Should I have my own malpractice insurance?

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2011

I have coverage through NSO. I would not work as a nurse under ANY circumstances or in any type of facility without it. I also am a member of the teacher's union.

elkpark · Jan 6, 2011

I'm not a school nurse, but I would never work a single day in any setting, inc. a school, without my own coverage.

schooldistrictnurse · Jan 6, 2011

I am in agreement with the other posters. I also have my coverage through NSO.

luvapug · Jan 7, 2011

Thanks for your replies. I honestly never really thought a lot about it until I realized maybe I'm not very protected. I will definately check into it today! Thanks again!

Neveranurseagain, RN · Jan 7, 2011

I don't carry any malpractice insurance. I spent many, many hours with one of the top medical malpractice attorneys that is also an MD. He defined it as pretty simple: No malpractice insurance, no malpractice suits. Med mal is a VERY expensive field, and in the case I was involved with the expert witness alone were $150,000. If he would have lost the case, he would have had to pay this bill himself. So if there is no med mal insurance, there is no one to pay all the bills, and hence there is no med mal case.

luvapug · Jan 7, 2011

Wow-that's very interesting! I just assumed if they sued you and you didn't have insurance they could take your house, cars, whatever. Thanks for the info!

Jolie, BSN · Jan 7, 2011

Wow-that's very interesting! I just assumed if they sued you and you didn't have insurance they could take your house, cars, whatever. Thanks for the info!

Yes, they can. that's why Liability Insurance is important. Some plaintiffs (and their attorneys) may decide that you don't have enough assets to bother going after, but if an injured party needs financial support, there is nothing to prevent them from going after your home, retirement, or other assets.

Another issue is rarely discussed regarding liability insurance and it always bothers me. If we make an error that causes serious harm and leaves a client with financial needs, we should be responsible and pay up. Why do nurses use the "I don't have enough assets" excuse, when they would never accept that from a physician, nursing home administrator, pharmacy or other health care provider? I believe this is a professional issue and that to fail to provide for the needs of clients we have harmed is downright unprofesional.

luvapug · Jan 7, 2011

That makes a lot of sense! Thanks for the reply. I think I'd rather have it than take my chances without esp in this day and age.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2011

I've held my own malpractice policy since the 2nd week of nursing school (yes, student nurses can be named in a suit also). I have mine through NSO. The policy premium is well worth the peace of mind. Although i don't go around announcing my policy on billboards, its my business and no one else's at work.

elkpark · Jan 7, 2011

Another issue that rarely gets mentioned in these discussions, what with all the fuss about getting sued, is that standard professional liability policies for nurses include coverage (payment for an attorney) if you have to defend your license before the BON or if you are called as a witness against someone else in a malpractice suit. In both those cases, you'd definitely want to have legal representation, either of those situations is much more likely to occur over the course of your career than you, as a nurse, actually getting sued, and, in both cases, the first hour of an attorney's time out of your own pocket would cost you more than the annual premium for the insurance.

noreenl · Jan 7, 2011

i have malpractice with NSO AND I have a rider with it that covers when i am training other nurse in my role as an educator. The piece of mind is well worth it.