Nursing professionals are responsible for offering primary care to patients. Their level of service means interacting with patients directly.
Unfortunately, no matter how diligent and excellent your patient care levels are, your chances of being named in a medical malpractice lawsuit are very high.
As a professional, you deserve to work without fear of potential litigation by having nursing malpractice insurance. The insurance cover protects you from an expensive lawsuit and stands up for you if things go wrong.
What is Nursing Malpractice Insurance?
Nursing malpractice insurance is a financial protection developed to pay for verdicts, settlements, and legal costs incurred by nursing professionals in the event of a malpractice lawsuit.
Whether the professional is responsible for bodily injury, property damage, or medical expenses or may be required to pay significant sums of money in judgment, settlement, or legal costs in the event of such claims.
Each insurance company has its nursing malpractice coverage policies. The coverage also depends on care settings and the type of practitioner. However, most claims cover the following policy.
- Medical expenses
- Bodily injuries
- Property damage
- Personal injuries
- Assault charges
- First-aid expenses
- Loss of income due to trial
- Incorrect advice
What Actions Put You at Risk of Malpractice?
Here are some of the malpractices that can lead to you being named in a lawsuit.
-
Failure to Administer Medication Properly
A nurse can find themselves mentioned in a lawsuit if they fail to understand the ordered medication, fail to administer the requested medication and fail to document what was administered. To avoid such mistakes, nurses should ensure they administer the right drug and dosage at the right time to the right patient through the right route.
-
Failure to Observe
Nurses are responsible for monitoring simple and sophisticated monitoring equipment. They are held liable if they fail to notice early warning signs of failure. They are also held accountable for failing to observe when a patient’s condition underwent rapid change or when a patient developed self-destructive tendencies.
-
Doing What You Shouldn’t Do
Some of the circumstances that arise by doing what is not expected of you may include abandonment (a premature termination of professional treatment), assault (an act that makes the patient fearful), and battery (wrongful physical contact that results in injury or offensive touching).
How does insurance coverage protect nursing professionals?
Here is how nursing malpractice insurance protects you;
-
Offers Peace of Mind
Nursing malpractice insurance offers peace of mind when mentioned in a lawsuit. The insurance cover provides legal defense and represents your best interests during legal proceedings. It also relieves you of stress knowing you have financial protection and do not have to cater for the expensive lawsuit from your pockets.
-
Protect Your License
The struggle professionals in the nursing profession undergo to acquire a license is intense. It would be unfair if the efforts go down the drain and the license is invoked because of a lawsuit. Fortunately, nursing malpractice insurance covers such if there is a need to defend it.
-
Cater To Your Lost Wages
Once you are named in a lawsuit, your employer will likely put you off duty until the case’s final determination. Unfortunately, the suit may take years to conclude, meaning you may lose your wages for several years. You will likely suffer a serious financial crisis with unpaid bills and unserviced loans. Nursing malpractice insurance comes in your hour of need and covers your lost wages.
Protect Your Career Through a Nursing Malpractice Insurance
Nursing malpractice insurance is vital in your nursing career. Professional liability coverage offers legal representation in case of a lawsuit and covers all the costs. It also gives you peace of mind even when your wages are suspended, as you are financially protected.
Read More : Five Tips to Help you Progress in Your Nursing Career
