Nurse Robert Mngambi wasn’t born with a stethoscope around his neck. His journey to caring for others had an unexpected beginning, one that saw him brave enough to walk inside high school hallways once again at the age of 23 after failing numerous times.
Growing up in Mount Frere town in the Eastern Cape, Mngambi describes life as challenging but manageable.
“I was born in a rural area at Cabazi, Mount Frere town (Kwabhaca), in the province of the Eastern Cape. Life has been quite challenging, as I come from a big family that was only headed by one breadwinner who was working in Johannesburg. But we made a living because we were not different from other families, which is how most people lived back then.
“At school, I wanted to become a radio presenter, but because of a lack of knowledge, limited resources, and limited opportunities in rural areas, I ended up falling in love with agriculture and biology. I had an equal interest in both, but fortunately, a nursing opportunity came first, and here I am.”
Failing, falling, and fulfilling a dream
Mngambi, who has faced many failures in his academic career, continued to chase a dream to emerge stronger than his challenges. While everyone sailed into adulthood, he decided to take a pause and consider his studies to rewrite his story.
“My proudest moment was when I decided to go back to high school at the age of 23 and never stopped until I achieved my goal of being a professional nurse in record time.”
“I failed grade 2, failed grade 12 dismally, failed 50% of my subjects in finishing school, and failed N4 (electrical engineering). When I was 23 years old, I decided to go back to high school to start over from grade 10. Luckily, they said I could start in grade 11.
“When I was 24, I achieved my goal and managed to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Thereafter, I struggled to get a varsity to further my studies, so I worked as a petrol attendant at Sasol Norwood.”
“At 26, I got accepted at the Lilitha College of Nursing Lusikisiki Campus and completed my four years of study.”
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Saving lives
Now working as a theatre nurse, Mngambi mentions that his day-to-day work life is interesting as he learns about different medical cases every day. It is also more about preserving lives, as he underlines that there is nothing that feels better than going to bed knowing that you saved lives or that you were part of the team that did well on the day.
“Nothing motivated me to become a nurse more than being interested in knowing the total well-being of a human being, what affects it, and how it can be reversed or corrected, not forgetting to mention total care of the helpless.”
No career is without challenges, and starting as a male nurse can be an additional challenge. However, he was able to overcome it all.
“It was a bit challenging at first to be a male nurse, especially in obstruction and gynaecology. You are to see things that are very private for females, but in the end, we are trained and we do anatomy and physiology.
“We have a simple understanding of the human body; what you see is just an organ, and this person is sick. All you have to do is play your role as a nurse, and eventually, you get used to everything.”
No limits
Mngambi further shares that he would like to specialise in nursing education, occupational health, or anaesthetic nursing and be remembered as an ordinary person from a rural area who once failed in life but eventually changed his life by going back to school and achieving his dreams regardless of age and other challenges.
“I did not give up on my journey because I was encouraged by my background and hunger to change my life, not forgetting support from my family, friends, and colleagues.
“To young individuals who still want to join nursing, I want to say to you: come with an attitude of learning and saving lives of different cultural beliefs, religions, and customs, with respect, and reassurance. And also don’t feel like you are limited, nursing is wide with various fields and opportunities.”
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