Mester is TidalHealth Peninsula Regional’s September 2025 DAISY Awardee

TidalHealth Peninsula Regional is pleased to announce that Delaney Mester, RN, of the Emergency Department (ED), has been selected as its DAISY Award recipient for September 2025.

Mester was nominated for going above and beyond for a recent pediatric patient in the ED:

“Our ED is no stranger to holding patients for care. Every so often, we have patients who become long-term residents of our department while they await placement at another facility or home discharge. Of these patients, our most vulnerable is the pediatric psychiatric population. Placement for these patients can often lead to extended stays.

One we most recently have faced is an 11-year-old pediatric patient, to whom Delaney demonstrated a level of compassion and humanity that embodies the true spirit of nursing.

This pediatric psychiatric patient has been a resident in our ED for over 600 hours, awaiting decisions from the state regarding housing placement. This young patient has endured a few hardships, including trouble at home, rare family visits, and the unimaginable reality of spending weeks confined to a single room in the ED.

While it would be easy for anyone to view this situation as overwhelming or outside the scope of our typical role, Delaney saw a child in need of care, dignity and hope. She went above and beyond to provide comfort and normalcy during a time of uncertainty.

Delaney arranged for security to escort her and the patient outside so she could watch the sunrise — a simple but profound gesture that gave this patient a taste of freedom and fresh air after being stuck inside for weeks. Delaney didn’t stop there: She asked the patient if there was one thing she could do to make their stay a little better. The patient asked for a picnic.

Delaney, showing her trademark compassion, went to the store after her night shift, purchased the patient’s requested items, and returned the next day to bring her vision to life. She didn’t do this alone; she gathered team members, who chipped in to buy PJs and toiletries, and had them join the patient, giving them a much-needed sense of social connection and joy. In that moment, an ED room transformed into a place of laughter, kindness and belonging.

Because of Delaney’s empathy and dedication, this patient, who has endured so much uncertainty and absence from their family, was able to feel cared for, valued, and loved. She gave this young patient something that cannot be charted or ordered: humanity and the chance to smile during their month-long stay in our department.

Delaney’s actions remind us all of why we became nurses: not just to provide medical care, but to heal through compassion, presence, and advocacy. She is a shining example of the DAISY Award’s mission, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.

Thank you, Delaney, for going above and beyond to bring light to one of our most vulnerable patients.”

Mester was honored with the DAISY Award in a ceremony before her colleagues. She received certificates commending her for being an extraordinary nurse, and a sculpture called “A Healer's Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, California, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at age 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon autoimmune disease.
The care Barnes and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
To nominate a TidalHealth registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) for this award, visit tidalhealth.org/recognition.