi: 10.1111/jan.16795

A Prospective Cohort Study of Technique and Technology Used to Improve First Time <scp>PIVC</scp> Insertion Success in Hospitalised Paediatric Patients

2025

Journal Article

First-Attempt Success in Ultrasound-Guided vs Standard Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Insertion : The EPIC Superiority Randomized Clinical Trial

Kleidon, Tricia M., Schults, Jessica A., Royle, Ruth H., Gibson, Victoria, Ware, Robert S., Andresen, Elizabeth, Cattanach, Paula, Dean, Anna, Pitt, Colleen, Ramstedt, Malanda, Byrnes, Joshua, Nelmes, Patrick, Rickard, Claire M. and Ullman, Amanda J. (2025). First-Attempt Success in Ultrasound-Guided vs Standard Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Insertion : The EPIC Superiority Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 179 (3), 255-263. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.5581

First-Attempt Success in Ultrasound-Guided vs Standard Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Insertion : The EPIC Superiority Randomized Clinical Trial

2024

Journal Article

Hospital-acquired complications in critically ill children and PICU length of stay, duration of respiratory support, and economics: propensity score matching in a single-center cohort, 2015-2020

Schults, Jessica A., Hall, Lisa, Charles, Karina R., Rickard, Claire M., Le Marsney, Renate, Ergetu, Endrias, Gregg, Alex, Byrnes, Joshua, Rahiman, Sarfaraz, Long, Debbie, Lake, Anna and Gibbons, Kristen (2024). Hospital-acquired complications in critically ill children and PICU length of stay, duration of respiratory support, and economics: propensity score matching in a single-center cohort, 2015-2020. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 26 (3), e304-e314. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000003668

Hospital-acquired complications in critically ill children and PICU length of stay, duration of respiratory support, and economics: propensity score matching in a single-center cohort, 2015-2020

2024

Conference Publication

87. Establishing a core healthcare associated infection surveillance measurement set for Queensland using a modified Delphi process

Schults, Jessica, Healy, Sally, Havers, Sally, Henderson, Belinda, Charles, Karina, Smith, Alison, Hall, Lisa, Carrucan, Janine, Smith, Sarah, Hurst, Trish, Birch, Robyn and Rickard, Claire (2024). 87. Establishing a core healthcare associated infection surveillance measurement set for Queensland using a modified Delphi process. 2024 ACIPC International Conference, Hobart, TAS Australia, 16-19 November 2025. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2024.09.018

87. Establishing a core healthcare associated infection surveillance measurement set for Queensland using a modified Delphi process

2024

Conference Publication

An antimicrobial dressing for prevention of infection complication related peripheral intravenous catheter: an international randomised controlled trial

Drugeon, Bertrand, Rickard, Claire, Ullman, Amanda, Marsh, Nicole, Corley, Amanda, Ball, Daner, O'Brien, Cathetrine, Kleidon, Tricia M., Guenezan, Jérémy, Couvreur, Raphaël, McCarthy, Kate, Seguin, Sabrina, Batiot, Guillaume, Byrnes, Josh, Schults, Jessica, Zahir, Syeda Farah and Mimoz, Olivier (2024). An antimicrobial dressing for prevention of infection complication related peripheral intravenous catheter: an international randomised controlled trial. 2024 ACIPC International Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 17-20 November 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2024.09.013

An antimicrobial dressing for prevention of infection complication related peripheral intravenous catheter: an international randomised controlled trial

2024

Journal Article

Securement to prevent noncuffed central venous catheter dislodgement in pediatrics : The SECURED superiority randomized clinical trial

Kleidon, Tricia M., Schults, Jessica, Gibson, Victoria, Roebuck, Derek J., Peirce, Deborah, Royle, Ruth, Ware, Robert S., Byrnes, Joshua, Andresen, Elizabeth, Cattanach, Paula, Dean, Anna, Pitt, Colleen, Ramstedt, Malanda, McBride, Craig A., Hall, Stephanie, Rickard, Claire M. and Ullman, Amanda J. (2024). Securement to prevent noncuffed central venous catheter dislodgement in pediatrics : The SECURED superiority randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 178 (9) e33402, 861-869. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.2202

Securement to prevent noncuffed central venous catheter dislodgement in pediatrics : The SECURED superiority randomized clinical trial

2024

Journal Article

Development of a Machine Learning-Based Model for Predicting the Incidence of Peripheral Intravenous Catheter-Associated Phlebitis

Yasuda, Hideto, Rickard, Claire M., Mimoz, Olivier, Marsh, Nicole, Schults, Jessica A, Drugeon, Bertrand, Kashiura, Masahiro, Kishihara, Yuki, Shinzato, Yutaro, Koike, Midori, Moriya, Takashi, Kotani, Yuki, Kondo, Natsuki, Sekine, Kosuke, Shime, Nobuaki, Morikane, Keita and Abe, Takayuki (2024). Development of a Machine Learning-Based Model for Predicting the Incidence of Peripheral Intravenous Catheter-Associated Phlebitis. The Journal of Critical Care Medicine, 10 (3), 232-244. doi: 10.2478/jccm-2024-0028

Development of a Machine Learning-Based Model for Predicting the Incidence of Peripheral Intravenous Catheter-Associated Phlebitis

2024

Journal Article

Protect peripheral intravenous catheters: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a novel antimicrobial dressing for peripheral intravenous catheters (ProP trial)

Rickard, Claire M., Drugeon, Bertrand, Ullman, Amanda, Marsh, Nicole M., Corley, Amanda, Ball, Daner, O'Brien, Catherine, Kleidon, Tricia M., Guenezan, Jérémy, Couvreur, Raphael, McCarthy, Kate L., Seguin, Sabrina, Batiot, Guillaume, Byrnes, Joshua, Schults, Jessica, Zahir, Syeda Farah and Mimoz, Olivier (2024). Protect peripheral intravenous catheters: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a novel antimicrobial dressing for peripheral intravenous catheters (ProP trial). BMJ Open, 14 (7) e084313, 1-9. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-084313

Protect peripheral intravenous catheters: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a novel antimicrobial dressing for peripheral intravenous catheters (ProP trial)

2024

Journal Article

Peripherally inserted central catheter design and material for reducing catheter failure and complications

Schults, Jessica A., Kleidon, Tricia, Charles, Karina, Young, Emily Rebecca and Ullman, Amanda J. (2024). Peripherally inserted central catheter design and material for reducing catheter failure and complications. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6 (6) CD013366. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013366.pub2

Peripherally inserted central catheter design and material for reducing catheter failure and complications

2024

Journal Article

Designing for transparency and trust: next steps for healthcare associated infection surveillance in Queensland

Schults, Jessica, Henderson, Belinda, Hall, Lisa and Havers, Sally (2024). Designing for transparency and trust: next steps for healthcare associated infection surveillance in Queensland. Infection, Disease and Health, 29 (4), 243-245. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2024.05.002

Designing for transparency and trust: next steps for healthcare associated infection surveillance in Queensland

2024

Journal Article

Clinical guidance for unfractionated heparin dosing and monitoring in critically ill patients

Samimi, May N., Hale, Andrew, Schults, Jessica, Fischer, Andreas, Roberts, Jason A. and Dhanani, Jayesh (2024). Clinical guidance for unfractionated heparin dosing and monitoring in critically ill patients. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 25 (8), 985-997. doi: 10.1080/14656566.2024.2364057

Clinical guidance for unfractionated heparin dosing and monitoring in critically ill patients

2024

Journal Article

Recommendations for the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM) trainee research project: A modified Delphi study

Ho, Ariel, Denny, Kerina J., Laupland, Kevin B., Ramanan, Mahesh, Tabah, Alexis, McCullough, James, Schults, Jessica A., Raman, Sainath, Apte, Yogesh, Attokaran, Antony, Baker, Stuart, Bartholdy, Roland, Bhadange, Neeraj, Brailsford, Jane, Cook, Katrina, David, Alexandre, Dhanani, Jayesh, Edwards, Felicity, Elkady, Hatem, Evans, Tess, Hutchinson, Jane, Lannon, Sean, Marshall, Andrea, McIlroy, Philippa, Milford, Elissa, Morrison, Lynette, Murray, Lauren, Serratore, Alyssa, Shah, Vikram ... White, Kyle (2024). Recommendations for the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM) trainee research project: A modified Delphi study. Critical Care and Resuscitation, 26 (3), 169-175. doi: 10.1016/j.ccrj.2024.05.002

Recommendations for the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM) trainee research project: A modified Delphi study

2024

Journal Article

Neurodevelopmental outcome and quality of life in children admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit: A single-centre Australian cohort study

Long, Debbie, Minogue, Jessicah, Charles, Karina, Morgan, Suzanne, Schults, Jessica, Le Marsney, Renate, Stocker, Christian, Gibbons, Kristen S. and Dow, Belinda (2024). Neurodevelopmental outcome and quality of life in children admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit: A single-centre Australian cohort study. Australian Critical Care, 37 (6), 903-911. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2024.05.001

Neurodevelopmental outcome and quality of life in children admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit: A single-centre Australian cohort study

2024

Journal Article

Dressings and securement devices to prevent complications for peripheral arterial catheters

Schults, Jessica A., Reynolds, Heather, Rickard, Claire M., Culwick, Martin D., Mihala, Gabor, Alexandrou, Evan and Ullman, Amanda J. (2024). Dressings and securement devices to prevent complications for peripheral arterial catheters. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 5 (5) CD013023, 1-71. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013023.pub2

Dressings and securement devices to prevent complications for peripheral arterial catheters

2024

Journal Article

Novel peripheral intravenous catheter securement for children and catheter failure reduction: a randomized clinical trial

Charters, Brooke, Foster, Kelly, Lawton, Benjamin, Lee, Leonard, Byrnes, Joshua, Mihala, Gabor, Cassidy, Corey, Schults, Jessica, Kleidon, Tricia M., McCaffery, Ruth, Van, Kristy, Funk, Vanessa and Ullman, Amanda (2024). Novel peripheral intravenous catheter securement for children and catheter failure reduction: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 178 (5), 437-445. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.0167

Novel peripheral intravenous catheter securement for children and catheter failure reduction: a randomized clinical trial

2024

Journal Article

Risk factors for arterial catheter failure and complications during critical care hospitalisation: a secondary analysis of a multisite, randomised trial

Schults, Jessica A., Young, Emily R., Marsh, Nicole, Larsen, Emily, Corley, Amanda, Ware, Robert S., Murgo, Marghie, Alexandrou, Evan, McGrail, Matthew, Gowardman, John, Charles, Karina R., Regli, Adrian, Yasuda, Hideto, Rickard, Claire M. and the RSVP Study Investigators (2024). Risk factors for arterial catheter failure and complications during critical care hospitalisation: a secondary analysis of a multisite, randomised trial. Journal of Intensive Care, 12 (1) 12, 12. doi: 10.1186/s40560-024-00719-1

Risk factors for arterial catheter failure and complications during critical care hospitalisation: a secondary analysis of a multisite, randomised trial

2024

Journal Article

Handheld ultrasound devices for peripheral intravenous cannulation: a scoping review

Ray-Barruel, Gillian, Pather, Priscilla, Schults, Jessica A. and Rickard, Claire M. (2024). Handheld ultrasound devices for peripheral intravenous cannulation: a scoping review. Journal of Infusion Nursing, 47 (2), 75-95. doi: 10.1097/nan.0000000000000540

Handheld ultrasound devices for peripheral intravenous cannulation: a scoping review

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2027
    Reducing the burden of healthcare associated with infection using a learning health systems approach: The REBUILD collaborative.
    NHMRC TCR: 2024 Collaborations in Health Services Research (Stream 1)
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2030
    IVCare Trial: Comparative Effectiveness of Devices to Prevent Bloodstream Infections in Central Venous Catheters
    NHMRC MRFF CTA - Clinical Trials Activity
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Co-designing patientcentric solutions: revolutionising intravascular catheter care practices for patients and families at RBWH
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    HAI-TECH: Healthcare-Associated Infection Tracking with Enhanced Connectivity and Health Informatics
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Investigating hospital acquired infection surveillance activities-perspectives of infection control practitioners in Queensland public hospitals
    Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Strengthening Hospital Associated Infection surveillance in Queensland: making sense through consensus
    Queensland Health Clinical Research Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    Joint Research Fellowships (University Qld & Metro North Hospital & Health Service): Senior Research Fellow; Clinical Research Nurse; Research Team Leader
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Difficult peripheral intravenous catheter insertion: Australian considerations for sustainable implementation of ultrasound guided procedures
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2024
    Prediction of catheter associated bloodstream infection and hospital-onset sepsis events in critically ill adults
    Heidi-CSIRO IDR and AMR Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Promoting safe, high quality care for every child: harnessing binational knowledge and expertise to develop quality indicators for paediatric critical care
    Intensive Care Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2021
    Measuring the incidence of hospital-acquired complications in paediatric critical care, their effect on duration of ventilation and economic impact -CHF Mary McConnell Grant led by Griffith University
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Preventing healthcare acquired, ventilator- associated conditions in the PICU: Implementation of new airway clearance guidance
    The Children's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Improving endotracheal suction practice in the PICU
    ACCCN Diane Chamberlain Research Seeding Grant
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Jessica Schults is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr Jessica Schults directly for media enquiries about:

  • harm measurement
  • infectious disease
  • paediatrics
  • patient safety
  • ventilation

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au