Professional Liability Insurance

1 Hi Everyone,

I have to give a testimony, and the mock bill I'm against states that all RNs shall be required to carry their own professional liability insurance in order to practice. I am finding a lot of information on liability insurance...the problem is that everthing I find supports nurses purchasing their own insurance. I can't find anything about nurses being required to purchase their own insurance. I would like to find at least one source to back up my testimony. If any of you have any ideas they would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
A testimony? In court??

It's a mock testimony, but we do go to the courthouse to do it. The bill is also a mock bill, and we were assigned our positions on the bill. There is a lot of information out there on liability insurance. I just can't find anything to back up my position.

Well, the primary reason that I didn't purchase liability insurance for quite a long time was because I always heard that it made the RN a target for lawsuits. As in a scenario where there were 10 RN's involved in the claimant's care, but it's only worth targeting those who have deep pockets (i.e., a liability insurance policy).

I just purchased insurance from NSO for $99. I recommmend that ALL nurses have insurance, not so much to protect you from patient lawsuits (that too, of course), but I would be more worried in this anti employee climate, that protecting yourself from your employer is just as important. Think, Texas nurses, and the ordeal that they went through, with the DA charging them with a crimanal act, for protecting their patients.Yes, it turned out OK, (they were robbed in their law suit against these guys), but they ultimately prevailed. As usual, an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure. Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRNSomeplace in the PACNW

I work in a mental health setting, and have seen agencies sacrifice nurses and counselors (with or without insurance) during lawsuits.Agency lawyers settle out of court, leaving the nurses and counselors with unanswered questions for their licensure boards as to whether they are guilty or not. I've always carried liability insurance separate from that of the organization I work with, if nothing else than to have the funds to cover a lawyer to protect my personal interests and my license (and livelihood) "just in case".

The saying goes: "you look out for #1".Your employer will hang you out to dry. At least you have some ammunition if anything does go down.

How about the Constitution? This sounds like the argument about being required to carry your own health insurance. Since this sounds like a school assignment I don't want to give away the end...

Quote from nurse2033How about the Constitution? This sounds like the argument about being required to carry your own health insurance. Since this sounds like a school assignment I don't want to give away the end...

Nurses work for decades without being sued in some cases.Then out of no where..I don't even flinch when I send out my check to the NSO people.