Question:
Dear Nancy,
I am a school nurse (RN, BSN, CPN) employed by the local board of education and working in a non-public high school. Should I carry malpractice insurance?
Sincerely,
Charise
Nancy Brent replies:
Dear Charise,
As you're aware, the practice of school nursing is a highly complex area of nursing practice. One is faced with many legal issues on a daily basis, including informed consent for any treatment provided, confidentiality concerns, and the administration of medications.
Issues like this can be (and have been) challenged in courtrooms in many instances ? and for many reasons. School nurses have been named individually in such suits.
When deciding whether to carry professional liability insurance, many factors must be considered, not the least of which is how one would fare if a judgment were brought against the school nurse and how that judgment would be paid (e.g., out of one's own funds or through the insurance policy that provides coverage for the insured).
There are other factors to consider, which are best discussed with a nurse attorney or an attorney who can guide you through these issues. It might be helpful for you to review other responses in this column that have covered the purchase of individual professional liability insurance.
There are also several websites that would be helpful to you in deciding on whether or not to carry professional liability insurance of your own. One is the National Association of School Nurses. Their website carries the association's position statements, FAQs, and a members and membership feature. Membership in the association is a clear requisite if one practices school nursing.
A second website to review is https://www.schoolnurse.com. It features a publication, Legal Issues in School Health Services, which can be purchased. This publication appears to be a comprehensive resource for school nurses.
Cordially,
Nancy
