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
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Science, James Cook University
- Masters (Coursework), 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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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.
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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.
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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
2021
Journal Article
Endotracheal suction interventions in mechanically ventilated children: an integrative review to inform evidence-based practice
Schults, Jessica. A., Mitchell, Marion. L., Cooke, Marie., Long, Debbie. A., Ferguson, Alexandra and Morrow, Brenda (2021). Endotracheal suction interventions in mechanically ventilated children: an integrative review to inform evidence-based practice. Australian Critical Care, 34 (1), 92-102. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2020.05.003
2021
Journal Article
Ranitidine for pruritus management in an infant
Raithatha, B., Kotzur, C., Al Mahdy, A., Schults, J., Richards, J. and Rosen, D. (2021). Ranitidine for pruritus management in an infant. Anaesthesia Reports, 9 (1), 26-27. doi: 10.1002/anr3.12096
2020
Journal Article
Prevention of occlusion of cEnTral lInes for children with cancer: an implementation study
Ullman, Amanda J., Condon, Paula, Edwards, Rachel, Gibson, Victoria, Takashima, Mari, Schults, Jessica, Dean, Anna, Cattanach, Paula, Nicholls, Wayne, Osborne, Sonya, Rickard, Claire M., Cooke, Marie and Kleidon, Tricia (2020). Prevention of occlusion of cEnTral lInes for children with cancer: an implementation study. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 56 (12), 1875-1884. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15067
2020
Journal Article
Normal Saline and Lung Recruitment With Paediatric Endotracheal Suction: A Review and Critical Appraisal of Practice Recommendations
Schults, Jessica A., Cooke, Marie, Long, Debbie A. and Mitchell, Marion L. (2020). Normal Saline and Lung Recruitment With Paediatric Endotracheal Suction: A Review and Critical Appraisal of Practice Recommendations. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 39 (6), 321-328. doi: 10.1097/DCC.0000000000000442
2020
Journal Article
Evaluating an ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous cannulation training program for emergency clinicians: An Australian perspective
Archer-Jones, Amy, Sweeny, Amy, Schults, Jessica A., Rickard, Claire M., Johnson, Laura, Gunter, Ashleigh and Watkins, Stuart (2020). Evaluating an ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous cannulation training program for emergency clinicians: An Australian perspective. Australasian Emergency Care, 23 (3), 151-156. doi: 10.1016/j.auec.2019.12.008
2020
Journal Article
Adverse events and practice variability associated with paediatric endotracheal suction: An observational study
Schults, Jessica A., Long, Debbie A., Mitchell, Marion L., Cooke, Marie, Gibbons, Kristen, Pearson, Kylie and Schibler, Andreas (2020). Adverse events and practice variability associated with paediatric endotracheal suction: An observational study. Australian Critical Care, 33 (4), 350-357. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2019.08.002
2020
Journal Article
Smile - Secure my intravenous line effectively: a pilot randomised controlled trial of peripheral intravenous catheter securement in paediatrics
Kleidon, Tricia M., Rickard, Claire M., Gibson, Victoria, Mihala, Gabor, Schults, Jessica A., Xu, Hui (Grace), Bauer, Michelle J., Marsh, Nicole, Larsen, Emily N., Cattanach, Paula and Ullman, Amanda J. (2020). Smile - Secure my intravenous line effectively: a pilot randomised controlled trial of peripheral intravenous catheter securement in paediatrics. Journal of Tissue Viability, 29 (2), 82-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jtv.2020.03.006
2020
Journal Article
Development of a paediatric central venous access device database: a retrospective cohort study of practice evolution and risk factors for device failure
Kleidon, Tricia M., Rickard, Claire M., Schults, Jessica A., Mihala, Gabor, McBride, Craig A., Rudkin, John, Chaseling, Brett and Ullman, Amanda J. (2020). Development of a paediatric central venous access device database: a retrospective cohort study of practice evolution and risk factors for device failure. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 56 (2), 289-297. doi: 10.1111/jpc.14600
2020
Journal Article
Flushing of peripheral intravenous catheters: a pilot, factorial, randomised controlled trial of high versus low frequency and volume in paediatrics
Kleidon, Tricia M., Keogh, Samantha, Flynn, Julie, Schults, Jessica, Mihala, Gabor and Rickard, Claire M. (2020). Flushing of peripheral intravenous catheters: a pilot, factorial, randomised controlled trial of high versus low frequency and volume in paediatrics. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 56 (1), 22-29. doi: 10.1111/jpc.14482
2020
Journal Article
Healthcare practitioner perspectives and experiences regarding vascular access device data: An exploratory study
Schults, Jessica A., Woods, Christine, Cooke, Marie, Kleidon, Tricia, Marsh, Nicole, Ray-Barruel, Gillian and Rickard, Claire M. (2020). Healthcare practitioner perspectives and experiences regarding vascular access device data: An exploratory study. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 14 (4), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/20479700.2020.1721750
2020
Journal Article
Application of the READY framework supports effective communication between health care providers and family members in intensive care
Mackie, Benjamin R., Mitchell, Marion and Schults, Jessica (2020). Application of the READY framework supports effective communication between health care providers and family members in intensive care. Australian Critical Care, 34 (3), 296-299. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2020.07.010
2019
Journal Article
Difficult peripheral venous access in children: an international survey and critical appraisal of assessment tools and escalation pathways
Schults, Jessica, Rickard, Claire, Kleidon, Tricia, Paterson, Rebecca, Macfarlane, Fiona and Ullman, Amanda (2019). Difficult peripheral venous access in children: an international survey and critical appraisal of assessment tools and escalation pathways. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 51 (5), 537-546. doi: 10.1111/jnu.12505
2019
Journal Article
Peripherally inserted central catheter design and material for reducing catheter failure and complications (protocol)
Schults, Jessica. A., Kleidon, Tricia, Petsky, Helen. L., Stone, Renee, Schoutrop, Jason and Ullman, Amanda. J. (2019). Peripherally inserted central catheter design and material for reducing catheter failure and complications (protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019 (7) CD013366. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013366
2019
Journal Article
Insertion, management, and complications associated with arterial catheters in paediatric intensive care: a clinical audit
Schults, Jessica A., Long, Debbie, Pearson, Kylie, Takashima, Mari, Baveas, Thimitra, Schlapbach, Luregn J., Macfarlane, Fiona and Ullman, Amanda J. (2019). Insertion, management, and complications associated with arterial catheters in paediatric intensive care: a clinical audit. Australian Critical Care, 33 (4), 326-332. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2019.05.003
2019
Journal Article
Building a global, pediatric vascular access registry: a scoping review of trial outcomes and quality indicators to inform evidence-based practice
Schults, Jessica A., Rickard, Claire M., Kleidon, Tricia, Hughes, Rebecca, Macfarlane, Fiona, Hung, Jacky and Ullman, Amanda J. (2019). Building a global, pediatric vascular access registry: a scoping review of trial outcomes and quality indicators to inform evidence-based practice. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 16 (1), 51-59. doi: 10.1111/wvn.12339
2019
Journal Article
“When no-one's looking,” the application of lung recruitment and normal saline instillation with paediatric endotracheal suction: An exploratory study of nursing practice
Schults, Jessica A., Cooke, Marie, Long, Debbie and Mitchell, Marion L. (2019). “When no-one's looking,” the application of lung recruitment and normal saline instillation with paediatric endotracheal suction: An exploratory study of nursing practice. Australian Critical Care, 32 (1), 13-19. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2018.03.002
2018
Journal Article
mHealth Applications for Children and Young People With Persistent Pain: A Scoping Review
Schults, Jessica, Cooke, Marie, Richards, Julianne, Theodoros, Joanne, Andresen, Elizabeth, Paterson, Rebecca and Alcock, Mark (2018). mHealth Applications for Children and Young People With Persistent Pain: A Scoping Review. Clinical Nursing Research, 28 (7), 779-794. doi: 10.1177/1054773818795078
2018
Journal Article
Dressings and securement devices to prevent complications for peripheral arterial catheters
Reynolds, Heather, Ullman, Amanda J., Culwick, Martin D., Mihala, Gabor, Alexandrou, Evan, Schults, Jessica A. and Rickard, Claire M. (2018). Dressings and securement devices to prevent complications for peripheral arterial catheters. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018 (5) CD013023. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013023
2018
Journal Article
Normal saline instillation versus no normal saline instillation And lung Recruitment versus no lung recruitment with paediatric Endotracheal Suction: the NARES trial. A study protocol for a pilot, factorial randomised controlled trial
Schults, Jessica A, Cooke, Marie, Long, Debbie A, Schibler, Andreas, Ware, Robert S. and Mitchell, Marion L. (2018). Normal saline instillation versus no normal saline instillation And lung Recruitment versus no lung recruitment with paediatric Endotracheal Suction: the NARES trial. A study protocol for a pilot, factorial randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 8 (1) e019789, e019789. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019789
2018
Journal Article
Complication and failures of central vascular access device in adult critical care settings
Takashima, Mari, Schults, Jessica, Mihala, Gabor, Corley, Amanda and Ullman, Amanda (2018). Complication and failures of central vascular access device in adult critical care settings. Critical Care Medicine, 46 (12), 1998-2009. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000003370
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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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
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
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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