Rosa A. González
Rosa A. González | |
---|---|
Puerto Rican | |
Occupation(s) | Registered Nurse and author |
Rosa A. 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. In 1929, Gonzalez wrote a book titled Los Hechos Desconocidos (The Unknown Facts), in which she denounced the discrimination against women and nurses in Puerto Rico. González’s book convinced James R. Beverley, the Interim Governor of Puerto Rico, to sign Ley 77 (Law 77) in May 1930, which established a Nurses Examining Board. 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
She attended the Congressional day school and converted to Protestantism when she was nine years old. Her father, a small merchant, suddenly died when she was just a child and she went to live with her aunt and uncle. While she was attending public secondary school she learned that the Presbyterian Hospital of Puerto Rico needed nurses. She became interested in pursuing a career in nursing despite the protests of her family. González enrolled in the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in
Return to Puerto Rico
In 1916, González returned to her homeland and organized the Dr. Susoni clinic in the city of
In 1918, the
González served as the voluntary Director of Emergency Unit in the city of
In 1924, she worked as an educator and trainer of nurses for the Sanitation Department of Puerto Rico.
Nurses Examining Board
In 1929, González wrote a book titled Los Hechos Desconocidos (The 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.
In her book she denounced the corruption, abuses and unhealthy practices in the municipal hospital. 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’s book convinced James R. Beverley, the Interim Governor of Puerto Rico, to sign Ley 77 (Law 77) in May 1930. Previously the Medical Board, which was made up of male doctors who regulated nursing matters, had pressured the Governor not to sign the bill into law. This was because if the bill became law it would establish a Nurses Examining Board responsible for setting and enforcing standards of nursing education and practices. González believed that the "Medical Class" discriminated against female nurses and stated this clearly in her book:[1]
"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 law (Ley 77), influenced by González’s written work, also stipulated that the Board of Medical Examiners include two nurses and established the Nurse Examiners Board. The passage of Ley 77 proved that women can operate both in the formal public sphere while working in a female oriented field.[3][5]
Founder of medical institutions in Puerto Rico
Amongst the institutions which she organized were the Amarosa Sanitarium in the town of Villalba (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).[1]
Dr.
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.[1][3] She continued to provide medical services free of charge for the children in Guaynabo where she resided. She died in her home on July 25, 1981 .[2][3]
The Salud Pro-Mujer (Pro-Woman's Health) organization named an award the "ROSA GONZALEZ AWARD" which recognizes health professionals who have contributed to improving the health of women.[7]
Further reading
- Further reading: Reproducing Empire: Race, Sex, Science, and U.S. Imperialism in Puerto Rico; By Laura Briggs; Publisher: University of California Press; ISBN 978-0520232587
- Advancing The Kingdom Missionaries And Americanization In Puerto Rico, 1898 – 1930s; By: Ellen Walsh; Publisher: ProQuest, UMI Dissertation Publishing; ISBN 9781243978028
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Salud Promujer 1 Archived 2011-08-24 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f "LA MUJER EN LAS PROFESIONES DE SALUD (1898-1930); By: YAMILA AZIZE VARGAS1 and LUIS ALBERTO AVILES; PRHSJ Vol, 9 No. 1
- ^ a b c d e f g "Lideres en Enfermeria en Puerto Rico; Rosa Angélica González"; by: Tiffany Ramos
- ^ a b Carol R. Byerly, Fever of War, (New York University Press, 2005), 6-10.
- ^ ISBN 9781243978028
- ^ Reproducing Empire: Race, Sex, Science, and U.S. Imperialism in Puerto Rico
- ^ Salud Pro-Mujer