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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Heallthcare-associated infection surveillance
State wide Delphi study to determine minimum dataset for HAI surveillance.
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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
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
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
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., Long, Debbie and on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Paediatric Study Group (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
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
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
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
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
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
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
2022
Journal Article
Comparing ivWatch biosensor to standard care to identify extravasation injuries in the paediatric intensive care: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial
McBride, Craig Antony, Rahiman, Sarfaraz, Schlapbach, Luregn J., Schults, Jessica A., Kleidon, Tricia M., Kennedy, Melanie, Paterson, Rebecca S., Byrnes, Joshua, Ware, Robert S. and Ullman, Amanda Judith (2022). Comparing ivWatch biosensor to standard care to identify extravasation injuries in the paediatric intensive care: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 12 (2) e047765, e047765. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047765
2022
Journal Article
On a quest to prevent harm and safeguard paediatric venous catheters – A randomized control trial protocol
Charters, Brooke, Foster, Kelly, Lawton, Benjamin, Cassidy, Corey, Byrnes, Joshua, Mihala, Gabor, Schults, Jessica, Kleidon, Tricia, McCaffery, Ruth, Van, Kristy and Ullman, Amanda (2022). On a quest to prevent harm and safeguard paediatric venous catheters – A randomized control trial protocol. Vascular Access, 16 (3), 18-29. doi: 10.5737/va.v16i3.34
2022
Journal Article
Factors influencing pediatric hematology/oncology nurse retention: a scoping review
Macintyre, Madeleine R., Brown, Brandon W. J. and Schults, Jessica A. (2022). Factors influencing pediatric hematology/oncology nurse retention: a scoping review. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing, 39 (6), 402-417. doi: 10.1177/27527530221099899
2021
Journal Article
Understanding consumer preference for vascular access safety and quality measurement: an international survey
Schults, Jessica, Paterson, Rebecca, Kleidon, Tricia, Cooke, Marie, Ullman, Amanda, McNeil, Keith, Chopra, Vineet, Charles, Karina, Ray-Barruel, Gillian, Marsh, Nicole, Sullivan, Clair, Sturgess, David J. and Rickard, Claire (2021). Understanding consumer preference for vascular access safety and quality measurement: an international survey. Australian Health Review, 46 (1), 12-20. doi: 10.1071/AH21053
2021
Journal Article
The Paediatric AirWay Suction (PAWS) appropriateness guide for endotracheal suction interventions
Schults, Jessica, Charles, Karina, Long, Debbie, Brown, Georgia, Copnell, Beverley, Dargaville, Peter, Davies, Kylie, Erikson, Simon, Forrest, Kate, Harnischfeger, Jane, Irwin, Adam, Kendrik, Tina, Lake, Anna, Ntoumenopoulos, George, Waak, Michaela, Woodard, Mark, Tume, Lyvonne, Cooke, Marie, Mitchell, Marion, Hall, Lisa and Ullman, Amanda (2021). The Paediatric AirWay Suction (PAWS) appropriateness guide for endotracheal suction interventions. Australian Critical Care, 35 (6), 651-660. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2021.10.005
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
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
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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
Designing an Intensive Care Unit Specific Alcohol Withdrawal Assessment and Management Protocol
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephen Parker, Professor Claire Rickard
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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
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Techniques and Technologies to Improve First-Time PIVC Insertion Success in Paediatrics
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
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