Insurance Matters For Travel Nurses

Insurance isn’t as exciting as adventure but it’s an important priority of the travel nurse experience. We understand it relates to difficult situations that no one wants to consider but sometimes, life happens. And most importantly, nurses need to prepare themselves – just in case. 

Take note: not all agencies offer the same kind of support for their travel nurses when it comes to insurance. Make sure you do your research and protect yourself, here’s why:

Why Insurance Matters

As medical professionals, nurses are held to the highest standard of care for their patients. As a result, they can find themselves in a situation where their standard of care is put into question. Rightly or wrongly, nurses can be sued personally for their actions, errors, or omissions as it relates to a specific incident.

Travel nurses – like all nurses – are on the frontlines of healthcare, where sometimes things go awry. In the unfortunate event of a negative medical outcome, a nurse is vulnerable to a medical malpractice claim. This is an extremely stressful scenario for the nurse – and one with the potential to be financially devastating.

To protect themselves, nurses need to transfer their risk of professional negligence to an insurer. This is a widespread practice that is both easy and cost effective. That said, despite the availability of coverage and the potential for financial impairment, many nurses go without.

Malpractice Implications for Nurses

It is a common misconception that nurses are automatically covered by the necessary insurance while working at a healthcare facility. More than that – there is the false assumption that nurses cannot be named personally in a malpractice suit. Unfortunately that is not the case, nurses can absolutely be targeted in a lawsuit, it is not an unusual occurrence. Even if the primary fault for an injury or death lies with the physician, the nurse is frequently implicated. In those situations, the nurse must provide their own legal defence. 

As such, it is important for each nurse to be covered by their own medical malpractice insurance. Malpractice insurance covers a wide range of unfortunate possibilities, such as the cost of legal defence, settlements or judgements. All nurses have a professional liability exposure that they need to take seriously. This is because even the most cautious professionals can make human errors or face false claims, regardless of their skills.

How Select Medical Supports Travel Nurses

Since insurance is so important for nurses, Select Medical provides coverage to all our working nurses as part of our employment package. Many agencies require their professionals to carry their own liability coverage. We know you have enough to worry about.  We believe our travel nurses should receive these benefits and the peace of mind it provides. Our continuous policy is broad with an experienced carrier and the coverage is tailored especially for Travel Nurses. It has been tested and has delivered quality support for our nurses when they’ve needed it most.  

In addition to liability coverage, Select Medical provides our travel nurses with Worker’s Compensation and Employment Insurance, coverage that not all agencies offer. Make certain that you know what your agency will do for you before you head out on your contract.Travel nurses need insurance because they have much more important things to worry about.

Insurance Checklist & Resources

Make sure you are fully covered on the job and your nursing license is never compromised. Here’s some reference information for your insurance considerations:

• CNPS – Canadian Nurses Protective Society - https://cnps.ca/

• EI – Employment Insurance / Parental Benefits - https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei.html

• CPP – Canadian Pension Plan - https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp.html     

WCB – Worker’s Compensation Board     

• Alberta: https://www.wcb.ab.ca/

• British Columbia: https://www.worksafebc.com

• Manitoba: https://www.wcb.mb.ca

• New Brunswick: https://www.worksafenb.ca

• Newfoundland: https://workplacenl.ca

• Northwest Territories: https://wscc.nt.ca

• Nova Scotia: https://www.wcb.ns.ca

• Nunavut: https://wscc.nt.ca

• Ontario: https://www.wsib.ca

• Prince Edward Island: www.wcb.pe.ca

• Quebec: https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/fr

• Saskatchewan: https://www.wcbsask.com

• Yukon: http://wcb.yk.ca/

• General Liability - Various providers offer General Liability Insurance for incidences related to accommodations, or equipment on the job.

• Professional Liability - Various providers offer Professional Liability Insurance should an incident arise on the floor you are working on. 

Select Medical has worked with over 35,000 Canadian nurses and over 25 Health Authorities and Health Care Companies nationwide. Our expertise ensures you’ll have all the necessary support on contract. That allows you to enjoy your travels without worrying about the “what if’s” and “oh no’s.