Hello,

 To help with your chem classes, maybe you should go to tutoring after every class session. As far as which nursing route, I had the same problem deiciding. I am not a nurse yet, however, I picked the program that I would be able to get in faster. In my school, there are pre reqs before the entrance exam. I will be eligible next yr for lpn or I could wait for 2013 for RN. I figured I would go into the lpn and when I finish I go back for RN.

I look at it like this, everyone is having a hard time finding jobs so, I could spend time at school doing RN to keep everything fresh while looking for a job.

I failed chemistry in high school -- TWICE.  Got A's in organic, inorganic and biochemistry in college.  You don't always do the same for HS to college.

If you are looking at becoming an RN eventually, why not just take the plunge and do it to begin with? 

I realize that there may be other considerations such as finances, but you really need to research what RN's and LPN's do at work.  Both are nurses, both do not always do the same thing, nor do they tend to have similar career trajectories.

Talk with advisors from each type of school and talk to several LPN's and RN's.