Could volunteering affect my license?

[I see you RN]

I'm a practicing RN in Texas. I would like to volunteer at my son's elementary school to help them out while one of the nurses is doing screenings, but I'm concerned that it would have ramifications for my license. I would be staying in the nurse's office and the RN employed by the district would be on campus.

Does anyone have any information about this situation? I've checked the BON website and come up empty.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Do you have malpractice insurance OF YOUR OWN?

I'd check with a lawyer or speak in person to the BON and get an opinion.

allnurses can't give legal advice.

[Flying ICU RN]

Volunteering no, malpractice yes.

My feeling is that anyone likely to volunteer services for such a worthy cause, is highly unlikely to ever commit malpractice.

[elkpark]

Volunteering no, malpractice yes.

My feeling is that anyone likely to volunteer services for such a worthy cause, is highly unlikely to ever commit malpractice.

V. few people ever choose to "commit malpractice" -- what usually happens is that people do the best they know how in good faith, something goes wrong, and someone gets blamed.

OP -- any time you're functioning in a professional capacity under your license, whether you're being paid or not, you're professionally and legally accountable for your actions. This is another reason why having your own, personal insurance is a good idea -- your employer's liability coverage only covers you (to the limited extent that it does cover you, but that's a whole 'nother discussion) while you're working for your employer, but your own coverage covers you whenever, wherever, you're practicing as a nurse, including volunteering in the community.

[Flying ICU RN]

V. few people ever choose to "commit malpractice" -- what usually happens is that people do the best they know how in good faith, something goes wrong, and someone gets blamed.

From what I have been able to observe over the years, those who find themselves on the bitter end of a problem, (something going wrong) were not in fact "doing their best" or operating in "good faith" when the problem occured. They were in fact "neglectful."

That of course is a generalization, and I would not suggest it be applicable in all circumstances. However, my point to the OP is simply that identification or acknowledgement of a problem, (real or potential) is the first step in resolution or avoidance altogether.

We already have a "culture of blame", I think a "culture of due diligence" is preferable to a "culture of fear."

[elkpark]

That of course is a generalization, and I would not suggest it be applicable in all circumstances. However, my point to the OP is simply that identification or acknowledgement of a problem, (real or potential) is the first step in resolution or avoidance altogether.

We already have a "culture of blame", I think a "culture of due diligence" is preferable to a "culture of fear."

I have no idea what that is supposed to mean, but my point to the OP, in response to her/his original question, "could volunteering affect my license," is yes, it can. Our responsibilities under our licenses are not affected by whether or not we're being paid for our professional actions.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

It doesn't take being "neglectful" to be sued.

Everyone with a license needs malpractice insurance.

It doesn't mean don't volunteer, just be smart about it. I'm a pre-hospital RN on my rural fire department. Believe me, I have malpractice insurance. I am held to the standard of the highest license which I possess which is as an advanced practice nurse even though on the fire dept, I function at the level of am EMT-B.

[Flying ICU RN]

I have no idea what that is supposed to mean, but my point to the OP, in response to her/his original question, "could volunteering affect my license," is yes, it can. Our responsibilities under our licenses are not affected by whether or not we're being paid for our professional actions.

A true statement.

My concern is with both new and experienced nurses being so paralyzed by fear as to not be able to distinguish the "wheat from the chaff", so to speak. I see too much ineffectiveness out there as a result.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

I have no idea what that is supposed to mean, but my point to the OP, in response to her/his original question, "could volunteering affect my license," is yes, it can. Our responsibilities under our licenses are not affected by whether or not we're being paid for our professional actions.

This is correct advice. Right on the money.