Re: malpractice/liability insurance for NICU RN's

I got full malpractice coverage from NSO when I started in the NICU, both for my practice, and for graduate school clinicals.

It's well worth the protection...

Re: malpractice/liability insurance for NICU RN's

I think it's pointless and a waste of money. I've also been told that it's pointless and a waste of money for an RN to carry malpractice insurance (unless you are an advanced practice RN). Like someone already said on here, they only sue nurses if they know they have malpractice insurance. Litigants pursue the hospital and the doctors' insurance - not the nurses. A nurse where I work inserted an IV on a patient. The IV wasn't placed correctly and it infiltrated for a long period of time. It severly damaged her arm that required several cosmetic surgeries. This nurse did not carry insurance. The hospital covered her completely (in fact, she was never targeted by the lawyers) and they settled out of court for $98,000 and free health insurance for life.

Most nurses are just paranoid about lawsuits. If buying something makes you feel better, then go for it. But it's not needed.

Re: malpractice/liability insurance for NICU RN's

Originally Posted by JomoNurse

they only sue nurses if they know they have malpractice insurance. Litigants pursue the hospital and the doctors' insurance - not the nurses.

Wrong.

Re: malpractice/liability insurance for NICU RN's

I have heard that too that they only persue the RN's that carry malpractice insurance. I am not working right now but I would like a definitive answer to this question.

Re: malpractice/liability insurance for NICU RN's

Boy, a lot of people have their facts wrong. You should carry insurance. The hospital isn't going to cover you if you do not follow policy and procedure to the hilt. As for the IV, IV infiltrates are the most common area to be sued over and hospital usually settle. How do they know that IV was placed incorrectly...that is an assumption. Why didn't anyone look at the IV over that period of hours...so all are at fault.

I work with several legal nurses and they all recommend that we carry insurance, esp in the field we are in as parents have 18 years to file suit and then the child can file up to 21. Want to bank on the hospital covering you over that period of time, esp if you didn't follow PP to the hilt? Also, when you are called for a deposition, you are not asked if you have insurance, and the only time you would reveal that is if you, personally, are named in the suit. Most suits are against the hospital in general, not an individual.

So, if you can honestly say that you follow every policy and procedure to the nines, then don't get it, but my guess is most of us don't or forget to do something.