By Nyingsha Standley

To every nurse and nursing student in Cameroon,
It is time to have a vision that goes beyond getting a job. Do not accept being undervalued because of desperation. Bedside nursing is a choice, not the only future your nursing education has prepared you for.
How can a graduate nurse in Cameroon be paid 40,000 FCFA a month and still be expected to pay rent, feed themselves, support their family, and build a future? How is that sustainable? More importantly, how can anyone expect nurses to consistently give their best under such conditions? This is not only about low pay. It is about dignity, respect, and the value of a profession that keeps our healthcare system running.
What makes it even more concerning is that 40,000 FCFA is below the minimum wage provided for under Cameroon's labour regulations. If we know our rights, we must not be afraid to speak about them. Accepting exploitation should never become the price of belonging to this profession.
Starting from humble beginnings does not mean allowing yourself to be used. There is a difference between gaining experience and being exploited. Know your worth. Ask for conditions that reflect your education, competence, and contribution to healthcare.
Nurses, we studied entrepreneurship. Those courses were not included in our curriculum for decoration. They were meant to teach us how to identify healthcare problems, create solutions, build businesses, create value, and open doors to opportunities for ourselves and for others. We also studied labour law and medical law. Those courses were not fantasies. They were meant to help us understand our rights, our responsibilities, and how to contribute meaningfully to society.
I challenge you to stretch your mind beyond the bedside. Many of us are waiting for opportunities when we have the knowledge to create them. Healthcare is full of problems waiting for innovative nurses to solve them. Every problem solved creates value, and value creates opportunity.
Some people will say I am talking too much. That I am too bold. I accept that. Silence has never transformed a profession. Progress belongs to those who are willing to speak, think differently, and act.
Nursing is built on care. That care should not stop with our patients. We must also care enough to advocate for ourselves, our colleagues, and the future of our profession. You cannot continue helping others while remaining helpless yourself.
The change will not begin in government offices. It will begin with us. Let us reject exploitation. Let us think beyond employment. Let us create value. Let us build businesses. Let us create jobs. Let us restore the dignity of nursing in Cameroon.
I dare you to stretch your mental muscles. Your greatest opportunity may not be the job you are waiting for. It may be the solution you are capable of creating.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

*Nyingsha Standley Bongkem, is a purpose-driven Nursing student at the University of Bamenda. He is scheduled to graduate with his HND later this year. He is passionate about revolutionizing healthcare and the situation of nurses in Cameroon and believes that quality patient care and strong health delivery starts with empowerment and recognition of nurses who are the backbone of every health system. 

He can be reached via email at nyingshastandley3@gmail.com and WhatsApp: +237654082479