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.
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.
Glad you brought that up - I live in FL and I pay $150/year.
Something to remember, when people sue, they sue EVERYONE who was involved, or potentially involved, in their care, their supervisors, and employers. If they think that housekeeping was involved or may be involved, they get sued too...
They won't know who has deep pockets, significant assets, or insurance until the discovery phase.
Thanks for this reminder!! I just started working these past few wks & had looked into insurance, but had not made a decision which company to go with. NSO seems to be highly rated but hope I never need it!
Also just heard of a story at work ---
A cousin of an employee was hospitalized following a surgery. The wife asked the nurse about the plexis, "Shouldn't those be running?" "Oh, yeah, it isn't turned on" & she restarted it. Patient then had a clot. Wife consulted an atty & is seeking not only compensation but the RN's license.
Having just started on a surgical/ortho floor, EVERYONE has plexis and/or calf wraps & there has been more than one time that I have come in to a room & find that the last person returning the pt to bed did not resume the plexis; either they aren't on at all or weren't turned back on. (Most of us never turn them off, even when pt is up.) I would hate to be blamed for someone else's oversight!
SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN
1,295 Posts
Should students get the insurance too?