Question:
Dear Donna,
I am a nurse attorney, now practicing in medical malpractice defense litigation. I have more than nine years of clinical experience as a staff nurse in a hospital. I want to become a hospital risk manager. How should I go about getting the necessary experience to do so?
Angela
Dear Donna replies:
Dear Angela,
You already have the perfect credentials and experience to work in risk management. Join the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (http://www.ashrm.org) and start getting out to local chapter meetings. When there?s something you want to do, it makes sense to rub elbows with those already doing that thing.
Immerse yourself in self-study and start applying for related positions. Contact risk managers in area hospitals and insurance companies and do informational interviewing (http://www.dcardillo.com/articles/thescoop.html) with them. This is a great way to learn, get connected, and maybe even find some opportunities
You are more qualified and more ready than you realize. Do not get caught in the trap of over preparation. Appreciate the value of what you currently offer, and move forward.
Good Luck!
Donna
Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, well-known career guru, is Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek?s ?Dear Donna? and author of Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional and The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career. Information about the books is available at www.nurse.com/CE/7010 and www.nurse.com/CE/7250, respectively. To ask Donna your question, go to www.nurse.com/asktheexperts/deardonna. Find a ?Dear Donna? seminar near you: Call (800) 866-0919 or visit http://events.nursingspectrum.com/Seminar.
