by Maria DeBlassie
Daily Lobo
About 14 students from the Student Nursing Association modeled nurse uniforms Friday to show the progress the profession has made in the past 100 years.
"The nursing uniforms have changed, kind of indicative of the change that's been going on in nursing," said Sandra Ferketich, dean and alumna of UNM's College of Nursing.
The fashion show was the first event of the college's 50th anniversary celebration.
The students walked around the Health Sciences Plaza showing off uniforms from the past and present to a crowd of more than 100.
Until 1990, nurse uniforms were mostly dresses. Before 1940, nurses had to wear wool dresses that went down to their ankles. After the 1950s, most uniforms were white knee-length dresses.
Faculty member Judith Harris said when she graduated from nursing school 30 years ago, nurses were supposed to stand at attention any time the physician entered the room. Now, she said, that doesn't happen.
"This is a time to look back on great history and begin to look forward," said Rosemary Gregory, development officer of the college.
Emily Carey, UNM junior and president of the Student Nurses Association, said the fashion show displayed nurse outfits from as far back as the early 1900s, and the College of Nursing faculty donated many of the outfits. She said a man modeled present-day scrubs worn by nurses because the profession has changed over the decades.
"Nursing is not only for females anymore," Carey said.
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She also said much of nursing work cannot be done in skirts anymore.
Before 1980, nurses also wore caps as a part of their attire.
Maurine Goehring, who graduated from the college in 1981, said her class never wore caps because they symbolized discrimination in the profession and suggested nurses were subservient to physicians.
Gregory said Marion Fleck founded the College of Nursing in 1955.
Fleck, 89, said she's happy to see what people have done to continue this legacy and is amazed at all the development that has occurred within the college.
"My part was a very small part," Fleck said.
The first graduating class in 1959 consisted of 12 students, Gregory said, and now the college has more than 500 students. Originally, the college was located in Marron Hall and later at Mesa Vista Hall, until its permanent home was built on North Campus around 1974, Gregory said.
"It's a time to remember those who paved the way," Gregory said.
She said the program enhanced opportunities for women in nursing by giving them a solid education.
As for the fashions of nursing, Fleck said when she came to the University, the nursing outfit was not part of their regular life, although they were proud of their costume.
"In the college, students were not identified totally by the uniform but by what they could do," Fleck said.
Dr. Estelle Rosenblum, former dean and teacher at the college and narrator of the fashion show, said it's rewarding to see all the accomplishments of the college and the role nursing has served in the community.
"Our nurses have served in every hospital and clinic in New Mexico," she said.
Junior Rebecca Benner said nursing is a profession that mixes art and science.
"You learn the medical side of it, but there is also a very humane side," she said.
The festivities continued with a tour of the college, an award ceremony, a banquet and a tailgate party.
