Confused on how to become an Nurse. Please Help?

I want to become a Nurse practitioner and I understand that this takes about 6 years to do so. I am so confused though. Do I have to become an RN first and have a year experience to become an Nurse Practitioner. I enrolled at a 4 year college that said they had a nursing school but now they changed it only to where if you are already a RN and you are trying to step up. Basically I want to know what my schooling process will be to be an RN. Right now they have me taking my basics but does this count towards Nursing school. Please help Im so confused.