Emory nursing professor awarded $1.98 million R01 to examine impact of agency staff on nursing home care
August 28, 2026
ATLANTA – Huiwen Xu, PhD, MHA, associate professor at the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, has been awarded a four-year, $1.98 million R01 grant from the National Institute on Aging to lead the first comprehensive study examining how nursing homes use agency staff and how those staffing practices affect quality of care.
Nursing homes often use temporary health care professionals employed through third-party staffing agencies to provide flexible coverage, fill critical shortages, and maintain daily resident care. However, reliance on agency staff may also contribute to challenges such as disrupted workflows, inconsistent care outcomes and higher costs.
To determine the full scope of agency staff use, Xu is working with John R. Bowblis (MPI) and Denise Tyler of Miami University, James S. Goodwin and Shuang Li of University of Texas Medical Branch, and Matthew D. McHugh of University of Pennsylvania to analyze national staffing payroll, resident assessment, and Medicare data, as well as conduct interviews with nursing home workers and state Medicaid officials.
The findings are expected to provide nursing home industry and health care leaders with new insights into workforce challenges facing nursing homes and inform staffing approaches that improve resident outcomes and quality of care.
“We hope that these discoveries will lead to real-world solutions that will help nursing homes meet the everyday needs of their residents and bring health and peace to them and their families,” Xu says.
This research is supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under grant R01AG104879. A total of $1,983,172, 100% of the project, was financed with federal funds. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
About the School of Nursing
As one of the nation’s top nursing schools, the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University is committed to educating visionary nurse leaders and scholars. Ranked the No. 1 master’s, No. 2 BSN, and No. 2 DNP programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, the school offers undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and non-degree programs. It brings together cutting-edge resources, distinguished faculty, top clinical experiences, and access to leading health care partners to shape the future of nursing and improve health and well-being.
