Rosa González
Encyclopedia
Rosa González, RN
, (1889-July 25, 1981) was a nurse, author, feminist and activist. She established various health clinics throughout Puerto Rico and was the founder of The Association of Registered Nurses of Puerto Rico. Gonzalez authored two books related to her field, in which she denounced the discrimination against women and nurses in Puerto Rico. In 1978, she was the first recipient of the Public Health Department of Puerto Rico Garrido Morales Award.
. There she received her primary and secondary education. She was still a child when Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States in accordance with the agreement reached in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the Spanish-American War.
González became interested in the field of nursing and enrolled in the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in San Juan, Puerto Rico
, where she earned her nurse certificate in 1909. In 1914, she went to New York City
and continued her studies and earned the title of Registered Nurse
at the New York Presbyterian Hospital.
. Also in that year, she founded and presided overThe Association of Registered Nurses of Puerto Rico. Under her leadership the association was able to raise enough funds for the construction of a building to house the Club de Nurses, where convalescent nurses could reside."Lideres en Enfermeria en Puerto Rico; Rosa Angélica González"; by: Tiffany Ramos
In 1917, González wrote her first book Diccionario Médico para la Enfermera (Nurse's Medical Dictionary).
In 1918, the Swine Flu
swept through Army camps and training posts around the world including Puerto Rico, infecting one quarter of all soldiers and killing more than 55,000 American troops. González was sent to Ponce, Puerto Rico
, where she assisted Dr. Dolores Piñero
and four male colleagues, when they opened a 400-bed hospital to care for infected patients and World War I
veterans.
González served as the voluntary Director of Emergency Unit in the city of Mayagüez, helping the victims of the San Fermín earthquake. From 1919 to 1924 González was the Director of Puerto Rico's Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing. During this time (1921), she traveled to New York and attended Columbia University
. In 1924, she worked as an educator and trainer of nurses for the Sanitation Department of Puerto Rico.
(1929), the school of the Institute of Medical Surgery (1930), and the nursing school on the grounds of the School of Tropical Medicine
in San Juan
(1931). González organized and, from 1936 to 1940, headed the first clinic dedicated to maternal health in her hometown of Lares.
González used her book to promote the establishment of a Nurse Examiners Board in Puerto Rico. As a Women’s Rights activist, she also denounced the discriminatory practices against women in the health care professions. González believed that the "Medical Class" discriminated against female nurses and stated this clearly in her book:
The Nurse Examiners Board was established in 1930. When the United States entered World War II
, González was named Director of the Nurses Services of the American Red Cross
in Puerto Rico.
where she resided. She died in her home on July 25, 1981 .
The organization Salud Pro-Mujer (Pro-Woman's Health) named an award the "ROSA GONZALEZ AWARD" which recognizes health professionals who have contributed to improving the health of women.
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
, (1889-July 25, 1981) was a nurse, author, feminist and activist. She established various health clinics throughout Puerto Rico and was the founder of The Association of Registered Nurses of Puerto Rico. Gonzalez authored two books related to her field, in which she denounced the discrimination against women and nurses in Puerto Rico. In 1978, she was the first recipient of the Public Health Department of Puerto Rico Garrido Morales Award.
Early years
González (birth name: Rosa Angélica González) was born and raised in the town of Lares, Puerto RicoLares, Puerto Rico
Lares is a small mountain municipality of Puerto Rico's central-western area located north of Maricao and Yauco; south of Camuy, east of San Sebastián and Las Marias; and west of Hatillo, Utuado and Adjuntas. Lares is spread over 10 wards and Lares Pueblo...
. There she received her primary and secondary education. She was still a child when Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States in accordance with the agreement reached in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the Spanish-American War.
González became interested in the field of nursing and enrolled in the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, where she earned her nurse certificate in 1909. In 1914, she went to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and continued her studies and earned the title of Registered Nurse
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
at the New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Return to Puerto Rico
In 1916, González returned to her homeland and organized the Dr. Susoni clinic in the city of AreciboArecibo
Arecibo may refer to:*Arecibo, Puerto Rico, a municipality located by the Atlantic Ocean*Arecibo Observatory, a very sensitive radio telescope located approximately south-southwest from the city of Arecibo...
. Also in that year, she founded and presided overThe Association of Registered Nurses of Puerto Rico. Under her leadership the association was able to raise enough funds for the construction of a building to house the Club de Nurses, where convalescent nurses could reside."Lideres en Enfermeria en Puerto Rico; Rosa Angélica González"; by: Tiffany Ramos
In 1917, González wrote her first book Diccionario Médico para la Enfermera (Nurse's Medical Dictionary).
In 1918, the Swine Flu
Swine flu
Swine influenza, also called pig influenza, swine flu, hog flu and pig flu, is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus or S-OIV is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs...
swept through Army camps and training posts around the world including Puerto Rico, infecting one quarter of all soldiers and killing more than 55,000 American troops. González was sent to Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
, where she assisted Dr. Dolores Piñero
Dolores Piñero
Dr. Dolores Piñero, was one of the first four Puerto Rican women to earn a medical degree. She was also one of the first civilian doctors, and the first Puerto Rican female doctor to serve under contract in the U.S. Army during World War I...
and four male colleagues, when they opened a 400-bed hospital to care for infected patients and World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veterans.
González served as the voluntary Director of Emergency Unit in the city of Mayagüez, helping the victims of the San Fermín earthquake. From 1919 to 1924 González was the Director of Puerto Rico's Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing. During this time (1921), she traveled to New York and attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. In 1924, she worked as an educator and trainer of nurses for the Sanitation Department of Puerto Rico.
Founder of medical institutions
In 1926, González founded a magazine for nurses called Puerto Rico. She was also named the Executive Secretary of the Association of Graduated Nurses of Puerto Rico, a position which she held until 1927. Amongst the institutions which she organized were the Amarosa Sanitarium in the town of VillalbaVillalba, Puerto Rico
Villalba is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central region, northeast of Juana Díaz; south of Orocovis; and west of Coamo. Villalba is spread over 6 wards and Villalba Pueblo...
(1929), the school of the Institute of Medical Surgery (1930), and the nursing school on the grounds of the School of Tropical Medicine
School of Tropical Medicine (Puerto Rico)
The School of Tropical Medicine , was an educational institution created in 1926 by an act of the Puerto Rican Legislature, to further the research initiated by the Anemia Commissions and the Institute of Tropical Medicine on anemia and its causes...
in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
(1931). González organized and, from 1936 to 1940, headed the first clinic dedicated to maternal health in her hometown of Lares.
Women's rights activist
In 1929, González wrote a book titled Los Hechos Desconocidos (Unknown Facts), which she dedicated to the Governor of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rican Legislature and the Medical Association. The book was also dedicated to the Puerto Rican Nurses Association and the Association of Puerto Rican Women Surrogates.González used her book to promote the establishment of a Nurse Examiners Board in Puerto Rico. As a Women’s Rights activist, she also denounced the discriminatory practices against women in the health care professions. González believed that the "Medical Class" discriminated against female nurses and stated this clearly in her book:
"In our country any man who is active in a political party, will be considered capable of handling an administrative position, regardless of how inept he is. "
"To this day the 'Medical Class' has not accepted nurses who have the same goal as doctors: the well-being of the patient. Both professions need each other in order to be successful."
The Nurse Examiners Board was established in 1930. When the United States entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, González was named Director of the Nurses Services of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
in Puerto Rico.
Legacy
In 1978, González became the first recipient of the Garrido Morales award, an honor bestowed upon her by the Governing Board of the Association of Public Health in Puerto Rico. She continued to provide medical services free of charge for the children in GuaynaboGuaynabo, Puerto Rico
Guaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas; south of Cataño; east of Bayamón; and west of San Juan...
where she resided. She died in her home on July 25, 1981 .
The organization Salud Pro-Mujer (Pro-Woman's Health) named an award the "ROSA GONZALEZ AWARD" which recognizes health professionals who have contributed to improving the health of women.