Who has liability insurance?

[ajmclean]

Our nursing professors all say you don't need insurance as a student or as a nurse because "the hospital will cover you". After reading the threads in the Nurses area, the majority say to get the insurance as it will pay for your own lawyer as the hospital's lawyers work in the best interest of the employer.

How many of my fellow nursing students here have coverage? I just signed up with NSO.

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

I'm covered by my school. And I will certainly be getting malpractice insurance when I start working. I would never practice without insurance - best to err on the side of caution. Hopefully, I won't be needing it, but you never know.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I will be getting it when I start practicing. I'm covered through my school right now. Your employer is going to cover their butts, not yours. So, I will most certainly have it when I get my first job.

[Jenngirl34RN]

Right now I am covered by my school, and the cost is included in the tuition for the program. I will be getting my own coverage once I start practicing.

[RiskManager]

Be sure to first educate yourself on the 'other insurance' clause in the typical nursing liability policy and the implications for covering you in the event of a claim.

[AspiringNurseMW]

My nursing program requires we each purchase our own student Liability Insurance.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

We were required to have it for school. We could purchase it through the school if we wanted but we had to have it.

[verene, MSN]

Not yet a nursing student but I purchased my own coverage for my work as a CNA, and plan on purchasing student coverage once I reach that level. Most of the programs I've looked at either require you to purchase liability coverage through the school or independently. As a student doing clinicals you aren't an employee of the facility and I doubt they are required to cover you as a guest/student, though I could be mistaken.