Best path to becoming a nurse

[bieds33]

hi,

i am a senior in college right now studying fitness management. half way through my undergrad degree, i decided i wanted to become a nurse but my school does not have an undergrad nursing program. i have decided i will go to nursing school next year after graduation this spring. all along i have been looking into the general entry nursing programs here in chicago (rush, uic and depaul). i am signed up to take the gre in march and then will apply this summer. however, i was reading another article and came across getting my rn license at a local community college (we have a really good community college cod real close) and then having the hospital i work for help pay or completely pay for my graduate degree while i attend part time down the road. this would be the best idea since i am in debt from my undergrad degree and would like to be making money as soon as possible with the least amount of debt from nursing school. what is the difference between getting my graduate degree or going to a community college for right now? i am not interested in ever becoming a np but i do want a full nursing job (not lpn) at a hospital in either the emergency room or icu floor. would i be able to get a position like that with just my undergrad degree in fitness management and my rn license from a community college and i've read there's no pay difference but is that true? thanks, colleen