CNA certification to RN career path???

Hello, I start my CNA certification program the end of this month, I am also currently working on the prereq for the RN program which I should be able to get into in the fall of 2011. I'm curious about how the career paths work for people who have an end goal of becoming an RN.

After I complete my CNA program, I can get a job as a CNA. I see my local hospital hires for positions called Student Nurse. Is that a stepping stone? CNA, Student Nurse then RN? Once I get accepted into the RN program is that when I could be a student nurse? I'm pretty confused about the career path people take.

Thanks!