4 Nursing Career Misconceptions and Their Reality

You worked hard to become a nurse. You studied late into the evenings, passed an exam, and now you’re a licensed nurse in one of the most important professions. However, no matter how skilled or experienced you are, you’re human, and mistakes happen, even to the best clinicians. Surprisingly, not all healthcare professionals carry malpractice insurance for RN or rely on their employer’s coverage, but doing so may not be the best decision.

Below are some of the most common nursing career myths and their truths:

Myth #1: Having my own malpractice insurance makes me more likely to get sued.

There is a common misconception that having an individual malpractice insurance policy makes nurses a target for being sued, but that is not the case.

The truth is, no one can know whether you have your own policy. Insurance status is privileged information not disclosed until a trial's “discovery phase.” At that point, you’ve already been named in a suit. Insurance can be considered an asset, but so can your license, future earnings, home, and bank accounts. Plaintiff attorneys can and will go after them, but you can protect yourself against this by purchasing your own insurance for nursing policy.

Myth #2: My facility’s insurance covers me for any malpractice lawsuits.

One common myth is that malpractice insurance is unnecessary because an employer covers them.

Your employer’s legal team must focus on your employer’s interest during the lawsuit—not yours. The primary benefit of having your own malpractice insurance nurse practitioner policy is that your interests come first. You’ll have peace of mind knowing your interests are the main priority. If a case comes down to your word against your employers, you need your own legal protection and defense.

Myth #3: I can only be sued if I make a mistake.

It’s common to think, “I’m a cautious nurse and don’t make errors, so why do I need to spend money on an insurance policy when I’m confident in my abilities?”

You can still be sued if someone believes you’re responsible for a particular patient outcome, even if that belief is incorrect. You can also be sued by a patient who hasn’t suffered damages but hopes to win a settlement, even if the lawsuit is frivolous. Whether the case has merit or not, you will still incur expenses as you attempt to get dismissed from the suit. An individual malpractice insurance policy protects against financial ruin from being sued.

Myth #4: Only physicians get sued for malpractice.

Many healthcare professionals mistakenly believe that only physicians must worry about being sued. Although physicians do get sued more often than nurses, that trend has shifted lately.

Healthcare organizations increasingly recognize the individual contributions of all team members, not just physicians. With that recognition comes responsibility for nursing professionals, including the possibility of being involved in a malpractice lawsuit based on their own actions or inactions.

Myth #5: Malpractice insurance is too expensive.

The truth is, it’s more expensive not to have nursing malpractice insurance.

While other types of insurance may be costly, malpractice insurance is easily affordable, costing less than $100 a year. You’ve invested so much time and money into your career. So, why risk being financially devastated by a malpractice lawsuit when an inexpensive malpractice policy can give you peace of mind and protect you as you care for patients in a high litigation occupation?

Original Source: https://bit.ly/46C6w5i