RN Liability Insurance

Published

  1. As an RN (or when you were an RN), Do you carry liability insurance?

    • 9
      Yes, always since I first bought liability insurance
    • 7
      No, never have.
    • 4
      I have had periods with, and without, liability insurance
    • 0
      Other (feel free to explain)

20 members have participated

Specializes in Medical cardiology.

Hey there nurses,

I am going to be starting my orientation/preceptorship on October 15th, and I would like to have my own for the length of my career. It was briefly mentioned in school and it is important to me. I am a new grad BSN RN, in Massachusetts, I will work overnights (7p-7a) with 6 patients on a cardiac/telemetry unit in a hospital, if that info helps.

My questions:

1) Which company do you use? Have you used others? What makes a good provider?

2) How much is your coverage? 1 million?? More/less?

3) Have you ever needed it, or known someone else that needed it?

4) Are there questions that I should be asking these companies when I call for quotes?

5) How much does it cost? Monthly/Yearly payments? Does cost vary with anything like experience, level of education, age, type of specialty, state of practice, etc.?

6) Are there ways to get the amount that it costs discounted? Education, certs, etc.

Basically, I am looking for any information that you can provide to me. Only answer 1 question, or all of them and more... I don't have any nurses in my personal life, and I do not work with any until I start this job, unfortunately, so this is my only way to get reviews, recommendations, and information. I really appreciate it.

Thank you!

Added a poll for fun.

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Specializes in Medical cardiology.

I know it's a boring topic, but no one knows about ?? Just bumping this with the hope that someone will answer by tomorrow AM.

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Specializes in Medical cardiology.

Me again! Looks like no one is interested in this topic. I did find an informational Thread about this from 2009, but I'd still love something more current. So, if anybody is out there... feel free to comment ANYTIME!

Here's the link I found in case anyone comes upon this thread looking for help in the future:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/should-i-carry-391596.html

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

I would definitely buy your own . I have mine from NSO, you can check them online. It is very reasonable. You must have your own insurance because any facility you work for will not be looking out for you should something happen. The facility lawyer will be working for the facility, you need a lawyer working for and protecting you. Please get your own insurance. I have never used it but it is nice to know it is there if I need it. Congrats and Good luck with the new job!

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I used to, but not in several years now.

Here is a great article by a expert:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/one-healthcare-risk-999441.html

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Specializes in icu,prime care,mri,ct, cardiology, pacu,.

I have NSO. It's cheap enough and I want to protect my family

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
I have NSO. It's cheap enough and I want to protect my family
I had NSO from my first day of LVN school through keeping my RN license active for volunteering after retirement. After 46 years, including three years of volunteering, at age 74 I put my license on inactive status.

It gave me peace of mind, but I was never sued or had discipline against my LVN or RN license.

The cost is low and having can save your career and prevent bankruptcy.

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Specializes in Medical cardiology.

The cost is pretty low. This first year will be $45 from NSO, and then $106 thereafter. If I work for 30 years, it's $3119, or let's just say less than $4000 for fee increases, in order to have this protection.

I just wish I could hear some stories from people that have used it. It's hard to know which company to choose, but NSO seems to be the most popular, at least, so I think I'll stick with that until I know differently.

Thank you for your time and comments.

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Specializes in Medical cardiology.
I would definitely buy your own malpractice insurance. I have mine from NSO, you can check them online. It is very reasonable. You must have your own insurance because any facility you work for will not be looking out for you should something happen. The facility lawyer will be working for the facility, you need a lawyer working for and protecting you. Please get your own insurance. I have never used it but it is nice to know it is there if I need it. Congrats and Good luck with the new job!

Thank you! This is exactly what they teach us in school. There's so much to cover that it's really just mentioned in a single conversation with not too many details. Heck, I'm happy for even that, so I'm not complaining. I am not sure how many of the other "traditional" university students heed this advice (the 18-22 age group), but as a married homeowner in my 30s, my ears perked right up and never forgot, lol. I have gently reminded some of the kids from school about by asking if they've found any information about it. I especially want it right out the gate as I imagine that is when I'll have the greatest risk for errors.

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The cost is pretty low. This first year will be $45 from NSO, and then $106 thereafter. If I work for 30 years, it's $3119, or let's just say less than $4000 for fee increases, in order to have this protection.

I just wish I could hear some stories from people that have used it. It's hard to know which company to choose, but NSO seems to be the most popular, at least, so I think I'll stick with that until I know differently.

Thank you for your time and comments.

There is a reason the cost is so low, and not coincidentally, why we seldom hear from people who have used it. (There have been many posts like yours over the years I've been here.)

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Specializes in Medical cardiology.
There is a reason the cost is so low, and not coincidentally, why we seldom hear from people who have used it. (There have been many posts like yours over the years I've been here.)

Yes, I read that article and all of the comments. It's great to know that often the insurance is not needed for many various reasons. It puts my mind more at ease. I've always felt that this world it too sue-happy and it makes me nervous. I could pay for my entire 30 years of coverage right now in cash, so it really is worth it to me if I am that 0.1% (not a real statistic, lol) of people that end up needing it. I even have insurance on my dog. Peace of mind for less than a Dunkin Donuts coffee a week, is right up my alley. Thank you for that insightful article!

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There is a reason the cost is so low, and not coincidentally, why we seldom hear from people who have used it. (There have been many posts like yours over the years I've been here.)

One reason you hear so few anecdotes is because being accused of malpractice or abuse by a patient is more than a little traumatic.

I was falsely accused of (verbal) abuse by a patient who had made several complaints against several different staff members over a short period of time. I was fired from my job & had to face the board with zero help from my employer, though they had lots of exculpatory evidence in their possession.

The board was kind enough to put "under investigation for patient abuse " in red, right next to my license number on their website within days of my termination- which made it impossible for me to find work for about 8 months while they investigated (and I sat on my hands and stewed!).

NSO's license defense coverage helped me pay the $2000 my *initial* defense cost.

Having an attorney with me & helping me deal with the state was literally a miracle & I would highly recommend both the innocent and the guilty have representation if you ever have to face a BON investigation.

My case was dismissed after about 8 months of sheer terror on my part.

Much like the question "when did you stop beating your wife", having an open investigation against your license is mortifying & there's really no one you can talk to about it. I couldn't bring myself to even tell my closest family about what I was facing until I was cleared by the board.

For what it's worth, my board investigator told me at my hearing that I was really tossed under the bus & she hoped the experience didn't deter me from the practice of nursing. She had interviewed both my patients & co-workers & knew I was an excellent nurse & this particular patient was a serial false-complainer.

My attorney agreed to accept NSO's coverage as full payment after the hearing, as I no longer had an income & couldn't get a job during the investigation.

The lack of anecdotes may well just be related to the trauma inflicted when you have to defend yourself before the board. I haven't discussed my "victory" before the board with other nurses, because of the stigma associated with the charges.

And, just so you can understand what you could be up against, "verbal abuse " against a "vulnerable adult" (which would be everyone in a care facility) can be a fifth-degree felony. Hearsay evidence is admissible in those cases as well, and you don't have any right to confront the accuser. You have a right to remain silent, but you have to waive that right if you would like to retain your license.

If LTC nurses truly understood the ramifications of the combination of laws affecting that field, there probably wouldn't be any LTC nurses.

So yes, definitely worthwhile coverage.

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