liability insurance

There are many liability insurance policies out there for you to look into.

Try NSO or ANA

http://www.nso.com

or

http://www.ana.org

The decision to carry malpractice insurance is up to you. I recommend you do, personally. Most policies cover legal costs for hiring an attorney for your own defense should you ever need it, and that to me, is a huge plus right there. Remember, a hospital will always cover itself, and won't have to cover you, if it can get out of it.

AIG I believe also has nursing liability insurance. It runs about $115/yr. Just check around. Purchase it, you will be able to go home and sleep when your shift is over. You don't need a specific one for L&D. And read the terms before you pick one - I can't remember all the technical words. But some policies will protect you better than others.

As I understand the motivation behind liability suits, it is all about money. Usually attorneys for the plaintiff focus on the doctor and the hospital's

cash (doesn't that just tickle the fanciful non profit claims some hospitals make?).

Usually nurses' pockets aren't as "deep" as those above, and unless we do something so flagrantly awful, (contradicting everything we've been taught), the chances of getting a first class attorney (graduated from excellent law school, works with reputable law firm, etc.)to represent us for less than $10,000 up front, are slim.

A case that I know about involved an early recovery of mom and baby. They were in bed, asleep; and dad was asleep in his chair, and nurse was asleep "at the switch". She took her break without getting someone else to do the last 15 minute check on mom and baby.

Worst fear happened: baby went into resp. arrest, mom and dad slept on, and when the nurse finally reappeared, baby was limp and blue on mom's chest. CPR was successful! CP (diagnosed a year later) resulted and an adorable little girl's development was compromised. She isn't able to walk or talk.

The couple could have sued for negligence, but they were poor students without any extra money for a lawyer. They believed the hospital's attorney (a sweet talker) who said that they'd never get anything without a very lengthy lawsuit in which their abilities as parents would be in question, the possibility of something having happened that caused the CP after discharge would be investigated, and on and on.....

I don't mean this post to dissuade anyone from having malpractise insurance which the above posters mentioned can be obtained at a nominal cost. If you work in Home Health, it's another matter, as most nurses do that as private contractors and have no witnesses usually, to portray a nurse's reasonable actions when/if the worst happens. They must get it! The agency's lawyer cares only for his/her client.

It's important to read the entire policy (especially the smallest print) and know if it's the insurance company's choice of a lawyer you have to have represent you (wrong!); and under what conditions you're covered, and of course how much is assigned each instance that you're found liable (it should be at least $1,000,000).

20+ years ago, a friend who was an OB/GYN, posted a sign in his waiting room that explained that he had no malpractice insurance and had few assets. He wasn't the brightest doc I've known, (but very personable), and he was never sued....... (He's now deceased.) His practrice partners who weren't as well liked, and who had the insurance, were sued several times each.

I looked at the rates tonight- for proliability.com /Marsh- and my $89 a year rate would jump to $405 if I work in L+D!!! I believe they were both for the same amount of coverage.

Makes you think...

The Neonatal area rate for me was $105, which I feel is not too bad.

Are there any insurance companys that don't care if you are in L+D? (rate jump)

i just went through nso's process to get a quick quote, they never asked me about l+d, neonatal, or anything ( they did ask about correctional facilities) and my quote was only for $98/year. i just switched from nso to marsh, but i am feeling now like i should switch back, and that $10/yr savings isn't worth it!

from nso's website faq:

7. i am a nurse working in a high-risk specialty area. can i apply for coverage through nso? will my premium be higher because of my specialty?

nso offers coverage to most nursing professionals. the only exclusions to the policy are nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists.

if you are an rn --- no matter what your area of specialty (emergency room, operating room, pediatrics, for example); you will pay the same premium as all other rns in your state. click here for rates. we offer professional liability to over 1,000,000 healthcare providers, because of this large number of insureds we have been able to keep the rates under control.

we do rate your premium based on specialty if you are a nurse practitioner and may rate your premium differently if you have dual certifications like rn and massage therapy or rn and emt, for example. the good news is that when you take out coverage for both certifications, you have coverage for both. you also have coverage automatically if you are returning to school for refresher courses.