Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Dr Jessica Schults
Dr

Jessica Schults

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 66077

Overview

Background

Dr Jessica Schults is a Queensland Government Clinical Research Fellow and incoming NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow (2026) based at the Herston Infectious Diseases Institute and The University of Queensland. A previous paediatric critical care nurse, Jessica has extensive clinical experience in critical care, with a particular passion for ventilator associated infections. Jessica’s research program aims to reduce the burden of healthcare-associated infections through better hospital surveillance, safer invasive device care, and rapid translation of evidence. She is a Chief Investigator on the IVCare adaptive platform trial, which evaluates strategies to prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections, and leads the NHMRC-funded REBUILD project, which aims to strengthen national infection control systems using a learning health system approach. Jessica has a strong interest in the application of digital technologies, including AI-enabled risk prediction and clinical decision support tools. Jessica has strong, established partnerships with national and international healthcare consumers, organisations, and health services. She holds leadership roles with the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society, is a board member for the ANZ Intensive Care Foundation and is a technical advisor to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Jessica is committed to growing the next generation of clinician-researchers, in-particular in the underrepresented field of nursing.

Availability

Dr Jessica Schults is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Science, James Cook University
  • Masters (Research) of Applied Science, 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

  • 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

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

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

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 ... Queensland Critical Care Research Network (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

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

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

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

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

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

Establishing a paediatric critical care core quality measure set using a multistakeholder, consensus-driven process

Schults, Jessica A., Charles, Karina R., Millar, Johnny, Rickard, Claire M., Chopra, Vineet, Lake, Anna, Gibbons, Kristen, Long, Debbie, Rahiman, Sarfaraz, Hutching, Katrina, Winderlich, Jacinta, Spotswood, Naomi E., Johansen, Amy, Secombe, Paul, Pizimolas, Georgina A., Tu, Quyen, Waak, Michaela, Allen, Meredith, McMullan, Brendan and Hall, Lisa (2024). Establishing a paediatric critical care core quality measure set using a multistakeholder, consensus-driven process. Critical Care and Resuscitation, 26 (2), 71-79. doi: 10.1016/j.ccrj.2024.01.002

Establishing a paediatric critical care core quality measure set using a multistakeholder, consensus-driven process

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
    Comparative effectiveness of Class II/III medical devices to prevent bloodstream infections in central venous catheters: The IVCare adaptive platform RCT
    NHMRC MRFF CTA - Clinical Trials Activity
    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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

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