Malpractice Insurance: Do you carry your own?

[MHDNURSE]

As an employee I am covered under my school, but a couple of my friends have commented that they also carry their own. Any school nurses here carry their own and if so, how did you decide on a company and policy?

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

I do, through NSO. I am covered as an employee, but know that isn't specifically for malpractice. The cost is $109/year; small price for me.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

NSO as well (ever since I got my license 25 years ago.) Reasonable rate, pretty good coverage. As a rule, never depend on your employer's coverage, even if just to have your own lawyer if the need arises.

[elkpark]

I'm covered through Marsh, although I've had coverage through NSO in the past. My father was a physician and, many years ago, when I was in nursing school, he told me to never count on my employer to look out for my best interests, and to never work without my own insurance. Everything I've seen over my many years in nursing has just reinforced to me what good advice that was.

[Jeniele, ADN, RN]

So A. I am not a nurse, and B., given A I am obviously not a school nurse. That being said, you guys have great questions on your threads and I wanted to post to give a different perspective in case it might help someone else.

Regarding malpractice insurance, I am a CNA and I carry a one million dollar policy through NSO. I run into people all the time who don't realize that it's available for CNAs and I am floored by the number of nurses I have to tell you can't not afford it when they tell me they don't have insurance because they can't afford it. I have a great manager and love my position at a very busy medical center, but I have no illusions that my employer wouldn't throw me under the bus if it could get them out of liability.

As a CNA, since my scope and therefore liability are low my policy is less than $60 a year. That's like cutting back on one Starbucks coffee a month. I can totally afford that for the peace of mind I get, especially with those "special" patients who leave AMA hollering " Give me you name and credential number, I'm going to sue you all!" Lucky for me, I don't have my license number memorized, ha!

When I finish nursing school and get my RN I plan to keep a personal policy in addition to the one provided by our state nurses association/union. I can see where inadvertently not following just one tiny aspect of some policy would release them from covering you and I am unwilling to take that risk. For a couple hundred dollars a year, it's worth it to protect my livelihood and educational investment.

[Kittery]

NSO here, too. I didn't start buying it until I became a school nurse, but definitely should've in the hospital, too. Like a PP said, when it comes down to it, the employer's going to be protecting themselves.

I chose NSO mostly because it seems like a/the leading provider for nursing malpractice insurance.

[Windchaser22]

NSO. I'm in the teachers union but i want my own back covered.