Nurse's Professional Liability Insurance

Necessary Nurse's Professional Liability Insurance

Various factors dictate the minimum amount of professional liability insurance a nurse must carry. State regulations, hospital or clinic regulations, and the requirements of professional nursing organizations may state a certain amount of liability insurance coverage to be carried by affiliated nurses. The needs of each individual nurse, according to the specific work they do, should be the defining factor of how much insurance they carry. Nurses in certain professional categories may need more nurse's professional liability insurance coverage than other nurses:

• Nurses who teach or train students and other nurses: Although teaching and training other nurses and students can be a truly rewarding experience, it can also open up nursing professionals to lawsuits and other litigation which they may not have otherwise experienced. Nurses can purchase additional liability insurance riders to cover any non-medical nursing-related work which applies to activities which do not directly involve helping patients.
• Nurses who work as legal consultants: Nurses are sometimes utilized as expert witnesses or in other legal capacities. If a lawsuit results from work done in this capacity, the professional liability insurance provided by an employer may not be sufficient to cover all expenses related to the lawsuit. Since this insurance coverage is relatively inexpensive, there is no reason why a nurse working in a legal setting should not carry this type of coverage.
• Nursing students: Even though nursing students may not have yet graduated from training programs, they are still vulnerable to lawsuits simply because they are involved in hospital and clinic activities. School and training centers usually provide a minimum amount of coverage, but it makes sense for nursing students to seek out additional liability coverage to make sure they are covered in the event of a lawsuit.

Purchase Coverage

The best way to figure out the best amount of professional liability insurance coverage to carry is to:

• Consult the hospital or clinic you work for to find out what amount of coverage is suggested.
• Discuss the amount of coverage carried by other nurses within your same organization.
• Contact an insurance representative from a reputable provider to discuss your liability coverage needs.

The insurance company that provides you with your other insurance products – such as life insurance and disability insurance – may be able to also supply you with professional liability insurance. You should make an effort to compare rates among various providers and find the lowest rates for the best coverage.

Professional liability insurance is not something that you want to bargain shop for. Your coverage should be sufficient to protect you in your particular line of work.

Insurance Providers

Several reputable insurance companies provide quality professional liability insurance to nurses. If the professional organization you belong to does not recommend a certain provider you may want to check with one of these insurance companies:

• NSO: The Nurses Service Organization provides a variety of insurance products designed specifically for professionals within the nursing field.
• HPSO: Healthcare Providers Service Organization specializes in providing professional liability insurance to a variety of medical professionals in addition to other policies.
• MAG Mutual: MAG Mutual Insurance Agency supplies professional liability insurance for employees of clinics and other free-standing medical facilities.

This is only a brief listing, and there are many other insurance providers available to choose from.

The Importance of Sufficient Coverage

It's necessary to have sufficient professional liability insurance when working within the nursing profession, and paying a little extra money every month for additional coverage is a smart choice. Medical professionals help keep people healthy, but they are also quite vulnerable to lawsuits… both justified and frivolous.