pouncing

Short version: I have a BA but want to go back to school to become a nurse and will begin my prerequisites soon. I will need a new job next year, and am considering being a CNA, EMT, or ER tech. I'm leaning toward CNA for convenience (quick, cheap training & lots of jobs available) and hospital experience, but think I will probably get bored of being a CNA for 4-odd years while doing nursing prereqs and attending nursing school. So, I'm trying to find some intermediate step between CNA and RN in order to keep my interest up. Long version: I have a BA with a decent GPA. I took few science courses as an undergrad and will have to take all of the hard science nursing prereqs plus nutrition and human development, which I am now looking into doing at local community colleges. I would love to take them online (I work a full time 9-5), but can't do that if the courses are supposed to have labs. My tentative plan is to take the sciences one class at a time (prereqs of prereqs, etc) until I've got requirements done and I can apply to nursing school--this should take me about two years, less if my classes can be timed just right. My current job will end in August (it's temporary), at which point I'm leaning towards getting my CNA and finding a job in a hospital, if possible (looks possible even with little CNA/no experience in my area). This seems great because CNAs are in high demand in my area, though I might have to work in LTC at first (I am aiming to work in a hospital). I also want to take advantage of tuition reimbursement offered by employers; funding my education will not be easy as I make little now and won't make much as a CNA. I will be avoiding loans as much as possible. Should I perhaps work overtime as a CNA and save as much as possible? All while taking a class or two at any given time? Funding aside, my main concern is that I expect I will grow bored/restless if I am a CNA for 1-2 years of prereqs plus 2-3 years of nursing school (haven't decided on ADN then BSN or straight to BSN, or whether to go full time or part time, but will deal with all that later!). So, I'm trying to find a path which will still be reasonable as far as time and money it will take me to get to the eventual RN. I'm considering becoming an EMT-B (seems more interesting to me than being a CNA, pays a touch better, but has far fewer jobs and a schedule not as suited for taking classes); becoming an EMT then a CNA when I need a better schedule for taking classes; becoming a CNA then getting my EMT-B to become an ER tech (very few jobs available); becoming a CNA then becoming a phlebotomy or EKG tech; becoming a CNA then a LPN (most positions in the area are LTC, but LPN would help me financially) then a RN (only one LPN-RN bridge program nearby, and space is offered to regular ADN students first).... As you can see, I'm having a hard time deciding on which path to go with. I realize that just being a CNA for the duration is simplest, so I may do that, but I know that I tend to get restless when I'm not learning and doing something new. I apologize for the long-windedness of this. Any advice is greatly appreciated! I've read many, many threads similar to this one I'm posting (among others), and you seem like a wonderful, helpful bunch. J