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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

83 works between 2015 and 2024

21 - 40 of 83 works

2023

Conference Publication

DART 3: A pragmatic stepped wedge cluster randomised trial of ultrasound guidance to reducing multiple PIVC insertions in hospitalised patients

Schults, Jessica, Marsh, Nicole, Ullman, Amanda, Kleidon, Tricia, Ware, Robert, Byrnes, Joshua, Young, Emily, Hall, Lisa, Keijzers, Gerben, Cullen, Louise, Calleja, Pauline, McTaggart, Steven, Peters, Nathan, Watkins, Stuart, Corley, Amanda, Brown, Christine, Lin, Zhen, Williamson, Frances, Burgess, Luke, Macfarlane, Fiona, Cooke, Marie, Battley, Callan and Rickard, Claire (2023). DART 3: A pragmatic stepped wedge cluster randomised trial of ultrasound guidance to reducing multiple PIVC insertions in hospitalised patients. 2023 ACIPC International Conference, Adelaide, SA Australia, 12 – 15 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2023.09.021

DART 3: A pragmatic stepped wedge cluster randomised trial of ultrasound guidance to reducing multiple PIVC insertions in hospitalised patients

2023

Conference Publication

Securing Central venous catheters Using a subcutaneously anchored secuRement system to prevent cathEter Dislodgment in children: the SECURED randomised controlled trial

Kleidon, Tricia, Schults, Jessica, Roebuck, Derek, Gibson, Victoria, Pierce, Deborah, Royle, Ruth, Ware, Robert, Byrnes, Joshua, Rickard, Claire and Ullman, Amanda (2023). Securing Central venous catheters Using a subcutaneously anchored secuRement system to prevent cathEter Dislodgment in children: the SECURED randomised controlled trial. 2023 ACIPC International Conference, Adelaide, SA Australia, 12-15 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2023.09.019

Securing Central venous catheters Using a subcutaneously anchored secuRement system to prevent cathEter Dislodgment in children: the SECURED randomised controlled trial

2023

Journal Article

Insights into the barriers and enablers faced by nurse/midwife clinician researchers in Australia

Walsh, Caitlin M., Rickard, Claire M., Charles, Karina R., Ball, Daner and Schults, Jessica A. (2023). Insights into the barriers and enablers faced by nurse/midwife clinician researchers in Australia. Collegian, 30 (6), 843-850. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2023.09.005

Insights into the barriers and enablers faced by nurse/midwife clinician researchers in Australia

2023

Journal Article

Midline compared with peripheral intravenous catheters for therapy of 4 days or longer in pediatric patients: a randomized clinical trial

Kleidon, Tricia M., Gibson, Victoria, Cattanach, Paula, Schults, Jessica, Royle, Ruth H., Ware, Robert S., Marsh, Nicole, Pitt, Colleen, Dean, Anna, Byrnes, Joshua, Rickard, Claire M. and Ullman, Amanda J. (2023). Midline compared with peripheral intravenous catheters for therapy of 4 days or longer in pediatric patients: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 177 (11). doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.3526

Midline compared with peripheral intravenous catheters for therapy of 4 days or longer in pediatric patients: a randomized clinical trial

2023

Journal Article

Ultrasound-guided PIVC insertion: a randomised controlled trial protocol

Kleidon, Tricia M., Schults, Jessica, Rickard, Claire and Ullman, Amanda J. (2023). Ultrasound-guided PIVC insertion: a randomised controlled trial protocol. British Journal of Nursing, 32 (14), S22-S28. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2023.32.14.s22

Ultrasound-guided PIVC insertion: a randomised controlled trial protocol

2023

Journal Article

Improving difficult peripheral intravenous access requires thought, training and technology (DART3): a stepped-wedge, cluster randomised controlled trial protocol

Schults, Jessica A., Marsh, Nicole, Ullman, Amanda J., Kleidon, Tricia M., Ware, Robert S., Byrnes, Joshua, Young, Emily, Hall, Lisa, Keijzers, Gerben, Cullen, Louise, Calleja, Pauline, McTaggart, Steven, Peters, Nathan, Watkins, Stuart, Corley, Amanda, Brown, Christine, Lin, Zhen, Williamson, Frances, Burgess, Luke, Macfarlane, Fiona, Cooke, Marie, Battley, Callan and Rickard, Claire M. (2023). Improving difficult peripheral intravenous access requires thought, training and technology (DART3): a stepped-wedge, cluster randomised controlled trial protocol. BMC Health Services Research, 23 (1) 587, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-09499-0

Improving difficult peripheral intravenous access requires thought, training and technology (DART3): a stepped-wedge, cluster randomised controlled trial protocol

2023

Conference Publication

Peripheral Intravascular Cannulation (PIVC) Project

Hawley, Glenda, Rickard, Claire, Hewer, Barbara, Marsh, Nicole, Ball, Daner, Schults, Jessica, Kearney, Lauren, Ciranni, Maggie and Winters-Chang, Peta (2023). Peripheral Intravascular Cannulation (PIVC) Project. 33rd ICM Triennial Congress, Bali, Indonesia, 11-14 May 2023.

Peripheral Intravascular Cannulation (PIVC) Project

2023

Journal Article

Perioperative dexmedetomidine compared to midazolam in children undergoing open-heart surgery: a pilot randomised controlled trial

Long, Debbie A., Gibbons, Kristen S., Stocker, Christian, Ranger, Michael, Alphonso, Nelson, Le Marsney, Renate, Dow, Belinda, Schults, Jessica A., Graydon, Cameron, Shehabi, Yahya and Schibler, Andreas (2023). Perioperative dexmedetomidine compared to midazolam in children undergoing open-heart surgery: a pilot randomised controlled trial. Critical Care and Resuscitation, 25 (1), 33-42. doi: 10.1016/j.ccrj.2023.04.007

Perioperative dexmedetomidine compared to midazolam in children undergoing open-heart surgery: a pilot randomised controlled trial

2023

Journal Article

Evolving insights into the epidemiology of Moraxella species bloodstream infection from two decades of surveillance in Queensland, Australia

Schults, Jessica, Edwards, Felicity, Charles, Karina, Irwin, Adam D., Rickard, Claire M., Harris, Patrick N. A., Paterson, David L. and Laupland, Kevin (2023). Evolving insights into the epidemiology of Moraxella species bloodstream infection from two decades of surveillance in Queensland, Australia. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 42 (2), 209-216. doi: 10.1007/s10096-022-04540-2

Evolving insights into the epidemiology of Moraxella species bloodstream infection from two decades of surveillance in Queensland, Australia

2022

Journal Article

Review article: Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion in adult patients with difficult intravenous access: A systematic review of assessment instruments, clinical practice guidelines and escalation pathways

Paterson, Rebecca S., Schults, Jessica A., Slaughter, Eugene, Cooke, Marie, Ullman, Amanda, Kleidon, Tricia M., Keijzers, Gerben, Marsh, Nicole and Rickard, Claire M. (2022). Review article: Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion in adult patients with difficult intravenous access: A systematic review of assessment instruments, clinical practice guidelines and escalation pathways. Emergency Medicine Australasia, 34 (6), 862-870. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.14069

Review article: Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion in adult patients with difficult intravenous access: A systematic review of assessment instruments, clinical practice guidelines and escalation pathways

2022

Conference Publication

76. “Gadgets and gizmos aplenty!” Dressing and securing peripherally inserted central catheters to prevent infection and failure

Rickard, Claire, Larsen, Emily, Marsh, Nicole, McGrail, Matthew, Ullman, Amanda, Kleidon, Tricia, Chan, Ray, Byrnes, Joshua, Mollee, Peter, Paterson, David, Chopra, Vineet, Stone, Leanne, Tapsall, Doreen, Keogh, Samantha, Gavin, Nicole, McCarthy, Sandie, Alexandrou, Evan, Choudhury, M.A., Corley, Amanda, Schults, Jessica, Ray-Barruel, Gillian and Geoffrey Playford, E. (2022). 76. “Gadgets and gizmos aplenty!” Dressing and securing peripherally inserted central catheters to prevent infection and failure. 2022 ACIPC International Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 13 - 16 November 2022. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2022.09.034

76. “Gadgets and gizmos aplenty!” Dressing and securing peripherally inserted central catheters to prevent infection and failure

2022

Journal Article

Quality measurement and surveillance platforms in critically ill children: A scoping review

Schults, Jessica A., Rickard, Claire M., Charles, Karina, Rahiman, Sarfaraz, Millar, Johnny, Baveas, Thimitra, Long, Debbie, Kleidon, Tricia M., Macfarlane, Fiona, Mehta, Nilesh M., Runnegar, Naomi and Hall, Lisa (2022). Quality measurement and surveillance platforms in critically ill children: A scoping review. Australian Critical Care, 36 (4), 499-508. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2022.07.006

Quality measurement and surveillance platforms in critically ill children: A scoping review

2022

Journal Article

Mapping progress in intravascular catheter quality surveillance: an Australian case study of electronic medical record data linkage

Schults, Jessica A., Ball, Daner L., Sullivan, Clair, Rossow, Nick, Ray-Barruel, Gillian, Walker, Rachel M., Stantic, Bela and Rickard, Claire M. (2022). Mapping progress in intravascular catheter quality surveillance: an Australian case study of electronic medical record data linkage. Frontiers in Medicine, 9 962130, 1-10. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.962130

Mapping progress in intravascular catheter quality surveillance: an Australian case study of electronic medical record data linkage

2022

Journal Article

Ventilator weaning and extubation practices in critically ill children: An Australian and New Zealand survey of practice

Schults, Jessica A., Charles, Karina, Harnischfeger, Jane, Erikson, Simon, Burren, Juerg, Waak, Michaela, Blackwood, Bronagh, Tume, Lyvonne N. and Long, Debbie (2022). Ventilator weaning and extubation practices in critically ill children: An Australian and New Zealand survey of practice. Australian Critical Care, 36 (4), 509-514. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2022.06.004

Ventilator weaning and extubation practices in critically ill children: An Australian and New Zealand survey of practice

2022

Journal Article

Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion and use of ultrasound in patients with difficult intravenous access: Australian patient and practitioner perspectives to inform future implementation strategies

Schults, Jessica A., Calleja, Pauline, Slaughter, Eugene, Paterson, Rebecca, Rickard, Claire M., Booker, Catriona, Marsh, Nicole, Fenn, Mary, Kelly, Jenny, Snelling, Peter J., Byrnes, Joshua, Keijzers, Gerben and Cooke, Marie (2022). Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion and use of ultrasound in patients with difficult intravenous access: Australian patient and practitioner perspectives to inform future implementation strategies. PLoS One, 17 (6) e0269788, 1-15. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269788

Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion and use of ultrasound in patients with difficult intravenous access: Australian patient and practitioner perspectives to inform future implementation strategies

2022

Journal Article

Comparison of ultrasound‐guided peripheral intravenous catheter insertion with landmark technique in paediatric patients: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Kleidon, Tricia M., Schults, Jessica, Paterson, Rebecca, Rickard, Claire M. and Ullman, Amanda J. (2022). Comparison of ultrasound‐guided peripheral intravenous catheter insertion with landmark technique in paediatric patients: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 58 (6), 953-961. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15985

Comparison of ultrasound‐guided peripheral intravenous catheter insertion with landmark technique in paediatric patients: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

2022

Journal Article

Experiences of children with central venous access devices: a mixed-methods study

Ullman, Amanda J., Kleidon, Tricia M., Gibson, Victoria, Takashima, Mari, Schults, Jessica, Cattanach, Paula, Paterson, Rebecca, Cooke, Marie, Byrnes, Joshua, Saiyed, Masnoon, Chopra, Vineet and Rickard, Claire (2022). Experiences of children with central venous access devices: a mixed-methods study. Pediatric Research, 93 (1), 160-167. doi: 10.1038/s41390-022-02054-3

Experiences of children with central venous access devices: a mixed-methods study

2022

Journal Article

Methodology minute: Utilising the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method to develop guidelines for infection prevention

Charles, Karina, Hall, Lisa, Ullman, Amanda and Schults, Jessica A (2022). Methodology minute: Utilising the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method to develop guidelines for infection prevention. American Journal of Infection Control, 50 (3), 345-348. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.12.012

Methodology minute: Utilising the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method to develop guidelines for infection prevention

2022

Journal Article

Improving peripheral venous cannula insertion in children: a mixed methods study to develop the DIVA key

Schults, Jessica A., Kleidon, Tricia M., Gibson, Victoria, Ware, Robert S., Monteagle, Emily, Paterson, Rebecca, Charles, Karina, Keys, Adam, McBride, Craig A., McTaggart, Steven, Lawton, Benjamin, Macfarlane, Fiona, Sells, Chloe, Rickard, Claire M. and Ullman, Amanda J. (2022). Improving peripheral venous cannula insertion in children: a mixed methods study to develop the DIVA key. BMC Health Services Research, 22 (1) 220, 220. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-07605-2

Improving peripheral venous cannula insertion in children: a mixed methods study to develop the DIVA key

2022

Journal Article

Pediatric central venous access devices: practice, performance, and costs

Ullman, Amanda J., Gibson, Victoria, Takashima, Mari D., Kleidon, Tricia M., Schults, Jessica, Saiyed, Masnoon, Cattanach, Paula, Paterson, Rebecca, Cooke, Marie, Rickard, Claire M., Byrnes, Joshua and Chopra, Vineet (2022). Pediatric central venous access devices: practice, performance, and costs. Pediatric Research, 92 (5), 1381-1390. doi: 10.1038/s41390-022-01977-1

Pediatric central venous access devices: practice, performance, and costs

Funding

Current funding

  • 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 - 2026
    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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Co-designing a healthcare policy review process amongst nursing and midwifery

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Claire Rickard

  • Master Philosophy

    Designing and implementing a nurse-led electronic medical record (EMR) integrated heparinisation protocol using optimal targets (anti Xa vs APTT)

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jason Roberts, Associate Professor Jayesh Dhanani

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The effectiveness of peripheral intravenous catheter insertion techniques and technologies to improve insertion success and performance

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Claire Rickard, Professor Amanda Ullman

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