[teeituptom]

I dont carrry malpractice insurance and never will. However I do protect myself by having a legal protection plan, where i always have access to legal aide of all specialties. I have never had to apply it professionally, but have used it twice for personal reasons,one was an MVA. The other thing was a personal matter.
I carry this just in case,though,because lets face it hospitals are going to protect you only as long as it protects themselves and then they will throw you to the wolves. I like haveing a wolf in my corner,for back up.
HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU
TEEITUPTOM

[RNed]

I have heard both sides of this argument. I have carried insurance in the past and I have a period when I did not have insurance.

The argument that you can have it and not disclose it, I believe is false. If a suit occurs, I believe you have to or need to disclose this potential suit to your liability insurance provider, prior to deposition and then the "cat is out of the bag".

Someone confirm or correct me if I am wrong. I really don't know.

[ccunurse]

RNed- yes you have to disclose it. It only protects you and if a suit is dropped, there is no hidden costs attached to your insurance. So far the two that I have been involved with have not went to court--thank goodness. And both times I was not in direct contact with the patient just happened to work on those days... sigh... so even if you are not doing direct care for that particular patient you can still be involved in a suit which is unfair but those things do happen.

[Terrie]

I carried it as a nursing student and I carry it now. The hospital is going to protect it's self at any cost. So I protect my self at all cost. I have not had to use it but with some of the people I work with I am glad I have it.

[NicuGal]

Yes! If you deviate one little iota from a policy, procedure or standard the hospital will say..oopss...you're a dork and on your own! Better safe than sorry!

[donmurray]

There's an interesting difference across the pond. In English Law, an employer has "Vicarious Liability" This means that it is his duty to ensure that all his employees are fit/capable/trained to carry out their functions. If an employee's error causes loss or harm to a third party, in the course of the employees' work, then the employer is held liable. This does not preclude the employer turning to the employee to sue for any losses caused.
A weird exception. If, say a mechanic started to smash up a car that he was working on, that is not what he is employed to do, so the mechanic is liable, and the employer is not. The mechanic is termed in law to have been "Indulging in a frolic" Whatta phrase!
Of course "Go for the deepest pocket" also applies here.

[pbrn]

Absolutely! I want an attorney that works for my best interests,not my employer's.

[ds123]

I've carried professional Liability insurance on and off through out my career. There are certain areas I feel I need it more than others. I currently work in an office and mix and administer chemo. This is one place I feel I need it!

[Hbarb27]

I am a former ICU/CCU nurse and always carried my own insurance. Havent worked in many years and am about to get back into field. I feel I need to have personal professional insurance again. My home insurance company can only offer up to $500,000 coverage for about what i think i would pay for more coverage if i knew of a nurses group insurance company to contact. I live in NE Ohio. Any info for me?

[-jt]

Ive had malpractice insurance since nursing school. It cost $40/year 20 years ago & just $80/year now. Its so inexpensive its foolish not to have it. You arent going to get sued just because you have insurance but if you dont have insurance & do get sued, the hospitals lawyers first allegiance is to the employer - not you. Also, if you do any little thing that contributes to the hospital or MD being sued, they will turn right around and sue you themselves to recoup their losses - whether you have insurance or not - whether you were sued by the pt or not - whether you have assets or not. You never know whats going to happen tomorrow. For $80/yr, its not worth the risk of financial ruin and loss of my home.