military and private nursing liability insurance

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I am wondering if I need to renew my professional (aka private malpractice type insurance). I have always had it in the civilain world. I don't trust that a private hospital would stand behind a nurse if an error was made. If a nurse had a med error that caused injury, the hospital could just state that the nurse was not following policy and therefore, not covered by the hospital. It is only $98 a year and covers a private lawyer for me to protect me and my license if ever needed.

Do any military nurses carry this?

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

no reason too have it.

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You don't need it, you're covered by the federal government. It would be a waste of your money that you would never use.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

Thanks. That is what I thought. So I'm not renewing that.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Durning a class last spring a risk manager from a major medical system in WNY stated that having your own insurance could hang you out on your own since it would be your primary insurance. If this is true and you are going to stay a civilian I would speak with your risk manager or a lawyer about this.

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Durning a class last spring a risk manager from a major medical system in WNY stated that having your own insurance could hang you out on your own since it would be your primary insurance. If this is true and you are going to stay a civilian I would speak with your risk manager or a lawyer about this.

I was taught never, ever trust what a hospital tells you (civilian side). And I was taught that at nursing school at Duke!

If you're named in a lawsuit at a civilian hospital, the hospital's lawyers are looking to cover THE HOSPITAL, NOT YOU. The hospital attorneys work for the hospital, not you. Risk managers LOVE to perpetuate those sorts of stories, but believe me, I saw it happen on my floor while I was a civilian - the RN with her own insurance had a much easier time than the one without. (Even though the entire situation was stupid.)

Plus, if you have insurance, the plaintiff will typically go after the insurance company since they can sue for more money. The insurance company does NOT want to pay out, so they'll go after the plaintiff.

I had professional the ENTIRE time I worked at Duke - as a student AND as an RN.

It costs pennies. Don't ever leave home without it - seriously. NOT having it leaves you completely unprotected.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

okay, Carolinapooh.... so do you have it now with military?

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I thought it was funny that this thread showed up - I actually have to go to JAG next week for some additional tax help and was planning to ask the paralegal about it then. If they say get it as extra protection, I'm going to get it. The military WILL go to bat for you and you can't be sued by a military member, but their civilian spouses can sue away. I for one have property in North Carolina with my name on it that I'd like to keep, you know? :)

Isn't it sad you have to have all this crap now?

I'll let you know what JAG says.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

Thanks, I'll be looking for your answer.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Yeah, I'll be curious to hear, too. My was one thing I was looking forward to giving up! Mine costs more because NSO requires me to cover my paramedic certification as well, even though I don't want to. It costs me about $160/year to cover my RN and paramedic.

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