By Kat Meyer

Staff Writer

The Calvin-Hope rivalry continues to enamor students and faculty, but one area that has united the two colleges will soon come to an official, state-approved end.

The Calvin-Hope Nursing program, a coordinated effort between the two schools since 1982, will split as each college persues independent nursing programs. Last week, Calvin officials received permission from the State Board of Nursing that will allow Calvin College Department of Nursing to start its first independent nursing program next fall and graduate its first nurses in 2004. Hope received state approval in December to offer a bachelor of science nursing degree and began classes with 27 nursing students in January.

Calvin Professor Feenstra, chairperson of the Nursing Department, said that administration had been a joint effort, requiring deans and provosts from both colleges to coordinate in decision-making, which became time-consuming. Feenstra said that the joint program began because neither school was equipped to support its own program. ``As the years went by, each college's program had more students enrolling, lessening the need for a combined program,'' said Feenstra, who says the split seems like a smart move for both schools.

But last week's state approval for Calvin's program is only the first step. The State Board will give a final approval of Calvin's program only after Calvin has graduated two classes from the program, said Phil de Haan, Calvin's Director of Media Relations.

``We're two-thirds there,'' said Professor Doornbos, also of Calvin's nursing program, who said Calvin received permission in September from the State Board of Nurses to develop a bachelor program. In December, Calvin's nursing department had a visitor from the State Board look at Calvin's facilities and clinicals. The third step, and final approval of Calvin's nursing program's education will come after two classes graduate from the program. ``We're not too concerned about that,'' said Doornbos, ``We are confident about giving quality education to our students.''

Doornbos, calls the split part of a ``developmental decision,'' since both Calvin and Hope's nursing programs are at a point where each college can sustain its own program. Doornbos sees the split as influenced by the current state of nursing shortages, which was a ``compelling factor as well.''

According to a quote given to the Grand Rapids Press by de Haan, Calvin students interested in the nursing degree will apply to the program as sophomores and begin nursing classes in their junior year. Students will also spend time in acute care settings such as hospitals and also in factories, schools and malls.

De Haan also told the Press that one plan under discussion is to match Calvin nursing students with area families from other cultures so they can work together on health promotion and protection over a two-year period. Calvin's new nursing program philosophy is to take care of people wherever they are, and promote wellness.

Doornbos said she's looking forward to the community based curriculum, that aims to provide care to people wherever they are. ``Students will be assigned to either Baxter, Creston, or Burton Heights communities, providing health care to these areas.'' Doornbos said this type of interfacing has been a trend in healthcare, and not exclusive to Calvin's new program. ``I'm excited that this trend works well with Calvin's mission statement; it'll allow Calvin nursing students to provide healthcare to underserved communities.''

``The year 2020 is looming as the projected peak of a nursing shortage, with the baby-boomers all aging at the same time,'' said Feenstra, who believes that the nursing shortage may also be due to more occupational fields opening up to women.

Sarah Bilthouse, a junior in the Calvin-Hope nursing program said she heard about the possibility of a split last year. She said that she has been frustrated, ``Distance learning, in the basement of Hiemenga Hall, where we either watch our professor on live TV, and ask questions through microphones on our desks just adds extra stress knowing you're on camera. Half the time we're asking through microphones if profs can speak up at Hope.'' Bilthouse was also one of seven Calvin students who had to commute to Hope's campus in Holland. ``Having to go out to Holland was annoying; for four weeks we had to be at Hope at 7 a.m. for clinicals,'' said Bilthouse, who admits that some Hope students had to do the same. ``I think this will make classroom time easier and less awkward.''

April Sipe, a junior nursing student at Hope thought the distance learning through television was better than commuting, ``but still a pain, especially when there were technical problems and we miss out on class.''