PLEASE buy malpractice insurance!!

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I've been reading here for years and have been an RN for many years. I've read many posts about whether or not it was thought that a nurse getting their own malpractice ins was a good idea. I've not seen any poster reply that has personal experience with this. So, without saying anything about the situation, I wanted to say that, unfortunately, I have this experience. I have always been a very careful nurse and never, ever thought this would happen to me. But on the safe side, I always kept malpractice Ins. This situation has been the most horrible, stressful thing I have ever gone through in my entire life. Whether you are really at fault or not, you still have to go through the horrible process and feel like a criminal. However, it would have been much worse had I not had my own Ins. Yes, your employer has Ins on you, but they may not have your best interest at heart. If you find yourself in a lawsuit and have your own Ins, all you do is call the Ins co, explain the situation and they will provide you with an experienced, reputable attorney. If they do not live near you, they go to YOU. This is at no extra cost to you. If I had not had this Ins, I would have had to find my own attorney at my expense. Also, if heaven forbid, you get turned over to the board of nursing, the ins. I have will provide you an attorney for this also. No one should ever go before the board alone.

I just wanted to let all of my fellow nurses know that it DOES happen to nurses. Nurses get sued!! And it does not always happen in nursing areas where lawsuits are prevalent either. It also does not just happen with med errors. Nurses are responsible for so much, you can be sued for almost anything you have anything to do with. Nursing is so stressful anyway, why not at least help decrease the stress by having your own malpractice ins. who provide you with your own lawyer that has YOUR best interest at heart? It is so cheap to have. NO nurse should ever be without it. Take it from me, I know.

I really don't appreciate this comment. Maybe your thought was that you were not being rude, but you, in fact, are. Basically calling me ignorant is not explaining anything to me. I, in fact, have malpractice insurance. I think for myself. I don't appreciate being insulted when you know nothing about me. I simply wanted someone to explain to me why they would tell about 100 new employees that, because obviously there was a reason I was not seeing. It has nothing to do with my ability to make my own decisions and everything to do with asking a question when I don't know an answer. Does that make me stupid and ignorant? I am thankful for those who answered my question adequately, without any smart/snide remarks. And I am certainly thankful that YOU are not "my mommy."

WOW! Is it just me, or is someone extra sensitive today? I did not read that as a personal attack on ANYONE...just a general statement of "your employer does not have your best interests at heart". I don't see where the poster was calling anyone 'ignorant', nor unable to make their own decisions.

A valid question--"why would my employer's attny advise against it?" ... valid answers--b/c they don't care about YOU (not you, personally), they care about the employer, and said employer's best interests!

No one was calling you stupid or ignorant...:confused:

WOW! Is it just me, or is someone extra sensitive today? I did not read that as a personal attack on ANYONE...just a general statement of "your employer does not have your best interests at heart". I don't see where the poster was calling anyone 'ignorant', nor unable to make their own decisions.

A valid question--"why would my employer's attny advise against it?" ... valid answers--b/c they don't care about YOU (not you, personally), they care about the employer, and said employer's best interests!

No one was calling you stupid or ignorant...:confused:

Wake up, and think for yourself. Your employer is not your mommy.

Maybe I was being a little sensitive but this last remark was not necessary. I appreciate them answering my question, but the above comment should have been thought out a little better.

Thanks for your advice! I'll be a new grad in 5 weeks and will definitely not skip insurance after reading this.

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Nurses...last line of defense, first to get blamed. You better bet your ass I have coverage.

I have coverage and will always have coverage. I do not trust the hospital to have my back.

Specializes in Medical.
Somewhat off-topic, but the rates some are quoting are way below what I pay in Texas with NSO. Wondering why it's so much more in some states than others? It's over 200/year for 1m/6m here.

It will be based on the litigiousness of your state and the size of payouts or settlements. In other words: how likely are you to be sued, and how much will it cost if they lose?

Specializes in Medical.
Just curious, how much liability coverage do you all have?

My insurance is included in my union membership, and includes legal representation for all work-related issues (like contesting a demotion or firing, if I'm involved in a Coroner's case...). I've got cover up to $10M for professional indemnity, the same for public liability, and 24-hour coverage for Good Samaritan acts (like responding to an onboard emergency while flying). I also have reduced legal fees for non-work-related consultations.

As the website says\

Every practising nurse/midwife needs professional indemnity insurance - ANF members have got it*. Any nurse or midwife...

could be wrongfully accused of unprofessional conduct in both administration and clinical roles

could mistakenly give the wrong drug to a patient

could fail to accurately carry out all instructions for care in a busy ward

could be involved in a court case even if only indirectly, or witness an accident

could make a mistake because of workload stress, insufficient information or any other reason

Specializes in wound care.

should you get insurance even if you dont work in a hospital , like i work in a ltc / rehab what about then??

should you get insurance even if you dont work in a hospital , like i work in a ltc / rehab what about then??

Yes...

the other thing to remember is that if a hospital loses a judgment because of something you did, their insurance pays (not the hospital itself). then the insurance company is completely within its rights to go after you to recover its loss--- and they will, even if the hospital says you're the second coming of florence nightingale.

never, never, never listen to anyone who says "they won't ever go after you if you don't have deep pockets." it is not true.

should you get insurance even if you dont work in a hospital , like i work in a ltc / rehab what about then??

YES! If you are a nurse PERIOD, please get your own malpractice Ins. You can get sued no matter where you work.

This may sound like a really stupid question, but to clarify---malpractice insurance only covers you for incidents that occurred while you've had the insurance, correct? If I bought it today but was theoretically sued over something that happened 2 years ago, it wouldn't cover me, no? Not that that would stop me from purchasing it, but I just wanted to make sure and couldn't find the info on the NSO site.

Yes -- your insurance only covers you for incidents that happen after the coverage takes effect. There's no insurance company on the planet that will sell you "insurance" for something that has already happened, same as you can't buy auto insurance that will cover you for an accident that already happened. The basic premise of the entire insurance industry is that you're gambling you're going to need the coverage (some day), and the insurance company is gambling that you're not.

This is why it's important to go ahead and get the insurance and have it -- once a situation has arisen for which you need coverage, it's too late to get it and, if you don't already have it, you're just SOL.

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