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I've never paid for my own malpractice insurance- as a regular staff nurse & as a traveler, every hospital or travel company I've worked for provides it's nurses with free malpractice insurance- yours should too.
i use nso: www.nso.com
you should compare the two policies offered, ena and nso (or others).
reasons why to carry malpractice insurance:
overdose of magnesium sulfate kills 18 mom in labor
if your license is disciplined
reinstated license after suspension
falsely accused of a hipaa violation
basic rationale to carry individual Liability Insurance policy:
all malpractice insurance policies have limits of liability. other defendants employed at your entity may and probably do share your liability limits under the same policy. if you, as well as others, are named in a suit, your legal costs, including any settlement, could exceed your employer's shared liability limits. this would mean out-of-pocket expense(s) for you.
i am a strong advocate for individual policies. small price to pay for peace of mind.
relying on the hospital to cover you is a dangerous thing - their interests may not always coincide with yours.
In fact, I guarantee you that, eventually, the day will come when an employer's interests do not coincide with yours. My father, a physician, advised me when I was in nursing school to never practice without my own liability coverage, and everything I've seen over the >20 years I've been in nursing has only reinforced the value of that advice. I would never consider working a day without my own coverage.
I agree, do not tell anyone you have the insurance, but always have it in your back pocket.
If people know you have a $1 000 000 policy you become a big target, however there is nothing saying you can't speak to your attorney privately about issues where the hospital and you may have differing interests. Plus any complaint to the BON and you will be thanking every deity you know that you have someone on your side.
BVFD 333
139 Posts
hi i am a brand new nurse starting in the er. i am a member of the ena, who offers malpractice insurance for around $ 100 a year. did you invest into this type of insurance, if yes which one do you have?
thanks so much,
my first day of work will be tomorrow.