A lot of my coworkers have been debating lately about carrying malpractice insurance. I've always been a cautious person and carry it, especially because I don't know what the future holds and am under the impression that if legal issues came up after leaving a facility that they would not defend me.
Many people however are of the mindset that carrying additional insurance makes one a target for lawsuits and no one will bother to go after you if you're not insured and thus not financially worth the effort. Several people have stories of uninsured nurses being dismissed from cases after the lawyers surveyed who had coverage and who didn't.
As a new nurse, I am trying to decide about this. In orientation, we heard that the hospital covers us and that seemed fine to me, until...
I have made two mistakes - no one was hurt, but it made me realize how fallible/human I am. What I'm wondering is, does the hospital cover me if there's a bad outcome d/t my mistake??
Does anyone know of a case where a hospital nurse lost personal assets in a lawsuit?
As a new nurse, I am trying to decide about this. In orientation, we heard that the hospital covers us and that seemed fine to me, until...
I have made two mistakes - no one was hurt, but it made me realize how fallible/human I am. What I'm wondering is, does the hospital cover me if there's a bad outcome d/t my mistake??
Does anyone know of a case where a hospital nurse lost personal assets in a lawsuit?
My instructors contend that the first thing a hospital will do if you're accused of malpractice is argue that you are responsible for your own conduct and acted independently in case of wrongdoing. In other words, they'll immediately point the finger at you, so make sure you have your own insurance. Nursing vets, is that accurate?
Your second question asks about cases where a hospital nurse has lost personal assets in a lawsuit. I think that's a difficult question to answer, since news articles more often than not report only verdicts or settlements, and not whether the defendant was covered by insurance, either his or her own or the hospital's.
A better question might be: Do you know of a case where a hospital nurse was ordered to pay?
I've seen offers of insurance coverage that offer 50 percent discounts for new nurses. Less than $100 a year seems a small price to pay to cover all of my assets.
Specializes in Home Health currently, med/surg prev.
No way will I do without my own coverage. Propoganda or not, I'm not taking chances going without it.
My dh had a childhood friend who was an RN. She was named in a lawsuit, and the hospital did not back her up. She didn't have her own insurance, and the outcome was that she committed suicide to free herself from the situation. Very, very sad outcome.
The point isn't the settlement or judgment $$$$$ amount. Lawyers are very expensive and paying for one to defend yourself is enough to put a person in financial ruin.
Does anyone know of a case where a hospital nurse lost personal assets in a lawsuit?
It very much depends on your state. In TX, they can't get much of anything except cash (not through wages) and maybe some retirement plans. Otherwise they don't get your home, pets, cars, boats, land, etc. I'm certain the same isn't true of other states. Best to research your state.
My instructors contend that the first thing a hospital will do if you're accused of malpractice is argue that you are responsible for your own conduct and acted independently in case of wrongdoing. In other words, they'll immediately point the finger at you, so make sure you have your own insurance. Nursing vets, is that accurate?
Your second question asks about cases where a hospital nurse has lost personal assets in a lawsuit. I think that's a difficult question to answer, since news articles more often than not report only verdicts or settlements, and not whether the defendant was covered by insurance, either his or her own or the hospital's.
A better question might be: Do you know of a case where a hospital nurse was ordered to pay?
I've seen offers of insurance coverage that offer 50 percent discounts for new nurses. Less than $100 a year seems a small price to pay to cover all of my assets.
That link did not work for me. I've tried a lot of searching but not coming up with anything specific to nurses. I get a lot of websites of malpractice attorneys.
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514 Posts
As a new nurse, I am trying to decide about this. In orientation, we heard that the hospital covers us and that seemed fine to me, until...
I have made two mistakes - no one was hurt, but it made me realize how fallible/human I am. What I'm wondering is, does the hospital cover me if there's a bad outcome d/t my mistake??
Does anyone know of a case where a hospital nurse lost personal assets in a lawsuit?