Liability insurance

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2017

Drop it, there is no reason to have it in the Federal system. I did not have it in the civilian world or will I ever.

elkpark · Dec 29, 2017

I continued to carry my individual insurance while I worked for the VA many years ago. I would never work without my own coverage. Just my personal comfort level.

Shark24, BSN · Dec 29, 2017

If for some reason you took care of that patient that's suing the hospital and from all the staff they happened to know that you have insurance they'll go only against you. If you're under your scope of practice and standard of care you should be fine, if you are practicing outside a company let say your own business you should get your insurance.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Dec 29, 2017

That's not entirely accurate. First, there's no way for a patient or their attorney to know if you have your own insurance. They have to name defendants in a suit before any of that stuff comes up.

Second, your own personal policy (such as that offered by NSO) is typically secondary insurance. It will only take effect after the hospital's insurance has paid out. Most hospitals carry so much insurance that damages/settlements will typically not exceed their coverage. That's why nursing insurance is super cheap. They only way you need coverage if you work for a big hospital is if you grossly overstep hospital policy such that they aren't obligated to cover you. I'm not a lawyer. I have no idea what it would take for that to happen. I'm curious if your personal policy would even cover you if it was that bad.

My 2 cents: Get it if it makes you feel better. You'll probably never use it, but it's like $100 per year for RNs for $1,000,000+ in coverage.

Trauma Columnist · Dec 29, 2017

The big plus to your own malpractice policy is access to an attorney that works only for YOU! Believe me, that is super important!

And...no offense but its no one's business whether you carry your own policy. I don't discuss this with colleagues.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2017

When I went was in my BSN program we had the risk manager for the major hospital system in Buffalo who stated if you have insurance it is your primary insurance. She further went on to say that if you and the hospital was named in a suit the hospital insurance is going to look out for themselves and you will be on your own.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Dec 30, 2017

It depends on the Liability Insurance you have, the insurance your employer has, and the nature of the suit. There's not a one-size fits-all answer to what coverage kicks in when.

I was peripherally involved with a civilian suit where my NSO policy was treated as secondary coverage. The hospital ended up settling and I was barely involved.