You have the nursing education. You have secured your dream nursing job. You have a duty and you are prepared. An injury occurred. Are you at fault? Nurses General Nursing Knowledge
Updated:
Vulnerable areas of nursing include anesthesia and obstetrics/midwifery. RNs in OB (L and D), those working solely in monitoring capacities (fetal heart, telemetry, etc.), and medication administration (including long term care) are also included in more litigious areas.
Of course, the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) other than CRNA and CNM are subject to increased litigation, but the latter two are more vulnerable. And, the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) seems to be at high risk secondary to "pain and suffering" issues.
As of recent reports from the 2020 CNA/NSO: Nurse Professional Liability Exposure Claim Report: 4th Edition, Home Care services claims have been on the increase. Issues related to treatment/care are the most frequent allegations.
From the above report:
QuoteThe average total incurred of professional liability claims in the 2020 claim report ($210,513) increased more than 4 percent compared to the 2015 claim report.
Many Liability carriers in many states will insure the Nurse Practitioner, but not insure the Certified Nurse Midwife
In some states, APRNs have stricter professional liability requirements whereas their physician counterparts can choose to be uninsured. This can present a problem for the APRN because they can, in turn, be targeted in lawsuits when the physician with whom they work has no coverage.
But, nurses in general can be and often are, at risk.
"The number of Adverse Action Reports (license defense issues) against nurses nearly doubled between 2003 - 2012." - Proliablility
A kind word and non-defensive attitude with a patient turns away many a lawsuit.
On a final note...
Protect yourself. Purchase liability insurance.