Lorie answers questions for Caroline Porter Thomas’ EmpowerRN tribe
Should I Carry Malpractice Insurance?
āShould I carry my own malpractice insurance?ā Thatās a question I hear quite a lot.
As an employee, your employer is responsible for your actions as long as you are acting within the scope of your responsibilities. If you do something that is clearly outside that scope, your employer will not cover you. Some extreme examples are having inappropriate relations with a patient, purposefully injuring a patient or practicing medicine without a license.
Choosing to have your own malpractice insurance is a personal choice. The benefit of having your own malpractice insurance is that should a matter arise, you will have the right to your own attorney. The downside is that, in addition to your employer, it may subject you to being named individually as a defendant as well if such a matter should arise. The insurance is also an excess policy, which means it will not kick in until other insurance is used up.
If you choose to have malpractice insurance, check to see if your State has any caps or special funds. If they do, make sure that the insurance company that you choose will participate in those caps or funds so that you can get the protection of those programs.
For example, in Indiana, a healthcare providerās liability is limited to One-Million-Two-Hundred-Fifty-Thousand-Dollars ($1,250,000.00) but the healthcare provider is only required to pay $250,000. However, in order to qualify for the $250,000 limit, a healthcare provider must voluntarily participate in and pay extra money to the Indiana Patientās Compensation Fund.
A healthcare provider is responsible only for the first Two-Hundred-Fifty-Thousand-Dollars ($250,000.00). If an Indiana healthcare provider, like most nurse policies, has coverage for a Million-Dollars ($1,000,000.00), they can be seen as an additional pocket of money.
Nursing malpractice insurance is relatively inexpensive and, as I noted, having your own insurance affords you that right to have your own attorney if a matter comes up. It is also advisable to have your own attorney if the hospitalās interests are different than your own. If your position is terminated over the incident or if you feel that the hospital will not support you in the care that you provided, it is advisable to have your own attorney.
It is also advisable that you seek the advice of an attorney should you be named in a suit or be asked to take a deposition. Any testimony you provide under oath can be given to the State Board of Nursing for further action if the Board deems such is necessary.
Another advantage of having your own malpractice insurance is that some insurance has a license disciplinary defense fund. This means that if you are called to appear before the Board or must respond to a Board inquiry, you may be entitled to recover some of the attorneyās fees that you pay. This is an extra benefit of the policy. However, keep in mind that they are for reimbursement purposes meaning that the policy will reimburse you or your attorney after the matter is concluded.
The best defense is a strong offense. By practicing defensive nursing care, charting thoroughly and being proactive with your care, it will save you a lot a time and trouble in the future. After a long day, it is difficult to have the energy to sit down and chart but imagine picking up a chart two to three after the alleged malpractice occurred and trying to remember what happened. I would challenge you to review a chart that you documented on a patient who you cared for six months ago and just see how well your recollection is and how well your notes protect you.
Interviews With Lorie + Renee Thompson About Nurse Bullying
No Longer A Job For Life!
In the time when I was growing up, the goal of my parentsā generation was to get a job and stay there for life. It would be a job for which you could contribute to a retirement so that someday you would be able to retire. So, when I got out of nursing school, it became my goal to find that job for life!
I knew I wanted to continue my education but always believed I would be working at the same facility and move up the ladder. However, as we have all come to realize, the culture has changed. Corporations like Chrysler and GM, where employees once thought they had a job for life, are closing plants now and discontinuing retirement benefits.
Nurses with the mentality or mindset of a job for life, who begin working and realize there are problems where they work, may find that this belief no longer serves them. I have several nurse clients who worked at just one place for a long period of time, reached the top of their pay scale and, for whatever reason; the hospital has found a reason to terminate them.
If you perhaps see the so-called handwriting on the wall and are not happy with your positionā¦leave! It is not worth getting terminated and having your name reported to the licensing board. It also would burden you with the responsibility of having to disclose your termination on all future job applications.
Therefore, shifting your mindset to the belief that it is important to find a job where you fit, where you are happy and your employer loves you will serve you better than getting that elusive ājob for life.ā
Friend Or Foe
When Sarah arrived home after working the evening shift at an extended-care facility, she found a white envelope from her State Attorney Generalās office in the mail. To her dismay she learned that her prior employer had file a complaint against herā¦[entire article ]
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