Should I just do Nursing?

I’ve been an EMT for 3 years now (going onto 4) and my goal is to eventually be a firefighter paramedic. During my time of working as a EMT on the critical care ambulance at a private ambulance with a critical care paramedic and nurse not only have I been able to learn from them but also have been applying and applying to paramedic programs. I was in paramedic school once before until I got dismissed because I took two bad written exams but was doing good in skills practicals. 

After my dismissal i’ve been working on improving myself with better test taking strategies and better studying/note taking methods. Now I am currently on the waitlist for 2 paramedic programs so I do have hope. I also have an associates degree in Fire Science and decided to go back to school so that I am not just working and waiting for paramedic applications to open up and take extra classes for “transfer credits” to be able to transfer to a university to eventually get my degree in public safety management online while I am still working full time. 

Many nurses and some medics tell me “oh just go and get your nursing degree, do your 2 years in the ER or ICU, and do the bridge to paramedic”. I wouldn’t mind doing nursing if i do not get pulled from the waitlist as long as I am able to do the associates nursing program through my community college while also being able to work at my private ambulance job (I would go part time if I have too).

Has any of you decided to do this route? become a RN then PHRN and then Paramedic or critical care RN (that is still something I would consider doing)? Is it worth for me to just get a nursing degree instead of a degree in public safety management while waiting for paramedic school applications to open?