Sued doing private CNA work?

[esrun77]

I'm hoping to get a job in either pediatrics or school nursing once I graduate, so I'm thinking about, instead of doing an internship this summer, working as a CNA for an individual my age with muscular dystrophy to get more experience working patients with child-onset disability.

HOWEVER, my mom is raising concerns with me that I could get sued, should I fall while caring for the individual or what have you. I haven't done much research into the likelihood of this, but is this something I should worry about???? Should I take an internship instead because of this?? Or is working for a family (they would hire me privately) a safe option for me professionally?

[Isakolistic]

I would say likelihood of this happening are low. It depends on the setting, but if you stick to the care plan or families wishes, you should be successful and avoid those types of situations. I would definitely scope out the family as well so you have a good idea of their expectations and their temperament. However, professionally an internship may look better on a resume and catch an interviewers eye, whereas a private CNA job would be less desirable experience, unless you were working for an agency.

[RiskManager]

Any time a healthcare provider is providing direct patient care, there is a chance that something could go amiss, even if you are working as a private employee for a family. Liability Insurance for CNA's is available, and since a private employer will not be providing you with insurance, you should have your own.

[Zyprexa]

What about getting a pediatric internship? It's a great way to network and looks really good on a new grad's resume.

[Isakolistic]

Any time a healthcare provider is providing direct patient care, there is a chance that something could go amiss, even if you are working as a private employee for a family. Liability insurance for CNA's is available, and since a private employer will not be providing you with insurance, you should have your own.

Agree! While probability of being sued may be low, working privately has risks. Thank you!

[caliotter3]

As stated before, the internship will look better on your resume.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to another forum.

[nursel56]

I agree with those saying the internship is the better choice.

[Paws2people]

You can get insurance to protect you if you are doing private care.

[blaundee]

CNAs are now heavily encouraged in NM to have their own malpractice insurance... wouldn't be a bad idea to get it, especially if you're thinking of going off on your own.

[Orion81RN]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but in an instance like this where you are not working under an RN or physician, you would not technically be the patient's CNA. Your title would be caregiver, and your certificate should be left out of it if anything were to happen.

[elkpark]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but in an instance like this where you are not working under an RN or physician, you would not technically be the patient's CNA. Your title would be caregiver, and your certificate should be left out of it if anything were to happen.

Do you have some documentation of that being the case anywhere? Over the years, the courts have consistently held healthcare providers to the standards of their highest level of education and licensure/certification, regardless of the job title under which they may be operating at the time. I'm no legal expert and not offering any official legal opinion, but it seems to me that one's responsibility/liability would be greater if you were not working under an RN or physician, not less, since there would be no one else with whom to share the responsibility/blame if anything were to go wrong.