Do you carry liability insurance?

Published

new nurse here full of questions today. the hospital i will be working for has that they carry. i understand this will protect me if something happens while practicing there. what i am wondering is if i need to take out a personal policy to protect my practice?

thanks so much for your help.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

That's my thinking too - that you can't get double coverage for the same incident.

However, this thread is about double coverage, not about having . THere are a lot of threads on that subject.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I have no personal experience, but some thing I have read (I believe on this site) is personal liability insurance will/can make you a target for being sued. The money chasing lawyers will see your policy as a cash cow and come after you in cases where they would otherwise leave the poor nurse alone. I know this seems counter intuitive, but it maybe something to at least look into.
When the attorney initially files the lawsuit, (s)he does not know if the involved nurses and healthcare workers have . A nurse can be named in a lawsuit, even if he/she does not have an insurance policy. The attorney will find other ways to recover the settlement, with a common method being the garnishment of payroll checks.

I express my sincere apologies for digressing off the original subject at hand. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Anybody have it? What do you have? I keep getting mailed all these letters that give me offers to protect my license and/or getting sued and I'm wondering if I should get some. I work in California in a hospital on a busy medical floor. Thanks! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

Yes yes yes yes

You better believe when the poo hits the fan aint no one going to be looking out for you but you.

My insurance is only 100 a year, covers up to 6 million, small price to pay for peice of mind and to know that I wont have to go bankrupt if the worse case happens. I dont trust my job to cover my legal fees, proctect me, or defend me. Yeah right!

I used www.nso.com, I think most people use them as well.

Thats my two cents!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

My oath yes! Here, you can't get registered unless you have it. Our union gives us the option of getting it through them, it is incorporated in our membership feel

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Absolutly yes. Generally when there is a lawsuit everyone and their grandmother is named and we all know the truth does NOT always prevail. Do not trust your employer and their lawyers to protect you. You are not their priority and may well be their scapegoat. It costs $100 or less per year and is worth every penny.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Um, YES!!! As previously mentioned, your employer will distance themselves and hang you out to dry at their earliest convience should something happen.

It's a cheap piece of mind.

I use http://www.nso.com as well. I have heard that some other insurance companies (State Farm, etc.) will cover nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes. I have to have it even as a student. It's not that expensive, particularly in context of the protection you'd be getting. I think lawyers can put anyone's name on a lawsuit, even student nurses!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

Yes, as a new nurse I would not work for one day without it. People do sue here in Canada too, in addition you will need legal representation to deal with the nursing board in the case that a complaint is made against you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in subacute/ltc.

Society today strikes me as being incredibly litigious. We even have a coworker whom we joke with about not inviting to parties at our homes, cause she sues everyone at the drop of a hat.......

I also use NSO it is an aggregate of 6 mil in coverage for a little over $100 a year. I have had it since I was a student. I worked really hard for my home, savings and retirement fund....not only for myself but for my child's future.....I refuse to let some sue happy fool jeopardize our futures or our present....

Tres

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, ER, MEDICAL.
Yes yes yes yes

You better believe when the poo hits the fan aint no one going to be looking out for you but you.

My insurance is only 100 a year, covers up to 6 million, small price to pay for peice of mind and to know that I wont have to go bankrupt if the worse case happens. I dont trust my job to cover my legal fees, proctect me, or defend me. Yeah right!

I used www.nso.com, I think most people use them as well.

Thats my two cents!

I also have NSO, please if possible protect yourself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

I don't know where all you folks work but I've been in nursing 22 years and have never been in a law suit. I only know of one nurse who was even named in a suit and she was dropped from the suit earily in the litigation. That aside I do have profressional liability coverage as a rider on my homeowners policy. It's only about $40. a year and is OK coverage. If I worked in a high risk area (L&D, ER, ..) I would most likelty look for more extensive coverage just for piece of mind, but with my experience what I have is adequate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion