RT first before RN?

I was wondering if I should go for being a respiratory therapist before going into nursing because I live in the bay area and I hear it's very hard to get a nursing job here because California has too many nurses to begin with, especially with an associates degree which is what I was going to start out with because I can't afford to get my BSN. Plus, if I was a respiratory therapist first, I could afford to go for my BSN and have a better chance of getting a nursing job. Should I go with getting my RT then go for my BSN or just keep going for my ADN? Thanks