Should I have my own malpractice insurance?

Specialties School

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I work as a school nurse only part-time with no benefits. I don't pay into any teacher's union or anything like that either. I just got to thinking that as a nurse who is basically the only healthcare provider in the school maybe I should have some type of coverage. Do you all have any?

if you are called as a witness against someone else in a malpractice suit. In both those cases, you'd definitely want to have legal representation, either of those situations is much more likely to occur over the course of your career than you, as a nurse, actually getting sued, and, in both cases, the first hour of an attorney's time out of your own pocket would cost you more than the annual premium for the insurance.

oooooooh, I haven't thought of that. Great point !

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oooooooh, I haven't thought of that. Great point !

For me, the reasons I posted are the real reasons I always carry the insurance, not because I'm terribly concerned about me getting sued, individually, as an RN. It can happen, of course, but it's comparatively rare. Getting in trouble with the BON or being called as a witness in a suit are much more likely to happen over the course of a nurse's career.

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I have always carried my own and still do.

Children are harmed every day in school. Whether or not you followed the standard of practice, you could be sued. The practice in many states at the moment is the scattershot - sue everyone and depose everyone to gather more information.

Even if you are covered under the school district's policy, you will want to have your own attorney who reporesents your interests alone. School nurses are frequently called into depositions and you would want to be able to ask an attorney for advice or to accompany you.

It is not just for malpractice also, it can be for wrongful discharge, if your license is threatened, if you have been charged with abuse or violating confidentiality, you will want to be able to get legal assistance.

In the Supreme Court Savanna Redding Strip Search case , the family was going after the homeowners insurance for the nurse and other school employee. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safford_Unified_School_District_v._Redding

There was another nurse deposed this week in Goshen NY for participating in a strip search of a student. The Chronicle - Strip search lawsuits move forward - Straus Newspapers

Just as I don't want non nurses practicing nursing, I would want to be able to depend on an attorney when dealing with the justice system.

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NASN ran a quick poll over the holiday break on whether school nurses carry their own insurance:

Poll results 01/06/11

Currently are you covered by your own personal professional ?

1. Yes (715) 72%

2. No (282) 28%

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Wow-that's very interesting! I just assumed if they sued you and you didn't have insurance they could take your house, cars, whatever. Thanks for the info!

Most people don't own their home and cars outright, the banks do and there is not enough equity in them to pay for the case. But if they want my 1998 Saturn they can have it!

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