Liability insurance or not

[Enabled]

Both sides of this issue have very valid points. I highly recommend that nurses or any health care professional get Liability Insurance related to their field of practice. Too many times when hospitals are sued the nurses are brought into the suit. As quickly as possible I have seen hospitals drop nurses faster than a hot potato. Hospitals will tell you when you are hired you are covered. They don't tell you that there are limitations or give you a copy of the insurance policy. If a doctor tells a nurse to do something a specific way and it is not the way the policy and procedure reads and something happens then the nurse is at fault as far as the hospital is concerned. There will be no payment for lawyers, depositions, or possible judgements against the nurse

I highly recommend it for new grads in particular. Unfortunately, doctors can be cruel and misguide a new grad and later say they said nothing of the sort. Your up a creek without a paddle. or life jacket.

Most nurses are also unaware that if someone comes into their home and is injured in any way they can have a judgement against them. For instance, someone comes into your home and falls in the bathroom on a throw rug. A prudent nurse would know not to have a throw rug as someone could catch their foot and fall. Then your homeowners policy pays as well as you as a nurse for knowing it should not have been there to begin with.

The other is never to tell anyone that you have it as it could also be a set up. You really can't trust anyone particularly in the times were are in. Everyone is out to make a buck no matter how they get it. Be cautious. And if a doc tells you a different way of doing something then have him/her write an order before proceeding.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I agree - I've always had it and never will get rid of it. It also covers my volunteer activities.

[Enabled]

And newbies usually get it for half the first year. Which is about $40. and it is tax deductible. Now the limit for a lifetime I have seen as high as $6 million. And again don't tell anyone you work with as if there is a problem and your in the room with the same patient guess who is going to court.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Have always had it, and I always will.

[MollyMo]

I've had it from the beginning. I don't mind paying for something that I pray I'll never have to use.

[eddy]

Enabled - VERY VERY good advice. Under no circumstances should you tell ANYONE in person (even co-workers) that you have liability coverage or how much. Lawyers always go for the insured nurses first. This is because your insurance company is exponentially more likely to settle quickly out of court. Quick money with little effort on the lawyers part. I have seen numerous cases where an uninsured nurse who actually made the error was sued second to a charge nurse or even just a senior nurse that was covered. Easy money folks, and unfortunately it's the messed up world we live in.

ALWAYS get the insurance. It's cheap and could some day save you from a terrible nightmare (sometimes not even your fault or from your hands). Just DON'T tell anyone about it... regardless of who they are. Contrary to popular belief you DO NOT have to maintain a copy of your policy in your file at the facility. This is another thing that administration pushes just to cover their own butts should something happen. It makes you more of a target and a scape goat. Keep it to yourself, period.