How often do nurses get sued???

[Shiva_Las_Vegas]

Hello.

This just crossed my mind....with all the talk of C.Y.A. and documentation, documentation, documentation......how often is is that nurses actually get sued?

Or is it that doctors mostly get sued and that's why they have so much more expense as far as malpractice insurance?

[Hardknox]

Originally posted by Shiva_Las_Vegas

nimbex,

Thanks for the reply.....

I am a "pre-nursing" student right now....waiting to hear back from the college on when I can actually start the nursing classes. The idea of getting sued is kind of scary. I guess it's just one of those things......do your job, follow the rules, document everything you do and try not to worry about it too much.....

....and you can still get sued. If you are planning to work in Mass. they have a $20,000 charitible cap on suing the hospital. Yep, that's all you can get from them. So lawyers go after the nurses and the doctors. My friend was sued: the hospital didn't notify their insurance carrier that carried the umbrella pollicy that bridged the $3 mill the union had bargained for and a higher sum the jury found for ($3 mill is chickenfeed for juries to award.) Jury found for $10 million and that is without the accrued interest because when they award the amount it is also retroactive interest added from the day the suit was filed!! What a mess. BTW, my friend didn't carry malpractice inurance.

In Mass. it's wise to carry your own insurance. In fact it's wise NOT to be a nurse.

[Shiva_Las_Vegas]

Geez..... I guess I'm glad I don't live in Mass.

[Karis]

Respondeat Superior : "Let the master answer." The legal doctrine which holds the employer responsible for the negligent acts of his servants or employees while acting within the scope of employment. Suing a nurse can open the door to get to the employer's money.