evilbell

In my area, I have two options: complete NAI, enroll in ADN program and work part-time as a CNA while studying, and find work as an RN at a hospital offering assistance in paying tuition for an ADN-to-BSN program (likely online, and which will be completed while I am working full-time as an RN); or complete NAI, move a couple hours away to an area where an RIBN program is offered at prices comparable to any community college, and obtain BSN after four years, all the while working part-time as a CNA. I'm very lucky to have the assistance of my dad in paying for my schooling, and he would be willing to pay a little extra for a more solid/accelerated program, so $$ isn't a huge factor. The drawback is that I would be making less money as a CNA in a more expensive area while working on the RIBN program. Does it sound worth it to you, especially considering that I haven't seen tuition assistance offered on any RN job postings around here? (For clarification: I am a high school dropout with my HSE, so I cannot apply to a regular BSN program at a university (I wouldn't be accepted without a high school transcript).)

(I'm actually only beginning my NAI course this January, so I am totally new to nursing; if I sound ignorant, that's why!) Ultimately, I would like to make a living as a nurse participating in global humanitarian efforts, e.g. in crisis areas such as war zones, areas suffering from natural disasters, etc. I'm interested in experienced nurses' opinions about what agencies or organizations I should look into to pursue this kind of work; I'm aware that military nurses might be deployed to crisis areas, so I'm also interested in information military nurses could provide me about what kind of work they do and how the deployment system works.