Truth vs. myths

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a new grad nurse and have heard a combo of different things and stigmas revolving around the idea of getting . 

I was told by my preceptor to absolutely not get malpractice insurance because doctors attorneys, and or patient attorneys will see that you have it and come for you rather than the hospital and that the hospital is supposed to protect you. 
ideally yes the hospital is supposed to protect its nurses, but is that guaranteed? No

help..

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Nursing will usually provide a lawyer when appearing before a board of nursing due to a complaint-- issue posters occasionally post about here.

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I see they are still passing on the *** and lies from the 1970s.  Only the financially illiterate do not have .

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Okay, I have been sued (will not go into the details but it took >7 years to settle). While yes, your practice/hospital will support you while you are going thru court. However, IF you are found negligent or in any way liable, YOU will be reported to the BON and this is where the fun begins....NOT!

The BON will look to see if any sanctions need to be taken against your license.  And...guess what, your hospital, your practice they are done defending you - you are on your own. My insurance-covered lawyer was awesome and I was exceedingly fortunate. 

However, the toll it took on my mental health and even to this day (15 years later) every time I'm in a similar situation, I re-think myself. 

Get insurance! - For an LPN or RN it is very affordable. 

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Specializes in OB.
17 hours ago, traumaRUs said:

Okay, I have been sued (will not go into the details but it took >7 years to settle). While yes, your practice/hospital will support you while you are going thru court. However, IF you are found negligent or in any way liable, YOU will be reported to the BON and this is where the fun begins....NOT!

The BON will look to see if any sanctions need to be taken against your license.  And...guess what, your hospital, your practice they are done defending you - you are on your own. My insurance-covered lawyer was awesome and I was exceedingly fortunate. 

However, the toll it took on my mental health and even to this day (15 years later) every time I'm in a similar situation, I re-think myself. 

Get insurance! - For an LPN or RN it is very affordable. 

@traumaRUs you were sued individually?  Or you were involved in a suit against the hospital and then had to deal with the BON afterwards?  Just curious, you don't have to share if you don't want to.

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Specializes in Critical Care/Vascular Access.

The $100 (ish) I pay every year for is well worth my peace of mind. What I've been told (and seems to be verified by the post above who had been sued, and by the Radonda Vaught situation) is that the hospital will defend you.......up to the point that you broke protocol or actually did anything wrong, which is quite likely if you're already being sued. Then you will be hung out to dry and tossed under the bus. In other words, if you've done everything perfectly and someone took you to court unjustly, hospital lawyers will defend you. But if you've actually done anything wrong (honest mistake or not), then you're on your own.

It seems a bit silly to suggest lawyers are going to go after you BECAUSE you have malpractice insurance. That doesn't even make sense.

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