How exactly does an associates in nurse education work?

I have decided to get my associates in nurse education. When I finish and take the nurse board exam can I be an RN? Also, if I then get a job as an RN is it best to be working towards my Bachelors degree in nursing at the same time? And if I so chose, could I finish off and get my Master's in Social Work? I know it will take me a while, but I want to work it out slow because it's expensive and I'm not the richest person in the world. Is this a good plan?

I have not met any Nurses who have become social workers, but it certainly is doable. You will want to make sure you have a liberal arts base to your BSN (look at the requirements to admissions in the MSW program you are interested in - since social work is a social science as compared to a physical science (which nursing fits in) you will want to be sure you have the prereququisit classes. you might also want to talk to those in nursing about a master's in nursing. Depending on what you want to do many hospitals are increasingly using nurses to do fucntions done by social workers (most social workers are not happy about this).

I think it's an excellent plan! If you get your Associate's degree in Nursing from a school that is approved by the Nursing Board, you are then eligible to sit for the exam and become an RN. It would be best to further your education after that. The more education you have, more positions and higher responsibilities, as well as pay, will be open to you.