Nurse Malpractice Insurance
RNs and other nurses can be sued for claims of professional errors and negligence on the job, but having the right coverage can reimburse you for expensive legal costs.
Written by
Christine Lacagnina has written thousands of insurance-based articles for TrustedChoice.com by authoring consumable, understandable content.
Reviewed by
Cara Carlone is a licensed P&C agent with 20 years of experience. She has her P&C license in RI and TX and holds CPCU, API, and AINS designations.
As a nurse, you have a duty to care for patients. But no matter how careful and professional you are, there's always a risk of accidents. Unfortunately, nurses aren't invulnerable to litigation over claims of professional errors or negligence. Without the right coverage, just one lawsuit can be extremely costly. That's what makes having enough nurse malpractice insurance critical.
Fortunately, a local independent insurance agent can help you find all the nurse malpractice insurance you need. They'll help you find a policy with the right amount and type of coverage for your profession. But first, here's a behind-the-scenes look at nursing professional liability insurance, what it covers, and much more.
What Is Nurse Malpractice Insurance?
All medical professionals who tend to the public must protect themselves against potentially expensive lawsuits. No matter your position in the healthcare field, you can be sued by a patient at any time, even if their claim is unfounded.
Nurse malpractice insurance is a special type of professional liability insurance designed to protect nurses against the hefty expenses of legal defense and other lawsuit costs. This coverage is also called nursing professional liability insurance.
Who Needs Nursing Professional Liability Insurance?
Nurses can fall into many different categories, and each of them needs protection. You can benefit from having nursing professional liability insurance if you work as any of the following.
- Registered nurses (RNs)
- Certified nursing assistants (CNAs)
- Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
- Clinical nurse specialists
- Visiting nurses
Be sure to work with a local independent insurance agent to get set up with all the nursing professional liability insurance you need.
What Does Nurse Malpractice Insurance Cover?
Nurse liability insurance covers various expenses stemming from lawsuits filed by patients and other third parties for claims of professional errors, accidents, improper advice, or negligence. A nursing professional liability insurance policy can reimburse you for the following costs:
- Punitive and compensatory damages
- Defense costs, including attorney and court expenses
- Lost income due to attending a trial or deposition
- Medical damages to patients
- Arbitration and settlement expenses
Working together with an independent insurance agent is the best way to ensure you get equipped with the right nursing professional liability insurance.
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What Doesn't Nursing Professional Liability Insurance Cover?
Nurse malpractice insurance is only designed to cover professional errors and omissions. This means that coverage only applies to accidents or negligence, not intentional or malicious acts against patients or other third parties.
A nurse malpractice insurance policy won't cover any of the following claims:
- Sexual misconduct liability
- Inappropriate alteration of medical records
- Intentional and dishonest acts
- Criminal acts
Be sure to review your specific policy with the help of your independent insurance agent to be certain of its exact exclusions.
What Kind of Nurse Malpractice Insurance Do I Need?
It's often advised to get a policy that includes at least $1 million in coverage per claim. When buying a policy, you'll need to consider its individual limit or the maximum amount that will be paid for any one claim, as well as its aggregate limit, or the maximum amount that will be paid in any policy year for all claims.
You can also choose a policy from one of three major categories, which are broken down as follows:
- Occurrence policies: Reimbursement is provided as long as the act, error, or omission occurred during the policy period. Coverage applies regardless of when the claim is filed, even if the policy has already been canceled.
- Claims-made policies: Reimbursement is provided only if the incident occurred and the claim was made within the policy period. These policies typically include a retroactive date to cover incidents that occurred before the policy was in force, but claims that occurred before this date are not covered.
- Modified occurrence policies: Known as tail coverage, these policies combine aspects of the two above coverages. Tail coverage extends a policy's protection after its term ends. Retiring nurses often purchase tail coverage to protect themselves even after they're no longer working. You can purchase unlimited tail coverage after the original amount of coverage has expired.
Work with an independent insurance agent to find the right kind and amount of RN professional liability insurance for you.
Common Claims Against Nurses
Unfortunately, RNs and other nurses can be sued for many reasons. Some of the most common claims against nurses include:
- Medication errors
- Inadequate patient monitoring
- Lack of informed consent
- Abnormal injury
- Failure to diagnose
- Improper use of medical equipment
- Wrongful death
- Failure to follow a doctor's instructions
- Inaccurate assessment of vital signs
Without the proper coverage, just one unexpected lawsuit could cost several thousand dollars in defense and court fees alone, even if you're not ordered to pay a settlement. That's why it's critical to ensure you're equipped with this coverage before you start practicing as a nurse. Additionally, in certain areas, nurses are required to have malpractice insurance before they can be properly licensed.
How Much Does Nursing Professional Liability Insurance Cost?
The cost of nursing liability insurance can vary greatly depending on several factors. These can include the location where you practice, how many years you've been practicing, how many hours you work per week, and your claims history. A local independent insurance agent can help you find affordable nurse professional liability insurance in your area.
Save on Professional Liability Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
The Benefits of an Independent Insurance Agent
When it comes to helping insurance customers find the absolute best nurse malpractice coverage, no one’s better equipped to help than an independent insurance agent. Independent insurance agents search through multiple carriers to find providers who sell nurse's liability insurance, deliver quotes from a number of different sources, and help you walk through them all to find the best blend of coverage and cost.
https://www.thehartford.com/professional-liability-insurance/nurses