Celebrating Catherine A. Mariani, RN and Excellent Walk-In Care in Millville

For her excellent work and commitment to the Beebe Values, The Beebe Medical Foundation is proud to recognize Catherine A. Mariani as part of the Celebrate Excellent Care Program. Mariani's commitment to excellence is evident in the following story shared by Barbara Sunderlin, a resident of the Cripple Creek Golf & Country Club community on the outskirts of Dagsboro.

When Barbara Sunderlin’s granddaughter fell at the pool this summer, she was treated at the Beebe Walk-In Care facility in Millville. "They were so good with her; she was afraid that she would need stitches and they totally made her feel at ease. It could have been a very traumatic experience for my granddaughter, but they turned it into a positive experience by understanding her fear and calming her anxiety. The entire team was great and attentive to our needs; they made us feel confident and comfortable," said Barbara.

So in January 2017, when Barbara needed treatment on her leg, which she had injured while working out, she didn't hesitate to visit Beebe Walk-In Care again. "I go to the gym a lot and was having pain in my right leg. I had been doing exercises but was still having problems so I decided to go to Beebe Walk-In Care," she said.

From the moment she arrived at the center, she encountered a staff that was understanding, kind, compassionate and committed to their work. The receptionist immediately explained that there might be a slight delay because of a patient who had just arrived with chest pains. Once the urgent situation had been resolved, the physician nurse, Catherine Mariani, introduced herself and escorted Barbara to an examining room. "She was so considerate and took a lot of time with me," Barbara said. "She immediately put me at ease. She is a quick study and immediately understood my situation. Both the nurse and the nurse practitioner were very attentive in treating me."

She added, "After they evaluated me, they suggested and demonstrated exercises I should be doing for my leg, and I never once felt like I was being rushed as they took as much time as needed to answer all my questions. Catherine and I had a great conversation; she really understood me and took the time to build a trusting rapport with me." During their conversation, Catherine mentioned that she has always had aspirations for nursing and for helping others; when she was younger, she was inspired by the Candy Stripers and knew that nursing was something she wanted to do one day.

"Catherine has an excellent bedside manner and just a good way about her,” Barbara said. “She is insightful, kind, compassionate, respectful, and genuinely cares about her work and her patients. She has a passion for what she does, and it shows. She is truly an example of excellence in action. She and her team not only understand the Beebe Values, but 'walk the talk' every day through exceptional teamwork, respect and consideration for the patient - understanding, empathy and compassion for the needs of the patient and their family. They are role models for the Beebe Values and without exception demonstrate those values in every aspect of their work."

Catherine Mariani has worked for Beebe Healthcare since March 2016, and is currently pursuing a combined bachelor’s/master's program at Wilmington University where she will complete her bachelor of science degree in nursing in fall 2018 and her master of science degree in nursing in 2019.

She has lived in Millsboro for over 20 years, and before coming to Beebe she was the food and beverage manager at Baywood Greens for 17 years. Several years ago, she decided to make a midlife career change and fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. She admits she puts a lot of pressure on herself, but feels “You are never too old to do anything you want, and anyone can do anything if they try.”

Mariani balances her commitment to work and school with spending as much time as possible with her 2-1/2-year-old grandson, cooking for her husband and family, gardening, boating and enjoying time on the beach.

Mariani's long-term goal is to be a healthcare educator in the community. She wants to work with the residents of Sussex County on healthcare maintenance and medication adherence, and she believes that being new in the healthcare field, she is learning a lot about what people need to know. Her hope is someday to play an integral role in educating the public on important healthcare issues.

When Mariani was asked what keeps her motivated she responded, "Taking care of people...I have this thing in my heart about not wanting people to hurt and wanting them to smile. I want to help others feel good and to be happy."

"I feel like people are always so quick to complain about things,” Barbara said, “and I wanted people to know how great my visits have been to Beebe's Walk-In Care and the way Catherine and the rest of the Millville team made me feel. My two experiences at Millville have been extremely positive; I would recommend Beebe Walk-In Care to anyone in need of treatment, and I would definitely seek Catherine out for help in the future."

For more information about Beebe Healthcare's Values and how team members live these values every day, go to http://www.beebehealthcare.org/our-values. For more information about Beebe's Celebrate Excellent Care program and how you can support Beebe Healthcare, the local nonprofit community healthcare system, contact Beebe Medical Foundation at 302-644-2900.

Beebe Healthcare is a not-for-profit community healthcare system with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health for the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities it serves. It offers services throughout Southern Delaware for residents and visitors, including a 210-licensed-bed hospital, a cancer treatment center, and outpatient facilities providing walk-in care, lab, imaging, and physical rehabilitation.