Also, as nurses, we're used to juggling a lot at one time and that's what you have to do in risk management. You don't have to go through extra training but some legal training is helpful. Some risk managers participate in the management of claims and work closely with the defense legal counsel. A legal background helps in this area. What's interesting is that risk managers come from legal, clinical, administrative or insurance industry backgrounds.
Most risk managers are college graduates.
You can earn other designations or certifications. The opportunities are tremendous for risk managers right now because there is so much emphasis on reduction of med errors and patient safety issues. Currently, health care is very challenging, yet it presents tremendous opportunities for risk managers. Sometimes, there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything you'd like to do. It does depend upon the size and type of organization you work for.