Malpractice insurance

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.

Edited Dec 15, 2016 by Joe V

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.

thank's for your answers!

You are very welcome.

relying on the hospital to cover you is a dangerous thing - their interests may not always coincide with yours.

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.

In some cases, if the hospital's insurance paid a claim for you, their insurance company can sue you for the amount.

In some cases, if the hospital's insurance paid a claim for you, their insurance company can sue you for the amount.

Wow, I had no idea. I will take the time tomorrow to sign up for it, thanks everybody, have a safe 4th of July!

I have always had NSO - since 1990! I only had one occasion to use it - for referral to a lawyer but it paid for itself in that one day.

Would never, ever practice without it. However, would never ever advertise the fact that I have it either.

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.

I've always carried my own (NSO). I do things like stop at roadside accidents, be the first aider for my various Scout troops, etc. My hospital covers me at work, but what if they decide I did something contrary to policy?

I look out for myself while I look out for others.