Should I or should I not have my own personal nursing liability insurance???...

[Queen2u]

So, I have been a Registered Nurse for 3 years now and I have never had Liability Insurance. I just started a new full time staff nurse in southern California, mother-baby. Nurses at my previous job in a different state advised me to not get it. I haven't had insurance yet as a practicing nurse. What should I do???!! Pros/cons?

[prettymica, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN, NP]

YES, YES, YES! I have had it since my first week as a nurse 3 years ago. I read stories all the time about a facility getting sued and turning around and suing the nurse or nurses to recoup some of the money. NSO malpractice insurance is pretty cheap i figure i really need it being alone doing home health and home hospice nursing

[Brian, ASN, RN]

I just added a poll to the first post: https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/should-i-should-680926.html

Go ahead and vote!

[merrywhiterose]

This country is sue-happy. You have insurance for your car, your house, your life. A sue-happy patient can take almost everything from you. GET Liability Insurance!!!! Make sure it covers you after you quit working for your current place of business, too.

[LemonIndiscretion]

Great Question... Often wondered this myself

[Over-the-hill-Nurse]

practicing nursing without liability is foolish. I carried insurance from the time I was a student until I retired. Twice during my nursing career I was involved with 2 major lawsuits that involved my place of employment and I can tell you that having your own insurance is a good idea. One case was dropped after months of litigation and numerous depositions, having to remember every little detail, being interrogated, made to look like you didn't do your job correctly, etc... you will utilize your own insurance just for peace of mind. My insurance representative gave me good advice on what type of questions, how to answer questions and so forth and was a Godsend. The second case the hospital lost. A few good nurses were terminated, 2 doctors were sued personally afterward, let go of their contracts with the hospital and so forth. You never know when you might need it. It isn't worth the risk of being without it. Having been there, I can tell you that it was the best thing I ever did. The facility that you work for is out for themselves, they could care less what happens to you. So my answer would be YES! GET THE INSURANCE!

[needluck]

When I was working I always had insurance. it's inexpensive to carry, and you never know if you may need it:)

[elkpark]

My father was a physician, and, way back when I was in nursing school, 100 years ago, he advised me to always carry my own insurance and never depend upon an employer to look out for my interests -- and everything I've seen since then, in my coming-up-on-30-years of nursing practice (esp. several years as a hospital surveyor for my state and CMS) has just reinforced to me what excellent advice that was. I am another RN who would never consider working a single day without my own coverage. I can't believe anyone in nursing still tries to make the case that it's not necessary.