Professional liability insurance

The American Association of Nurse Attorneys recommends that all nurses engaged in the practice of nursing insure themselves against liability to third parties arising out of that practice. To make an informed decision whether to purchase individual insurance and how much to purchase, each school nurse must personally evaluate a multitude of factors. Each school nurse should also understand the various types of insurance policies available and how an individual policy is affected by coverage provided through the school district policy or self-insurance program. In certain states, school nurses also may be protected by the legal doctrine of sovereign immunity. This article provides answers to some of the questions frequently posed by school nurses about individual professional liability insurance.