Just signed on PRN with agency, they said they cover me if I am at fault in an error, etc. However, should I still cover myself and get a policy anyway?
WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN 1 Article; 2,077 Posts Specializes in Hospital medicine; NP precepting; staff education. Has 22 years experience. Sep 8, 2015 Yes. It's not as expensive as you might think and it is definitely worth having.
RiskManager 1 Article; 615 Posts Specializes in Healthcare risk management and liability. Sep 8, 2015 https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/one-healthcare-risk-999441.html You are no doubt covered by the insurance offered by your employer. Read the article above so that you can make an informed choice on coverage through an individual policy.
CloudySue 710 Posts Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing. Has 6 years experience. Sep 9, 2015 Yes. Absolutely. It's about 100 dollars a year or so. I was warned in nursing school to NEVER trust your employer to cover your butt. Corporations will deny responsibility and throw you under the bus if it suits them, especially if it's really an error on your part.
Kitiger, RN 1,819 Posts Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics. Has 44 years experience. Mar 6, 2016 Yes. Always have your own Liability Insurance! Protect your license.
APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP 995 Posts Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health. Has 32 years experience. Mar 6, 2016 Buy your own malpractice insurance. Employers giveth, and employers taketh away. Make sure you have your own.
myhoagie02 25 Posts Mar 6, 2016 Yes! By all means buy it. It's not expensive at all. Furthermore, if for any reason your employer's attorneys think for a second you did something out of your scope or policy, they will no longer have your back. This is where your malpractice insurance kicks in. You'll get assigned your own attorney and because they work for you, they will do what they can to protect you.
NedRN 1 Article; 5,767 Posts Mar 9, 2016 https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/one-healthcare-risk-999441.html You are no doubt covered by the insurance offered by your employer. Read the article above so that you can make an informed choice on coverage through an individual policy.That is an interesting article. Many of your points are self evident, such as insurance is not worth it unless you have to use it. It is obvious from the cost of malpractice insurance that it is no better a deal than paying for an extended warranty - huge profit centers for insurance underwriters. So? The very cost makes it a no-brainer because your ability to work is in jeopardy if a BON does initiate action against your license. There are times when your employer's interests do diverge from your own professional interests and then you need personal representation. You definitely make a good point about where and when private insurance kicks in, but that doesn't make reasons to have insurance invalid.I don't see much downside to having private insurance and it is even tax deductible as a professional expense. Sure, it is likely a waste of money as the odds are very low you will need it. I didn't have auto insurance for the first 20 years or so of driving and saved a bundle (as it turned out).
