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
Fields of research
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
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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
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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
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
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
2024
Conference Publication
Family functioning post paediatric intensive care admission
Charles, Karina, Gibbons, Kristen, Dow, Belinda, Minogue, Jessicah, Schults, Jessica, Stocker, Christian and Long, Debbie (2024). Family functioning post paediatric intensive care admission. Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society/Australian College of Critical Care Nursing Intensive Care Annual Scientific meeting, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 10-12 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2024.07.035
2024
Conference Publication
Defining core quality measures for paediatric critical care using a multi-stakeholder, consensus driven process
Schults, Jessica, Charles, Karina, Rickard, Claire, Miller, Johnny, Lake, Anna, Gibbons, Kristen, Long, Debbie, Rahiman, Sarfaraz, Hutching, Katrina and Hall, Lisa (2024). Defining core quality measures for paediatric critical care using a multi-stakeholder, consensus driven process. Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society/Australian College of Critical Care Nursing Intensive Care Annual Scientific meeting, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 10-12 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2024.07.021
2024
Conference Publication
Healthcare-associated complications in critically ill children: A propensity score matched study
Schults, Jessica, Hall, Lisa, Charles, Karina, Rickard, Claire, Le Marsney, Renate, Byrnes, Joshua, Rahiman, Sarfaraz, Long, Debbie, Lake, Anna and Gibbons, Kristen (2024). Healthcare-associated complications in critically ill children: A propensity score matched study. Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society/Australian College of Critical Care Nursing Intensive Care Annual Scientific meeting, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 10-12 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2024.07.003
2024
Conference Publication
Family experiences and perceptions of quality and safety of care in PICU
Charles, Karina, Lake, Anna, Spotswood, Naomi E., Poulter, Amber-Louise, Rahiman, Sarfaraz, Long, Debbie and Schults, Jessica (2024). Family experiences and perceptions of quality and safety of care in PICU. Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society/Australian College of Critical Care Nursing Intensive Care Annual Scientific meeting, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 10-12 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2024.07.024
2024
Journal Article
Hospital staff perspectives on the cost and efficiency of peripheral intravenous catheter use: a case study from three Australian hospitals
McFadden, Kathleen, Rickard, Claire M., Brown, Christine, Corley, Amanda, Schults, Jessica A., Craswell, Alison and Byrnes, Joshua (2024). Hospital staff perspectives on the cost and efficiency of peripheral intravenous catheter use: a case study from three Australian hospitals. Australian Health Review, 48 (5), 519-523. doi: 10.1071/ah24176
2023
Journal Article
Implementing paediatric appropriate use criteria for endotracheal suction to reduce complications in mechanically ventilated children with respiratory infections
Schults, Jessica A., Charles, Karina R., Harnischfeger, Jane, Ware, Robert S., Royle, Ruth H., Byrnes, Joshua M., Long, Debbie A., Ullman, Amanda J., Raman, Sainath, Waak, Michaela, Lake, Anna, Cooke, Marie, Irwin, Adam, Tume, Lyvonne and Hall, Lisa (2023). Implementing paediatric appropriate use criteria for endotracheal suction to reduce complications in mechanically ventilated children with respiratory infections. Australian Critical Care, 37 (1), 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2023.09.008
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
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
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
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), 1132-1140. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.3526
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Jessica Schults is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The IVCare adaptive platform trial: Towards zero bloodstream infections in IV catheters
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Eoin O'Sullivan, Professor Claire Rickard
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Designing and Implementing a Clinician-Led Protocol for Heparinisation Using Optimal Targets- anti Xa vs APTT
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Roberts, Associate Professor Jayesh Dhanani
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Techniques and Technologies to Improve First-Time PIVC Insertion Success in Paediatrics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Claire Rickard, Professor Amanda Ullman
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Doctor Philosophy
Co-designing a healthcare policy review process amongst nursing and midwifery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Claire Rickard
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Jessica Schults directly for media enquiries about:
- harm measurement
- infectious disease
- paediatrics
- patient safety
- ventilation
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