Independent Nurse: Practical Prescribing

May 5, 2009 by admin 

I am a practice nurse and have recently successfully completed the prescribing course. The Medical Defence Union (MDU) provide group insurance cover for the practice in which I work. I contacted the MDU to let them know my role had changed. They informed me that I would need to pay £383 per year to have cover with them due to my extended role. Is this right? I am a member of the RCN and therefore have full indemnity insurance.

It would be your employer who would be sued in the event of a claim for compensation as a result of negligence on your part. Therefore, regardless of what activities you undertake (including prescribing), your employer has vicarious liability for yourself and other staff and it is therefore their responsibility to indemnify its staff. Although it is up to the insurance provider (in the case of your practice the MDU) what they chose to charge the practice, you do not have to pay this yourself. Some insurance providers are providing insurance cover for one nurse prescriber per GP at no extra charge to the practice.

Indemnity insurance is included in RCN membership and covers you for all aspects of your role. However, this is primarily for nurses that work independently and are self employed and for cover outside of work.

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