CNA Insurance Programs

The CNA Insurance programs covers all the professional liabilities of CNAs. This type of insurance is also known as Errors and Omission Insurance. Basically, all individuals who are engaged in providing some kind of professional services to others need this kind of insurance. For instance, doctors, accountants, real estate brokers and lawyers all need insurance for their professional liability.

CNAs are healthcare or medical professionals who work under the guidance and supervision of senior nurses such as Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and doctors. The functional area of CNAs is usually non-medical. They help in taking care of the patients on a daily basis. In order to practice as a Certified Nursing Assistant, it is mandatory to undergo 75 hours of CNA training out of which 24 hours consists of clinical or practical training. This is a requirement as stated by the federal law. After completing the CNA training, you need to clear the CNA certification test and obtain a CNA license to start your practice as a CNA.

When professionals acquire a license to practice, they have to take care of their responsibilities towards the public or the society. They have to make sure that they abide by the law and follow all the rules, regulations and guidelines. For CNAs, it is essential that they are not found guilty of any kind of criminal act for the last 7 years when applying for a CNA certification. It is also very important to be physically fit and there should not be and transmissible disease detected. Based on the set of rules and regulations, the patients, hospitals or other healthcare facilities have the right to file a case against CNAs at any point in time.

CNA Liability Insurance 

It is necessary for all professionals to have insurance, and CNAs are no exceptions to this rule. CNA Liability Insurance can be provided to the CNAs for the following set of responsibilities: 

• CNAs should be in a position to take care of the patients in hospitals and clinics and other healthcare facilities. They should be able to manage patient transfers as well as take care of all the documentation work. In case the CNAs are not able to fulfill all the documentation requirements as per the given deadlines, the patient and his or her family members have the right to file a case against the CNA. 
• CNAs are also responsible for measuring and recording the patient's vitals such as blood pressure, body temperature and so on. CNAs need to ensure that the medical equipment for measuring the vitals is in a good working condition or else they may get into trouble. 
• CNAs help the patients in performing motion exercises. They need to handle the patients properly and take good care not to cause them any harm or else they will be held responsible. 
• In case when some patient requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation or certain kind of first aid, and if the CNAs fail to act in the right manner at the right time, a case can be filed against them. 

The above mentioned occupational hazards can work against CNAs and can put them in trouble. However, CNAs are also human beings and they can make mistakes. Hence, there is a need for having professional liability insurance. CNA insurance programs secure the professional liability of CNAs and also create awareness of risk among the CNAs so that they are able to focus all their energy in fulfilling their duties to the best of their ability and giving best patient care. Other than the insurance policy provided by you employer, you also need to have a personal insurance policy that secures your professional liability.

Importance of CNA Insurance Program 

It is quite common for healthcare facilities to shut down. In such cases, just imagine if some patient has filed a case against you when you were employed with a healthcare facility that not longer exists. Then, the insurance policy provided by the employer will be void. Thus, it's always best to have a personal CNA insurance policy that can guard you in such difficult situations.

If you do not have any insurance policy in your name and a lawsuit is filed against you, it can get very difficult for you to handle the situation in terms of the money as well as its effect on your career. Hence, it will always prove to be advantageous to have a professional liability insurance to secure your professional liability and avoid any adverse effects on your medical career.

Factors Determining Insurance 

There are several factors that determine the CNA insurance. It varies from state to state. Insurance rates also depend on factors like the characteristics of CNAs, the region of CNA practice, the type of healthcare facility that the CNAs are working in, number of patients being take care of in a given period as well the risk management procedures followed, and so on.

CNA Malpractice Cases 

Due to negligence, CNAs may be found guilty of malpractice cases. Following are certain instances of malpractice cases by CNAs: 

• Delegation of tasks to others due to cost-containment can work against the CNAs. 
• Patients being discharged early even when not completely recovered.
• Downsizing of healthcare facilities leading to shortage of CNAs. 

As patients and their family members and in general the society has become quite aware about the guidelines and duties in the medical industry, it is the responsibility of CNAs to be more accountable for what they are doing or else filing a lawsuit against them will not be difficult. It's a good practice to have a CNA insurance that protects you against these kinds of lawsuits. Many insurance companies offer good CNA insurance programs and it's best that you avail these benefits before it gets too late.