Jovita Páez Armenteros

Master of Science, Founding President and Honorary President of the Cuban Society of Nursing, exemplary nurse, worthy heir to the legacy of Florence Nightingale and Margarita Núñez Núñez.

She was born in Havana, where she completed her primary, secondary, and high school studies. She completed her nursing studies at the School of Nurses "Pelegrina Sardá y Sardá", attached to the University Hospital "General Calixto García", from 1960 to 1962.

In January 1963 she began her work as a graduate nurse at the very hospital where she was trained and, due to the excellence of her record, she held the position of Head Nurse of the Psychiatry Service, where she performed with great competence, earning the respect and admiration of doctors and nurses for the humanism demonstrated in her treatment of patients and families, who reciprocated with affection.

That same year she participated in the Literacy Campaign. In 1965 she completed postgraduate studies in Administration and Teaching and from the following year until 1968 she held the position of Head Nurse Teaching Assistant in the Psychiatry Service. From 1968 to 1969 she worked as a Nursing Instructor at the Military University "Luis Díaz Soto" and from 1969 to 1973, she held the same responsibility at the Hospital "Comandante Manuel Fajardo".

In 1973 she went to Algeria on an internationalist mission, where she remained until 1976, working at the "Che Guevara" Hospital in Mostaganem. Upon her return from the mission, she was appointed as Head of Nurses at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, from where she began, with passion, the great work of her life: the establishment of the Cuban Society of Nursing, being elected as President since its founding.

In parallel, she continued serving as Head of Nurses at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery until 1978 when she began her studies for a Bachelor's degree in Nursing and was placed as a Nursing Instructor at the Children's Hospital of Centro Habana where she remained until 1982, when she graduated as a Bachelor of Nursing and went to work at the Ministry of Public Health. In 2007 she graduated with a Master's degree in Satisfactory Longevity, defending her thesis with recognition.

She was President of the Cuban Society of Nursing, SOCUENF, for more than 35 years, always reelected by an overwhelming majority, until the XIV Congress. Thanks to her example and her ability to bring people together, she managed to surround herself with a team of nursing professionals who helped her raise the prestige of the profession, not only at the national level, but also internationally, gaining support from other nursing societies around the world, such as the Spanish society, and recognition from the International Council of Nurses.

Throughout her professional life, she always demonstrated her desire to learn and thus conducted several internships in different countries, notably those at the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Bucharest, Romania, in 1978; at the University of Southern Mississippi, USA, in 1980; at the University of Ottawa, Canada, on Nursing Services Administration, in 1982; at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, on Nursing Regulations, in 1988; at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, also on Nursing Regulations, in 1989; at the University of Carabobo, Venezuela, on Local Health Systems (SILOS), in 1990 and at the National University of Colombia, on Occupational Health, in 1991.

But not satisfied with learning, she shared her knowledge with her colleagues, in scientific papers presented at different events and publications, among which stand out 52 research results, presented at national events and 35 at international events, 19 publications in the Cuban Journal of Nursing, 12 publications in international journals, thesis supervision, review of articles from members so they could be presented at provincial, national and international events, as well as the Prologue to a book on "Control of Signs and Symptoms in the Terminal Patient", by Spanish author Esteban Pérez García, published by FUDEN, in 2009.

Her great professional prestige and as President of SOCUENF were recognized by various international organizations, which incorporated her as a member, such as the International Council of Nurses (ICN) where she was Member of the Council of National Representatives in the period 1981-2007; the Pan-American Federation of Nursing Professionals (FEPPEN), in which she was a member of the Executive Committee in the period 1986-2011; the Ibero-Latin-American Foundation of Nursing 21st Century, based in Madrid, Spain, where she was Third Vice-President in the period 1989-2004; the International Federation for the Development of Nursing 21st Century (FIDE 21st Century), based in Spain, where she served as Vice-President; the WHO/PAHO Expert Committee, of which she was a member in the period 1982-2007 and ALADEFE, in which she was Representative of the Education Commission in the period 2008 to 2011.

For all her contributions to Cuban, Latin American and world nursing, to nursing education and administration and to Cuban public health and that of other peoples of the world, she received multiple recognitions, distinctions and medals.

In 2011, this exceptional woman, faithful to her country, to her profession, to her patients, to her students, to her colleagues and friends, retired, facing with courage the limitations she had to confront due to her health condition.

To the doctors and nurses of the ICU of the Hospital "General Calixto García" and to the doctors and nurses of the CITED, our gratitude for their care during her hospitalization. To the nurses and nursing professionals called by SOCUENF to provide the Founding President with the special care she needed, our deep recognition for their dedication. To the current President of SOCUENF, our admiration and respect for the special attention given to this great figure of nursing, education and administration in health sciences and Cuban public health.

Internships Conducted in Other Countries

1978 Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Bucharest, Romania.
1980 University of Southern Mississippi, United States
1982 University of Ottawa, Canada: administration of nursing services.
1988 Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. Nursing Regulations.
1989 National Autonomous University of Mexico: Nursing Regulations.
1990 University of Carabobo. Venezuela: local health systems (SILOS)
1991 National University of Colombia: Occupational Health

Decorations and Recognition

1970 "Florence Nightingale" Medal awarded by the International Red Cross for saving lives in the face of Natural Disasters in Cuba and other countries
1978 "Manuel Piti Fajardo" Medal for 25 years of uninterrupted work life.
1979 "Conrado Benítez" Medal for having participated in the Literacy Campaign.
1980 "Playa Girón" Medal for having provided assistance to the wounded from the invasion at the Bay of Pigs.
1984 Internationalist Medal for having worked in the Republic of Algeria
1988 International Combatant Medal awarded by the FAR for having provided care to the wounded in the War of Ethiopia.
1988 Ana Betancourt Medal (FMC) for meritorious work in the benefit of training and development of Cuban women
1999 Medal 80th Anniversary of the Birth of Lázaro Peña.
1990 September 28 Medal (CDR) for her active cooperation in Community Health Education, vaccination campaigns, as well as in all tasks developed by the CDR.
1992 August 23 Medal by the (FMC) for her active participation in this organization
1994 Shield of the City of Santiago de Cuba
1994 Certificate of Recognition, by the Province of Las Tunas
1994 Nursing Distinction of "Collegiate Merit" awarded by the College of Nursing Graduates in Spain for her contribution to the development of Nursing in that country.
1995 Finlay Prize in the Exceptional category awarded by the University of Pinar del Río
1995 "Illustrious Guest" of the City of Caracas, awarded by the Municipality of the Republic of Venezuela for her collaboration in the Development of Nursing
1995 Recognition "Is and Will Be an Example for Generations of Nursing" awarded by the Executive Committee of the Pan-American Federation of Nursing Professionals (FEPPEN)
1995 Giraldilla of Havana, delivered by the Provincial Government for work performed in benefit of the profession.
1996 Recognition from the Official Nursing College of Córdoba Spain for contributions made to the development of the profession.
1997 Distinguished Daughter of Santiago de Cuba awarded by the Provincial Assembly of Popular Power for recognition of the contribution made for the benefit of Nursing.
1997 Seal for Excellence in Nursing given in Havana
1998 Recognition Seal for Nursing Work awarded by the Minister of Public Health, where it was delivered to 80 nurses in the country
1998 Recognition for Work Merit for her 35 years of Active Service, awarded by the University of Zulia, Venezuela
1999 Presentation of the Machete of Máximo Gómez in the province of Holguín
1999 Certificate of Illustrious Guest of the City of Venezuela delivered by the Municipality of Caracas
1999 Medal "20th Anniversary" of the State Security Organs
2000 "Mother of Cuban Nursing" awarded by the Province of Cienfuegos for having remained as President of the Cuban Society of Nursing for more than two decades, promoting its development.
2001 The Shield of the City of Baracoa for the development sustained in Cuban Nursing
2003 Certificate of Recognition from MININT for the support provided to the development of Nursing in MININT Services.
2003 Commemorative Plaque for the centenary of the birth of Professor Pedro Kourí, as recognition for the work developed in the scientific advances of Nursing
2003 Recognition from the Cuban Women's Federation for her significant, devoted and solidary contribution to Cuban Medicine for more than four decades.
2005 Illustrious Guest of the City of Bayamo, for her contribution to the Development of Nursing for more than four decades.
2006 The "Key" of the Psychiatric Hospital of Havana
2007 "Carlos J. Finlay" Medal
2008 Medal and Plaque from Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Member Gamma Lambda Chapter.
University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, Mississippi. United States. As a member of that Organization
2008 Medal of the Republic of the Council of State
2008 Recognition from the College of Nurses in La Paz Bolivia for her career as President of the Cuban Society of Nursing
2008 Illustrious Guest of the Departmental College La Paz, Bolivia
2009 Received the Medal for the Centennial of the establishment of the Ministry of Public Health
2010 Medal for the 80th Anniversary of the National School of Public Health
2011 Special Recognition by the Nurses of the Municipality of Guamá in Santiago de Cuba for her contribution to the development of Science and Technique in Nursing and for her excellent leadership for 35 years of the Cuban Society of Nursing
2011 Special Recognition by the Nurses of the Holguín Chapter, who honor her as a Paradigm of Nursing.
2011 Recognition for having contributed to the Technical-Professional Training of Nursing personnel and unconditional dedication to the work carried out by the Nurses of Granma
2011 Recognition Plaque delivered and signed by the Minister of Public Health and the President of the Council of Scientific Health Societies, for her tenacity, perseverance and full dedication to the Scientific development of the profession of Nursing at the National and International level.
2011 Honorary Member Plaque of the Foundation for the Development of Nursing (FUDEN) for her Professional and Human Leadership, her invaluable contribution to the recognition and esteem of Nursing Professionals Worldwide.
2011 Recognition Plaque from the Association of Rosario, Argentina
There are numerous recognitions obtained for her outstanding work for more than four decades within the Health Sector, so it would be endless to be able to enumerate them all.

Founder of the Annual Prize "Aleyda Izaguirre", Sponsored by the Cuban Society of Nursing (SOCUEENF) and the Foundation for the Development of Nursing (FUDEN)
Scientific Activities

Since 1963 she has participated in multiple Scientific Events with the presentation of Research Work of the following nature: Municipal, Provincial

National: Presentation of 52 Research Papers
International: 35 Research Papers
Cuban Journal of Nursing: 19 Publications
International Journals: 12 Publications
Nursing Congresses and other Specialties, National with International participation: 32
She has conducted Thesis Supervision

She has conducted research, Monographs and Brochures that serve as Study Material for our Nurses and other Health Professionals

In 2009 she wrote the Prologue to a Book on Control of Signs and Symptoms in the Patient.

She has conducted the Review of multiple Scientific Articles so that they can be presented by the Members at Provincial, National and International Events.