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
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
2018
Conference Publication
Normal saline instillation with paediatric endotracheal suction: It's what's always been taught
Schults, J., Cooke, M., Long, D., Schibler, A. and Mitchell, M. (2018). Normal saline instillation with paediatric endotracheal suction: It's what's always been taught. The 42nd Australian and New Zealand Annual Scientific meeting on Intensive Care and the 23rd Annual Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Conference, Queensland, Australia, 11-13 October 2017. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2017.12.032
2017
Journal Article
Efficacy and safety of normal saline instillation and paediatric endotracheal suction: an integrative review
O'Leary, Jessica, Mitchell, Marion L., Cooke, Marie and Schibler, Andreas (2017). Efficacy and safety of normal saline instillation and paediatric endotracheal suction: an integrative review. Australian Critical Care, 31 (1), 3-9. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2017.02.069
2016
Journal Article
Standard instruction versus simulation: educating registered nurses in the early recognition of patient deterioration in paediatric critical care
O'Leary, Jessica, Nash, Robyn and Lewis, Peter (2016). Standard instruction versus simulation: educating registered nurses in the early recognition of patient deterioration in paediatric critical care. Nurse Education Today, 36, 287-292. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2015.07.021
2015
Journal Article
High fidelity patient simulation as an educational tool in paediatric intensive care: a systematic review
O'Leary, Jessica A., Nash, Robyn and Lewis, Peter A. (2015). High fidelity patient simulation as an educational tool in paediatric intensive care: a systematic review. Nurse Education Today, 35 (10), e8-e12. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2015.07.025
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
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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