Career Exploration Beyond the Bedside

October 1, 2025

Welcome to this edition of The Nontraditional Nurse Newsletter!

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The Nontraditional Nurse spotlight

Meet Traci Espenship DNP, MSN, MSN-Ed, MS, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, CPHRM (Yes, we are impressed too). Traci spent 17 years in acute care, working in CCU, PCU, and the OR at a rural community hospital. One unexpected phone call changed everything: a friend asked if she’d consider a leap into medical risk consulting for a medical malpractice company. That leap became a long-term career—one where Traci helps healthcare organizations across the country reduce harm, improve quality, and prevent costly litigation.
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“ It’s more about preventing harm and litigation than reacting to events that have already occurred. — Traci Espenship

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In this episode, Traci shares what risk consultants actually do, how nurses’ clinical skills translate into this work, and the steps you can take to explore this growing field yourself.

Key Takeaways

Medical Risk consulting is about prevention, not reaction.

As Traci explained, the goal is to reduce risk before patient harm or litigation occurs—not just respond after the fact. Her work focuses on risk assessments, education, and systems-level improvements to keep patients safe and organizations protected.

Bedside nursing skills directly translate.

Traci emphasized that clinical assessment, prioritization, and communication are just as critical in consulting as they are in acute care. The difference is you’re applying them to systems and processes instead of individual patients.

There’s no one “right” background for this role.

Over her 17 years in the field, Traci has worked alongside nurses, respiratory therapists, and even professionals with law degrees. She shared that unique clinical or operational experiences often bring fresh value to a consulting team.
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​You don’t need a new degree to get started.

According to Traci, many consultants earn certifications like the CPHRM after they’re hired—and you can start exploring now by joining internal quality or patient safety committees. She recommends shadowing your hospital’s risk manager or attending conferences like ASHRM or IHI to learn more.

Career Deep Dive

Medical Risk Consulting

Medical risk consultants often work for professional liability insurance carriers—but job titles and terminology can vary. Some organizations use “medical risk consultant” or “clinical risk consultant” to describe this role. Others may refer to it more broadly as “medical malpractice consulting”, especially when the focus involves legal exposure and claims prevention. Regardless of the title, the core mission remains the same: reduce harm, improve safety, and prevent costly litigation.

• Assess risk across clinical, operational, financial, and legal areas
• Develop mitigation strategies for insured healthcare organizations
• Support underwriting decisions by analyzing clinical risk factors
• Collaborate on claims by identifying trends and offering system-level solutions
• Educate providers through webinars, toolkits, and consulting sessions

Traci describes her work as being the “clinical legal arm” of the insurance company—working both reactively and proactively to reduce organizational risk.

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Perks

• High-level autonomy – Nurses in this role often operate independently, managing their own schedules and case reviews.
• Remote work (with some travel) – Most roles are home-based with occasional travel for on-site assessments or team collaboration.
• Use of nursing skills in a completely new way – Clinical expertise is applied to identify system gaps, assess standards of care, and contribute to risk reduction strategies.
• Contributing to large-scale systems change – Your work can directly impact hospital protocols, safety initiatives, and long-term patient outcomes.
• Variety in day-to-day tasks – One day might involve reviewing a malpractice case, the next facilitating communication between legal, clinical, and quality teams.
• Opportunities for professional growth – Exposure to legal, regulatory, and quality frameworks can open doors to future roles in leadership, compliance, or healthcare law.

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Challenges

• Loss of bedside camaraderie – Remote roles can sometimes feel isolating, especially for those used to tight-knit unit dynamics.
• High variability requires flexibility – Days aren’t always predictable. You’ll need strong time management and comfort with shifting priorities.
• Credibility matters – You’ll be offering input that may challenge other clinicians’ decisions. That requires a foundation of trust, diplomacy, and clear communication.
• Steep learning curve – Especially for nurses without a background in quality, informatics, or legal work, the terminology and expectations can feel overwhelming at first. Traci notes that it took her about a year to feel really comfortable in the role.

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Work-life balance

Most nurses in this field enjoy standard Monday–Friday schedules with no holidays or weekends. The role is typically remote, though travel will be required depending on the company or assigned region. Traci shared that she’s seen travel expectations range from 25% to 50%, varying from occasional site visits to more regular regional coverage. It’s helpful to connect with someone currently in the role to understand what travel looks like across different organizations. Overall, the predictable hours, flexibility, and absence of direct patient assignments make this a sustainable and fulfilling option for nurses looking for more balance and variety.

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Nursing Skills that Translate

If you’ve ever reviewed a chart, educated a patient, or coordinated complex care, you’ve already practiced the core skills that make for a strong risk consultant:

• Clinical assessment → Spotting vulnerabilities in system design
• Triage & prioritization → Ranking risks based on severity and frequency
• Interdisciplinary communication → Collaborating with legal, clinical, and admin teams
• Charting & documentation → Auditing records for compliance and completeness

The work is similar to nursing — it just shifts from a micro to macro level.

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How Much Experience Do you Need?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Traci emphasizes that clinical experience—whether in acute or ambulatory settings—is essential, but the specifics vary. Your unique background matters. She’s worked with nurses who held BSNs, MSNs, and even law degrees.
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Getting Started:

Interested in exploring a career in medical malpractice consulting or healthcare risk management? Here are concrete steps to begin building experience and connections:

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Start with foundational resources:​
Explore the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) website — it offers education, professional development, certifications, and job postings specific to healthcare risk management. Also check out NAHQ and AHRQ, which provide frameworks and data on quality improvement, patient safety, and systems-level thinking.
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Get involved where you are:
​If you’re still working clinically, ask your organization’s risk manager if you can shadow or observe their work. Volunteer for your facility’s quality, safety, or peer review committees to gain visibility and experience. Keep track of your contributions and outcomes — these can help build your resume when applying to internal risk or quality roles.
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Certifications to consider:
​Some roles may require certifications like the CPHQ (Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality), especially for quality-focused or operational positions. NAHQ offers prep materials and scholarships to support your study. For risk-specific roles, the CPHRM (Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management) is often required within 12–18 months of hire. Many nurses find it easier to complete after gaining on-the-job exposure in the field.
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Attend conferences & apply for scholarships:
​National and state-level events from ASHRM, IHI, or NAHQ are excellent for continuing education, networking, and learning from current industry leaders. These conferences often offer scholarships and can help you build relationships that lead to mentorship or job opportunities.
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​Step into leadership roles:
​Seek out chances to represent nursing on cross-functional projects, quality initiatives, or hospital committees. These experiences build credibility and expose you to the language and priorities of leadership — essential skills for success in consulting and risk roles.
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​Search and study job postings:
​Review openings from insurance companies, health systems, and consulting firms to understand typical qualifications and responsibilities. This helps you align your experience and tailor your resume to match real-world expectations.

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Salary

Salaries in medical malpractice consulting and healthcare risk management can vary significantly based on:

• Organization type
• Geographic region
• Travel requirements
• Leadership responsibilities

Many nurses in these roles work for insurance companies, large health systems, or consulting firms.

According to ZipRecruiter, RNs working in risk management earn an average of $111,556/year nationwide — roughly $53/hour.

Roles with broader system-level accountability, frequent travel, or advanced certifications like the CPHRM often command higher compensation.

Job Titles to Look For

• Risk Manager
• Clinical Risk Consultant
• Patient Safety Specialist
• Medical Malpractice Consultant

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These roles may come with bonuses for travel or geographic pay adjustments if remote.

Pro tip: For nurses transitioning into this field, talking to someone currently in a similar role at the company you’re considering is the best way to understand the specific compensation structure and expectations.

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Thanks for reading!

Next up, we’re exploring Patient Advocacy — what it looks like, how nurses are making a difference, and how you can get involved.

In the meantime, catch up on past interviews, share this with a friend, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a new edition.

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Appreciate you being here.

Ellie

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