what other strengths or experience might i need for nursing.

Keymari, when I was 18, I was called an orderly. I was really a nursing assistant. I did this on the med. surg. floor and graduated to the ER, on my own. I did this, for a year. At the end of the year, I was more than ready to be a nurse. Basic EMT, Medical Assistant, or CNA, are all good preparation choices, but none of them are requirements. If you can volunteer at a local hospital, even for a little while, may give you a good idea, of what nursing is like. Nurses are usually the ones giving you your assignments.