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1-800-267-3390Operating a Business or Independent Practice?
The CNPS provides a number of resources for nurses who operate a business or who are independent practitioners:
We recommend you start with this publication which contains an overview of the considerations surrounding independent practice.
Articles and Resources
- Nurses in Independent Practice: An Overview
- Ask a Lawyer: Independent practice considerations
- Ask a Lawyer: Electronic medical records and independent practice
- Ask a Lawyer: Employer-provided professional liability protection
- Ask a Lawyer: Providing cosmetic services
- Six Considerations for independent practice during a pandemic
- Footcare nursing during the pandemic
- Twelve things to consider before joining a virtual care practice
- Template Form: Consent to use electronic communications
As an independent practitioner, do I need additional protection?
Nurses can be personally named as defendants in a legal proceeding by patients who allege that they have suffered harm as a result of nursing care. A clinic or business entity within which health care services are provided can also be named as a defendant in a civil proceeding.
Should you operate a business, it would be generally advisable for your business to carry separate protection. Your business financial or legal advisor may assist you in determining the type and extent of protection or coverage that would be appropriate for your business. You may also need “business-type” coverage for risks associated with your infrastructure if you are an independent contractor. If you are unsure whether you operate a business or whether you are an independent contractor, you can contact the CNPS for more information.
Nursing Business Solutions
Business insurance product brokered by BMS
The Nursing Business Solutions Program is a separate and distinct commercial insurance product designed for CNPS beneficiaries who work as independent contractors, employ other nurses, or who provide nursing services through a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or other business entity.
Nursing Business Solutions (formerly CNPS Business Plus) includes different insurance products made available by reputable commercial insurers and brokered by BMS.
This business insurance product is exclusively available to CNPS beneficiaries. As such, this program is designed to provide comprehensive business insurance coverage as a complement to the individual professional liability protection services offered by the CNPS.
The business coverage available includes:
- Clinic or Corporate Professional Liability Insurance: if the business is named as a defendant in an action for professional negligence for services provided in the name of, or within, the professional corporation, partnership or business entity.
- Directors’ and Officers’ (D&O) Liability Insurance: To personally protect the members of the board of directors and the officers of the professional corporation for decisions made on behalf of the corporation.
- Commercial General Liability Insurance: If the business is named as a defendant in a claim alleging injury or property damage to a third party as a result of the commercial operation of the business or the premises. For instance, third party claims arising from a slip-and-fall, property damage caused by an employee while providing services in a patient’s home, etc.
- Office Contents Insurance: If business property is damaged or stolen.
- Cyber Security and Privacy Liability Insurance Coverage: If confidential information is inappropriately accessed. More information.
- Employment Practices (Management) Liability: This insurance is designed for business owners to protect against allegations of employment practice violation, including wrongful termination, discrimination, workplace harassment, and others. More information.
Please note, Nursing Business Solutions is an insurance product brokered by BMS which is separate and distinct from CNPS protection. This insurance product is designed to provide business protection, for nursing business owners, as a complement to the individual protection available to them as CNPS beneficiaries. Purchasing a Nursing Business Solutions insurance product does not provide any access to CNPS core services or Supplementary Protection.
If you have any questions, or to verify your CNPS beneficiary status, please call us at 1-800-267-3390. The CNPS itself does not offer professional liability protection to business entities or any other legal services to business entities.
For more information about the business insurance options available in the Nursing Business Solutions program, or to access those options, please email BMS at nursing.insurance@bmsgroup.com or call 1-855-318-6035.
The Nursing Business Solutions policy year runs from February 1 to January 31.