Ambrose Retires with 35+ Years of Service
Registered nurse Anita Ambrose recently finished out her career with North Mississippi Medical Center where it all began more than 35 years ago—with the babies.
In November 1987, Anita joined the NMMC team in the newborn nursery at the newly-opened Women’s Hospital. As needed, she would rotate to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where she fell in love with caring for premature and critically ill newborns. About a year in, she transferred to the NICU and stepdown nursery full time.
In 1993, Anita joined NMMC’s Home Health team, where she spent 25 years of her career. During that time, she worked as a route nurse, pediatric specialist, pediatric clinician and pediatric outcomes manager. She also served as a wound specialist with Home Health, and in 2004 she became a certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse through Emory University.
In 2018, Anita returned to her first love – the NICU. “I loved taking care of critically ill babies who were so, so sick and seeing them get better and go home,” she says. “I also loved teaching parents how to take care of their babies. Interacting with families at their worst and then seeing them years later in the community and they remember you—that’s very rewarding.”
A 1982 graduate of Starkville High School, Anita attended Mississippi State University for one year before completing her associate degree in nursing at Mississippi University for Women. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2000 from the University of North Alabama and her master’s degree in nursing education in 2009 from South University.
Anita is married to Melvin Ambrose, pastor of Mt. Carmel M.B. Church in Verona, and they own M&M Lawn Care. They have four children: Rasheda (Ed) Brown; Melvin Jr. (Chasity); Octavia and Mason; and six grandchildren.
Another big part of Anita’s heart belongs to Girl Scouts. Joining as a Brownie in second grade, Anita advanced through the ranks and is now a lifetime member, having served faithfully as a volunteer leader for 35 years. She also serves as president of Lee County Community Civitans, is active with Delta Sigma Theta Tupelo Alumnae Chapter and teaches children’s Sunday School at her church.
“I just couldn’t stay retired,” Anita says, so when babysitting her grandchildren and church, civic and volunteer work weren’t enough, she accepted a position as assistant director of nurses at Diversicare in Tupelo.
