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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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
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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