Which of the following statements best reflects a nurse's understanding of the proper critical thinking process regarding the need for personal malpractice insurance?

Question

1. "The state's Good Samaritan laws protect me outside of the hospital."
2. "I work in a very low risk area of nursing, so I don't really have a need."
3. "The hospital carries its own malpractice insurance, so I don't need extra."
4. "Lawsuits can occur years after the event, so I carry my own liability insurance."

Answer 1

ANS: 4
The employing institution's insurance only covers nurses while they are working within the scope of their employment. Because nurses are professionals and it is often difficult to separate their private lives from their professional skills, nurses need to consider purchasing individual profes-sional liability insurance, even if the employing institution has coverage. It would be important to know the time frames of the employer's malpractice coverage. The nurse may be only covered during the times he or she is working within the institution. Good Samaritan laws have a narrow scope and would not cover many nursing activities. Although it is true that some areas of nursing have a higher potential for liability claims, all areas have risk. The hospital's insurance may not cover all potential expenses and may not be applicable in all liability situations.