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Discussion

Nurses & Insurance

Hello!

As a fresh new RN, I was wondering what is your opinion on carrying additional insurance policies beyond what is provided by the employer. What is your take regarding the change in the "good sameritan law" and the obligation of nurses to help strangers while protecting their licenses? I was looking for previous threads on the subjects but couldn't find any. If you know of any please post a link to them.

Thank you so very much! :D

Featured Replies

  • Expert

I carry it.

I'm just a student, but my program requires each of us to carry personal liability insurance, probably so the school doesn't have to provide it. According to one of my nursing instructors, when we graduate, we shouldn't hold personal insurance policies because if a patient who's filing a lawsuit finds out we have liability insurance, we're more likely to be named in the lawsuit. I'm not entirely sure I believe that, though. I'd rather be covered than risk trusting my employer to cover me, and having them throw me under the bus because of some technicality.

Best Hundred dollars I spent.

i am currently a nursing student, and we are required by the school to carry liability ins while we are nursing students.i will carry insurance after graduation, but it is not something that i will 'advertise', so to speak. i do not see how it could come up in casual conversation, unless someone asks, which i do not exactly see happening in a normal casual conversation.

I would not work without it.

  • Expert

I would never work a day without my own, personal coverage. If you are trusting an employer to protect you if the doo-doo hits the fan, you are in for a rude awakening one of these days.

My nursing school requited students to buy malpractive insurance. I plan on buying a professional malpractice policy as soon as I get a job.

Ooh. Well, my school has liability for us students... interesting point about how if found to have extra insurance, you might be a target. Hmmm. As a student, it really was a downer hearing about all of this, they went over it our first day. The whole deal about double checking MD orders, the buck stops with us and all. Lots of responsibility we have, over ourselves and others. I ran a MD office (small) while taking my prereqs and always doublechecked the doc... but, it was not my liability, and I knew him well... where he might screwup. I am a little anxious about dealing with hosp staff MD's (the unknown comics, as I say) I'm gonna be too busy watching out that I don't screw up as a new nurse!! :saint:

  • Expert
Ooh. Well, my school has liability for us students... interesting point about how if found to have extra insurance, you might be a target. Hmmm. As a student, it really was a downer hearing about all of this, they went over it our first day. The whole deal about double checking MD orders, the buck stops with us and all. Lots of responsibility we have, over ourselves and others. I ran a MD office (small) while taking my prereqs and always doublechecked the doc... but, it was not my liability, and I knew him well... where he might screwup. I am a little anxious about dealing with hosp staff MD's (the unknown comics, as I say) I'm gonna be too busy watching out that I don't screw up as a new nurse!! :saint:

I think that having malpractice making you is mostly a myth. Probably one of the LNCs here can make a more definitive statement. However, I would carry malpractice insurance for exactly the reason listed here:

  1. Does having my own professional liability insurance make me a more likely target for a lawsuit? No. Having your own professional liability insurance will, however, provide you with your own attorney, can provide coverage in addition to your group policy and can provide complete coverage in instances where you are not covered by your group policy.

You can read the full article here:

http://www.camedicalmalpractice.net/faq.htm

Its about controlling your own destiny. Say you get sued. The hospital may decide that its easier to settle than fight. However, guess who's name now appears in the national practitioner data bank? Hint - its not the hospital. For RNs its cheap enough to carry.

David Carpenter, PA-C

I agree with everyone. When there is a lawsuit the facility will only take care of you until your interests and their interests seperate. There was a really good after school special on in the 70's about a true story of a nurse who lost everything- vindicated in the end- but still lost everything. Best $89 I spend every year!!

  • Author

who is your policy carrier? Most responses I read on the subject recommend NSO. Is there anything else out there that is worth checking?

I have NSO. It seems to be the most common one used here. It's not too expensive either. I wouldn't work without my own insurance.

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