Do you carry liability insurance?

[MrsMommaRN]

new nurse here full of questions today. the hospital i will be working for has Liability Insurance 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.

[colleenrnsw]

I work in one state and reside in another. Does it matter under which state I sign up for Liability Insurance? Is the only difference the cost? Thanks.

[nrsstephanie]

Unfortunately, I have "been there, done that". I was the DON of a facility where a resident died. Two years later I get pulled into a lawsuit. The plaintiff's lawyers did the old pizza number . . . . throw it against the wall and see what sticks! I had no malpractice insurance (because I listened to others who said "they only go after those with deep pockets")! When I got served I attempted to contact my former employer . . . they are no longer in business and I also learned that they had let their insurance lapse prior to the incident for which I was being sued. I ended up getting dismissed from the case because their attorneys realized I have no money to offer, but it was an expensive dismissal. You have to have an attorney for these matters and my bill added up to around $2500 just to get dismissed. Lesson learned the hard way! Spend the $99 a year, it is worth it!