Rosa A. González

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 Lares, Puerto Rico. 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.

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 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.

Return to Puerto Rico In 1916, González returned to her homeland and organized the Dr. Susoni clinic in the city of Arecibo. Also in that year, she founded and presided over The 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. In 1917, González wrote her first book Diccionario Médico para la Enfermera (Nurse's Medical Dictionary). González was sent to Ponce, 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: When the United States entered World War II, González was named Director of the Nurses Services of the American Red Cross in Puerto Rico.