Poll: do you have professional liability insurance?

[SDANG]

If yes, please indicate where you have your professional Liability Insurance (and any contact info - website, etc - for the business)

[mindlor]

Nope,

Many lawyers have told me that as long as a nurse practices within policy this is not needed.

Having said policy will make a lawyer more likely to come after you....why not tap that piggy bank?

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

I live in Australia, it is required by the national registration body to have PII professional indemnity insurance. Mine is via my union fees.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

I have Nurses Service Organization California one million dollar rider which protects me and mine.

Hppy

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

On 5/12/2019 at 6:23 AM, mindlor said:

Nope,

Many lawyers have told me that as long as a nurse practices within policy this is not needed.

Having said policy will make a lawyer more likely to come after you....why not tap that piggy bank?

Not true at all. After being personally involved in a suit, yes the hospital or practice will cover you but they will NOT protect you from the BON nor will they represent you.

Much better to be protected and be covered and not need the coverage. Very few nurses are sued civilly

[chare]

NSO, with coverage similar to hppygr8ful.

[guest974915]

On 5/12/2019 at 1:31 PM, traumaRUs said:

Not true at all. After being personally involved in a suit, yes the hospital or practice will cover you but they will NOT protect you from the BON nor will they represent you.

Much better to be protected and be covered and not need the coverage. Very few nurses are sued civilly

Absolutely true^^^. Also, if the hospital can find some technicality so that they can somehow pin the blame on an unsuspecting nurse, they will quickly do so. Administrators' and corporate attorneys' first priority is not in protecting their employees- it's damage control and doing just about whatever to avoid paying out a multi-million dollar settlement. Don't be so naive to think they wouldn't do it to you in a heartbeat. All that "adhering to policy...protection" is mostly ********** that is much softer that the harsh reality.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

My first school nursing job supervisor said that he would not trust the school board to defend a school nurse and recommended I get coverage.

Turns out that there were some specific areas of his practice which the school board ultimately uncovered and examined...but that advice stuck with me. I would not trust an employer to defend my practice if it is not expedient for them to do so.

Also the time to buy malpractice insurance is before you need it. Mine's about $10 a month. If I skip one fancy coffee beverage a week I have it covered.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I have mine through CM&F. I could probably stop carrying it at this point in my current role, but I still have it at this moment.

[KCMnurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

On 5/12/2019 at 6:23 AM, mindlor said:

Nope,

Many lawyers have told me that as long as a nurse practices within policy this is not needed.

Having said policy will make a lawyer more likely to come after you....why not tap that piggy bank?

This is just simply not true. Anyone can report you to the BON whether you are practicing 'within policy' or not. Lawyer is not more likely to come after you if you have a policy. Having tangled with the BON myself - trust me - you want a well-versed lawyer to deal directly with the BON.

[amoLucia]

From the very first day as a new nurse working in my career until the very last day until I retired, I carried insurance with NSO.

Like ruby jane said, skipping a monthly mocho chacho frappe latte should just about cover the charge.

You have life insurance and homeowners insurance and you wouldn't think about NOT having auto insurance. So why risk something as important your career and other sequella?

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

I've had it since before graduation many years ago. Have used it twice with good results.

"Don't leave home without it."