Original Article Date: 05/15/2022
Last Updated: 05/15/2022
The case of RaDonda Vaught has made headlines worldwide in recent months. Let us not mince words; the ex-Vanderbilt nurse who was charged with negligent homicide in the death of a patient was absolutely thrown under the bus by Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
She is not without guilt, but to what extent she is solely responsible for the death of her patient is another question. For those of us who have nurse friends, family members and loved ones, this case sets a dangerous precedent where hospitals and employers can deflect their bad habits, bad protocols and their accountability onto the patient-facing employee - which is just flat out irresponsible and wrong.
At Encompass Agency and our subsidiary Jordan First Insurance we would like to present a solution that is both affordable and practical to protect RNs, LPNs, CNAs and NPs from clear and present danger; Nursing Malpractice Liability.
What is Nursing Malpractice Liability?
Nursing Malpractice Liability is a specialty form of Professional Liability insurance designed to protect nurses in the event of a negligent act or omission. Similar to Errors & Omissions for other professions (Accountants, Insurance Agents, Architects etc.), if a mistake is made, the professional liability will provide coverage for defense costs. Malpractice cases can easily run up tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees - and your employer is not obligated to defend you as their malpractice is typically written in their favor.
What is covered by Nursing Malpractice Liability?
Areas where malpractice is commonly used:
License Defense Costs
Bodily Injury to Others
Sexual Harassment
Stolen Patient Information
Allegations against Students
Am I eligible?
Malpractice insurance may be purchased by any practicing nurse in an appropriate field that is not aware of any negligence claims that are pending against them. This includes:
Student Nurses
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA)
Home Health Aides (HHA)
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)
Registered Nurses (RN)
Nurse Practitioners (NP)
Our policies also provide coverage for:
Certified Nurse Midwifes
Doulas
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
Med-Surg Techs
Lab Technologists
X-Ray Technicians
Many other similar fields
What does it cost?
Pricing varies by field, certification and experience. For a typical RN, our premiums begin at around $100 per year for $1 million dollars in nurse liability coverage. Students are able to acquire coverage cheaper prior to graduation.
Coverage available in FL, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN & VA