Emergency Room Nurse To Trucking...

Hi. My name is Connie. Thanks to all for having a great sight for people to research the lifestyle of truck driving!!! I am currently employed as a Registered Nurse, my career has been long and enjoyable. I have worked in this field since 1989 and have earned all of the certificates I dreamed of earning. The past year of my life has taken me down a path that I wasn't prepared for and never thought would ever happen to me. Along with being a long time ED Nurse, I am also a Paramedic and an EMS Instructor. I was always the one that assisted with other's emergencies. Last June, my 22 year old son attempted suicide by way of shot gun, he survived the attempt, and we are well on our way to recovery. He has endured 19 major surgeries so far, with another 22 projected for the future, and life for him will never be close to the same as prior to the attempt, but slowly he and I are learning how to live this new life. I share all that with you because I am needing some advice..... I have always wanted to drive truck! My dad was OTR and he loved the lifestyle that his career offered him. I had, as a little girl made a run or two with him on occasion and loved seeing new places. I fight with myself daily to want to go to work, I don't seem to have issues once I arrive because I love helping others. I have finally been on the other side of the coin, so to speak. For the first time, since I began my career, my emergency trumped everything. I still love helping others and I still enjoy what I do to some extent, but I am finding that as the days pass, now that my emergency is somewhat stable, I am reluctant to got to work for fear that I will have to relive what I have been living for the past 15 months. So, on to why I am writing to begin with. I have always wanted to drive truck. I would love the solitude that driving can bring. After working busy ED rooms for years, the quiet time would be a breath of fresh air. My days off now, which are few and far in between, are spent in my car driving to nowhere but being free to just listen to the air blowing through my windows. I think I am ready for a career change, I KNOW I am ready to work without so many people. I would love to hear your thoughts, why do you do what you do? Why do you love driving truck? What are the pros and cons? What bit of information can you give me to help me decide if this lifestyle may be where I would like to go next with my life? I would love to hear from you all, new drivers and seasoned drivers alike. Thank you all for taking the time to read and/or respond. I know that I will be the one that has to make the final decision, but I am needing some advice from YOU, the experts. Have a great day, be safe out there!!!!

Welcome Connie!!! First of all I am sorry to hear all life has thrown at you with your son, but very glad to hear its getting better. I retired from public service . I spent 28 yrs as a cop so I can relate to your feelings. I came into this proffession just looking for something different, without all the intense stuff. I have been doing it now about 10 months. I enjoy the peace and quiet most of the time. I used to hop on my bike and ride to clear my head. Same principal applies to the truck. These deadlines and issues are very minimal compared to my former career, and I am fairly confident you would find that true also. Hardest part for me is being away from my family. All the kids are grown, but my fiancee is my world and she has a young son. I miss out on alot, that I can never get back. But we deal with it. You may find it difficult being away from your son for periods of time. I wish you the best, whatever you decide to do. I'm sure more of our bashful folks will chime in also. Cheers

Good morning Connie, Welcome!! I am not much of a writer or a poet, but I shall try to express some thoughts. You definitely sound like you are ready for a change. Good, bad or ugly things happen that can shift our whole world as you are well aware. Not to get too personal but I am also sure your aware of issues with PTSD. That's all I am going to say about that. On a much brighter note, you my dear have found a most sensational site! If you have only spent 15 min. here you will see how crazy wonderful everyone here is! Read all you can, so many stories,of the trucker lifestyle and the challenges overcome! Everything you need, right here to really know if this is for you. Wishing you all the best. It is pretty exciting and scary undertaking a whole new life! We will all be here to assist. Have a fabulous day!

Welcome aboard Connie! So sorry to hear about your son and best wishes to you guys!!!

I wrote a book a while back about my years on the road and it's free to read right here on TruckingTruth so check it out:

Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving

It has a ton of stories and insights about life on the road and it's an easy read.

Also we have our Truck Driver's Career Guide which covers just about everything imaginable that pertains to understanding the trucking industry and getting your career off to a great start. Read through it beginning to end and follow all of the links you come across. You'll learn soooo much!

As far as whether or not you should take a shot at trucking, can you get back into your current career easily enough if trucking isn't for you? If so, then taking a shot at trucking really isn't very risky. The schooling is rather short and inexpensive so you'll be able to pay that back after just a few months on the road. At that point if you decide it isn't for you then you walk away without a care in the world and go back to your former career. Simple as that. Even if you only stayed in trucking for a few months you would have memories and stories to last a lifetime. It would change your outlook on a lot of things because you'd see the world from a totally new perspective and that is always a great thing.

Connie, welcome to Trucking Truth. You came to the right site. If only the medical community had a website like this, hunh? I too am an EMT and have spent a significant amount of my lifetime around medicine, on several fronts. One of the worst nightmares a medical professional can have, working in the Emergency Department is that one of his/her own kids might show up on an ambulance. When it happens (been there, done that) it is pretty awful. You, as a paramedic/nurse/mom know this better than anyone.

Good for you for listening to your inner voice. Brett's right about the length of training and the low risk at testing it out. You would know better than anyone, how long you could be on sabbatical from the ED without burning out all your licenses and credentials. You could conceivably take your CDL classes over an extended period if you took them over the weekend ...or you could rock it out with a full-time school in 3-4 weeks. Certainly, you are no stranger to working while taking classes. With the training you've had, I can tell you right now, CDL school would not be horribly tough. For instance, your pre-trip inspection , which covers anywhere from 100-130 things to check for is no different from memorizing an NREMT or nursing skills sheet. Piece of cake, right? The difference is, for a pre-trip inspection, you're not concerned with scene control and managing multiple system injury or disease, right? It's just like a very detailed physical assessment under non-emergent circumstances. You verbalize it to the instructor or tester, just like you would in emergency medicine. You memorize it, so you don't miss any details - not as tough as a rapid trauma assessment with a screaming patient or MCI.

Breaking in to the industry is not as difficult as medicine. You wouldn't have to put in years of volunteer time, before someone would even look at your resume and CV. Unlike most medical organizations, there are trucking companies that hire new grads right out of school and then train you to get really good at your driving skills. There's a lot less competition over territorial stuff like who's in charge of the scene or the trauma room and who makes the ultimate decision to act on a patient. You don't have to stand and suffer while you watch someone with a higher degree, make the wrong decision (or no decision at all) while you have to keep your mouth shut and watch the patient crash till that person in charge finally gets a clue ...know what I mean? (That's always been one of the toughest things for me to handle in emergency medicine.) Things are more cut-and-dry in trucking - not totally black and white - but more simple and defined.

Unfortunately, you will probably have to move through this process in phases, as much of your energy might still have to extend to your son; and some of your decisions might be based on his welfare so that you can find balance between your independent career and decisions that indirectly or directly affect him. In other words, depending on what you decide is best, you may or may not be able to just jump right in and go OTR , right off the starting block. Also, with his illness and recovery, it's difficult at this point, for you to be able to determine where you actually are in his healing. You may be at the beginning of this journey or in the middle but the only way you'll be able to determine that, is over time, when you're able to look back, after more time has passed. I know. This is weird for you. You've seen others in the thick of it and watched them walking around dazed, like, "Dr., what the heck is going on with my kid?" and all they can say back is, "We don't have all the answers for you, yet," lalala and "What are his chances of ...?" I'm sorry. Been there. It sucks. Now, you're the one doing it. You have the advantage of medical knowledge and can help him through the right specialists, and avenues, and you know you'll get the best care for him because your fellow medical professionals will jump through hoops for you, as one of their colleagues, etc. For your son's sake, you have that advantage.

You may be totally burned out on medicine now too - which is why it's wonderful that you're thinking about something that might be healthier and happier for you. Major kudos for being self-aware.

I can tell you this: driving tractor-trailers is FUN, Connie! Totally fun!

There's some stress over safety ...but ...overall? ... FUN!

Anyway, you would not believe how much you and I have in common, involving illness and working on your own career, etc. Unreal ... So if you want to email me for moral support on PM (private messaging) feel free to email me any time what-so-ever.

-mountain girl

Dear Connie We only have one life to live......so you have things on your bucket list to do. I think starting with trucking is a good place. I'm 47 and have worked the last 25 years in the education field mostly high school. I raised three beautiful kids and have four grand kids. I have given so much of myself to others without even thinking about who or what I need for myself. This year has been a changer for me. I realized that I'm not getting any younger. And I have wants and dreams that I had for gotten about. After my husband had major back surgery last August and his father came home on hospice in September I found myself caring for both ....day and night. Till he passed in January. I didn't want to return to work. I found myself lost on who I was. I knew that at 47 life is to short. For me not to have lived doing some of the things that I want to try or do. My husband is trying to get on disability. I took a dispatch job at the county sheriffs office. I hated it. My husband and kids told me just stick with it. It a good job. I told them I suck at it and most of all I hate it. I had told everyone months ago I want to be a truck driver..,. I should of done what I wanted the 1 st time! After two months of me trying it their way. I quit. It blow everyone's mind! My kids and husband and the boss said why.....your a good employee ...... And once again I said I don't want this job! I want to be a truck driver. So I then took a week off and did a lot of thinking. Not getting any younger.....and I need to do a few things in my live that I want out of life. Before I'm to old to enjoy doing them. I then found this site and then enrolled at a local college and have my permit and have passed everything all in a matter of a few weeks. Honey live your live......try it ! After it's all said and done .....I can look back and have no regrets ! You have done your share of giving and helping others. But don't loose your dreams. Later when it's all said and done. You can say you have lived a full life.😘 and hug to you Connie. Hold your head high ..... Be proud of who you are. Follow your hart honey.😃 I am.

Thank you all for the kind thoughts and words. I am certain that I will follow my dreams and make truck driving a reality!!!! I just have to fit the classes into my schedule. I have read a ton of helpful things on this site and plan to read daily for tips and general knowledge that so many share here. Thanks again for such a wonderful site!!!! I am thankful that I have you all to lead the way and thankful for the wealth of knowledge that is held within these pages. I am excited to learn something new, excited to take care of me for a change.

Thank you all for sharing your story with me!!! I agree with you all, life is too short to just think about something that you really want to experience. I have enjoyed reading your comments, appreciate the thoughts and am thankful to have you all willing to help me. I feel better already just by knowing that I am not the only person who ever wanted to change their life long career. Thank you for the support you have shown me and I hope to get to know you all better as time passes. Have a great night and be safe out there!!!!

Yeah, you're welcome. You be safe out there, too. Your job is not without its risks.

-mountain girl