In 20 years I've worked in 3 different hospital on med/surg. I've worked in home health. I've been a branch director. I've been a consultant for billing issues nursing related, and I've been a peds assessment intake nurse. I didn't really plan any of it ahead, circumstances just brought it about, and you are right - right now we are just lucky to have jobs.
I still maintain after all these years of being a nurse that to feel makes the best nurses. If you care about kittens you will care about patients. Professionalism is learned or conquered, but caring need to stay alive even when you are a professional, so just maybe the way you feel about the kittens would make you a very good nurse