Opinion ID: 1709406
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Generalized Evidence of Short-Staffing

Text: ¶ 28. Mariner first claims that the trial court erred in admitting testimony from nursing assistants that they felt overwhelmed and had trouble providing competent care. Mariner argues that such testimony is inadmissible unless the alleged short-staffing caused the assistants to give inadequate care specifically to Edwards. The argument is misplaced. Each of the nursing assistants who testified for Edwards's estate had been responsible for Edwards's care at some point during his time at Greenwood Health. Several of them testified that understaffing prevented them from turning Edwards as often as was necessary to prevent bedsores. One nursing assistant testified that she was not able to change Edwards as often as she should have because of short-staffing. Another alleged that the assistant whose shift came before hers gave Edwards substandard care. All of the assistants testified that they witnessed Edwards's deterioration. ¶ 29. Mariner correctly notes that the Court of Appeals has held that generalized testimony of short-staffing that does not show a casual nexus between staffing and a plaintiff's injuries is not probative to the question of liability. Estate of Finley v. Beverly Health & Rehab. Servs., 933 So.2d 1026 (Miss.Ct.App.2006). However, in Finley, summary judgment was appropriate in part because none of the nursing assistants could recall any specific instance where [the resident] received substandard care as a result of shortages in staffing or lack of supplies. Finley, 933 So.2d at 1036. In the present case, several assistants testified that they either provided or saw the effects of substandard care on Edwards. Such testimony is therefore probative under Mississippi Rule of Evidence 401.