Question: What is the difference between claims-made and occurrence-based protection? Answer: Claims-made protection provides coverage for claims that arise while the protection is active. The availability of protection depends first and foremost on when the claim was commenced. For instance, in the case of an insurance policy, the policy provides coverage for claims that arise…
Read MoreQuestion: I am an ER nurse in a large Calgary hospital. A young man recently came into the ER with stab wounds to his left arm. He alleges that he has no knowledge of who the assailant was and does not want me to call the police. The nature of the wounds and his behaviour…
Read MoreQuestion: I am a nurse practitioner (NP) and am considering accepting a position working in a medical clinic. The contract for my services specifies that I will be compensated based on my billing to the public health insurance plan. I am aware that physicians are authorized to directly bill public health insurance plans, but is…
Read MoreQuestion : I am a nurse who is employed at a primary care clinic. I have recently become aware that the parents of a 10-year-old patient have divorced. The father is now requesting a copy of the child’s health records. Is he entitled to receive a copy of the records? What should I do? Answer: …
Read MoreQuestion: My employer has requested that I provide proof of my professional liability protection (or insurance). I am eligible for CNPS services. What documentation can I produce to demonstrate that I have professional liability protection in place? Answer: Nurses who are eligible for CNPS core services can contact the CNPS to obtain a letter confirming that they…
Read MoreQuestion: As a practising nurse, I have been asked to provide an expert opinion in a negligence case against a hospital, a nurse and two physicians. I have never been an expert witness before. What do I need to know before I accept the retainer? Answer: In professional negligence cases, such as a claim commenced…
Read MoreQuestion: I am thinking of taking a part-time job in a medical spa, injecting Botox and other fillers. What are the risks? Answer: Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners need to meet certain criteria when providing cosmetic procedures. In particular, nurses who provide cosmetic services are required to work within their scope of practice, as defined…
Read MoreQuestion: My sister does not have a family doctor and she has asked if I can prescribe her birth control pills. As a registered nurse, am I authorized to prescribe contraceptives to a family member or friend? Answer: There are a number of issues to consider when determining if it is appropriate for a registered…
Read MoreQuestion: A nurse working in primary care receives a “friend” request on her Facebook site from someone with a familiar-sounding name. The picture accompanying the request is of a lakeside sunset, so she cannot tell who sent the request. Because the name sounds familiar, she accepts the request. After going through the requestor’s profile, she…
Read MoreQuestion: Lately, I have been using my personal smartphone to text updates to physicians regarding patients. Is this practice acceptable? Answer: Mobile devices offer nurses and other healthcare professionals a convenient, user-friendly way to communicate with each other. Texting is fast, direct and simplifies the pager systems that hospitals and other health care organizations have…
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