Will this route work?

Hello. I'm new to this forum but I've been browsing around because I'm now thinking of getting into the medical field. I don't really know where to go to get feedback I want about all the questions I'm so curious about. I've been a career changer so I don't really want to go to my first parents and tell them that I want to change to something else yet again until I have all the information I can give them (I have a degree in Information technology and I also went to Culinary school).

I was thinking of maybe going to school to become a CNA, so that I can get my foot in the door and hopefully find a job. My BF's mother and father both work at hospitals and said that, if you work in a union, they'll pay for your education? So, I was thinking that If I become a CNA and have a job, that part-time I can go back to school and I'd want to get into neonatal/pediatrics area (sorry, I'm not sure of all the different titles there are in this specific area, so if theres specific titles please let me know so I can have the chance the research about which would best suit me i.e. = neonatal nurse..). It really doesn't matter to me if the education is free or not, I would still want to continue going to school while working. I just wonder if this is the best route to go or how do I tackle this - what certificates, degrees, etc.. would I have to do in order to become someone who works in the neonatal/pediatrics area? Is becoming an RN the only way of this? Or is there a level under a RN to work in that area? ALL information is appreciated.

Thanks in advance for having the time to read my post and for any feedback