Malpractice Insurance.......Is it necessary???

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2005

Mine expired, but I'm thinking of getting it again. Recently a family sued not only our hospital, but five individuals separately. The hospital is supposed to cover those inviduals, but I imagine they are more concerned with their own interests, rather than the individuals. So I'm thinking of getting my own insurance again. The climate has changed in the last 15 years.

When I had insurance I did not feel the need to let my employer know. My employer advocates that we don't need it.

humglum, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2005

I imagine you'll get lots of different responses to this question, as this is something most people are very opinionated about. I carry malpractice insurance through NSO, I bought an individual policy through them (and I think new grads get a reduced rate), and my employer is not aware of this fact. My nursing school neither required us to carry insurance while in school nor recommended a certain carrier.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 19, 2005

I would only work if I had my own, no two ways about it. For the price, it is worth the piece of mind. It is your insurance, so there is no reason for you to tell your employer, or need to.

An agnecy that I worked for in Arizona, actually uses NSO for its employees and pays for the contract for each nurse..........THat is how much they prefer that over many others............

grinnurse, RN · Apr 19, 2005

Can anyone send/post a weblink to them? Never heard of this before. Thanks for responding. Our school carried malpractice for us/them and one of the instructors recomended it so I thought I would check some carriers out since I finally have some free time before I graduate and actually begin working. Thanks

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Apr 19, 2005

Go to http://www.nso.com

I've had it for years, think I paid $89 last time. Some people worry that they are more likely to be sued if they have malpractice insurance. I have Liability Insurance with my homeowners policy, and other assets that I wouldn't like to lose. God willing this is one insurance policy i'll never have to use.

grinnurse, RN · Apr 19, 2005

I was having a senior (my brain on nursing school) moment when I posted earlier. Found the site and didn't see where they split the cost up by specialty areas when they did the quote online. I know L&D are higher premiums-is this not a common practice to split them out?

Appreciate everyone's comments and help.

Jo Dirt · Apr 20, 2005

I've heard it is a bad idea to get malpractice insurance, and was given an example of a hospital department that was sued (OR) and the nurses/staff who carried malpractice insurance were sought out and named in the law suit even though they had nothing to do with the lawsuit. I was told if you don't have insurance you won't get sued.

The company I work for now requires it, but as soon as the case I am working is over, right or wrong ,I'm not planning to renew.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 20, 2005

I was told if you don't have insurance you won't get sued.

I was told that, too.

But i'm not believing it. For 45 dollars a year, i have it.

FarmgrrlRN · Apr 20, 2005

I was having a senior (my brain on nursing school) moment when I posted earlier. Found the site and didn't see where they split the cost up by specialty areas when they did the quote online. I know L&D are higher premiums-is this not a common practice to split them out?
Appreciate everyone's comments and help.

From the NSO FAQ page (http://www.nso.com/customer/faq_apply.php):

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 700,000 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.

Hopefully that helps!

grinnurse, RN · Apr 20, 2005

From the NSO FAQ page (http://www.nso.com/customer/faq_apply.php):
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 700,000 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.
Hopefully that helps!

Thanks so much for the info. I definately am going to get coverage. I live in a state where people love to sue anyone for anything........nevermind the fact that they were out doing street drugs the night before and stroked out but you couldn't return them full use of their legs. If I don't tell anyone about it where I work, how can they find out? Is it public information?

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 20, 2005

That's why i got it. I have no doubt in my competence and abvilities, but i also know how lawsuit-happy people can be.