Are you buying individual malpractice insurance?

elkpark · Jun 1, 2010

There are a bunch of existing threads here about the pros and (supposed) cons of individual professional liability (malpractice) insurance, that you can review if you want to see what's already been discussed. I am one of those nurses who would never consider working a single day without my own coverage. My father (an MD) advised me when I was in nursing school to always carry my own coverage and never depend on an employer to protect my interests, and everything I've seen since then, in my 25 years of practice, has only reinforced to me what good advice that was. It's v. hard for me to believe that there are still people "out there" who argue that nurses don't need their own coverage ...

Jules A, MSN · Jun 2, 2010

I have always had it because I know the hospitals do not have my interest in mind and was shocked that at one orientation the administration actually discouraged us from carrying our own. Needless to say I didn't cancel mine.

elkpark · Jun 3, 2010

was shocked that at one orientation the administration actually discouraged us from carrying our own.

This is actually v. common (if it gets mentioned by administration at all). The hospital PTB want to keep you "barefoot and pregnant" -- they want you to have to depend on the hospital attorneys for legal advice if anything important is going down. (I would never take legal advice from my employer's attorneys about anything important -- they are paid to protect the hospital's interests, not mine.)

Jules A, MSN · Jun 3, 2010

This is actually v. common (if it gets mentioned by administration at all). The hospital PTB want to keep you "barefoot and pregnant" -- they want you to have to depend on the hospital attorneys for legal advice if anything important is going down. (I would never take legal advice from my employer's attorneys about anything important -- they are paid to protect the hospital's interests, not mine.)

They actually went so far as to suggest that the lawyers would comb through documentation and see what nurses had their own malpractice insurance and then definitely drag their name into it. :down:

elkpark · Jun 4, 2010

They actually went so far as to suggest that the lawyers would comb through documentation and see what nurses had their own malpractice insurance and then definitely drag their name into it.

That's a bunch of hoo-hah. Even if it were true, you're still better off having your own coverage and representation than depending on the facility.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 4, 2010

I totally agree with elkpark. I have had my own insurance since I graduated in 1977. The hospital's attorneys serve the hospital, not you. And if someone is going to sue me, I want my own lawyers in my corner. You also never know when you might be sued for something you say or do when you are NOT working.

Fortunately, I have never had to use my insurance -- but I have never regretted having it, especially when you consider how cheap it is.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jun 4, 2010

Totally agree with elkpark and llg.

I would never consider working w/o Liability Insurance.

Tina, RN · Jun 4, 2010

I have my own malpractice insurance, too. I think it's best to have it.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 4, 2010

I have it... As soon as I got my license I purchased Liability Insurance!

NC29mom, ASN, LPN, RN · Jun 4, 2010

absolutely! ever heard the saying "cya"?

it's not only referring to documentation!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 4, 2010

Hell yeah--I wouldn't think of working without it! If something were to ever happen at work, I know that nurses are one of the first ones they'd throw under the bus...so I'm not taking any chances.

I also don't volunteer that info to my employer...if they ever ask, I will be honest and tell them I have my own insurance and that under no circumstances will I cancel it. But I don't run up to them saying I'm insured--they don't need to know that until something happens, IMO.