Denver Nuggets Nurse Appreciation 2025
2025 Event Recap
FOUR nurses were recognized on the court in a pre-game ceremony. Each winner received 2 game tickets, Clove shoes, and a NuWest prize bundle! Plus, 20 nurses and their guests were invited to watch the pregame warm-ups from the VIP section courtside!
Here are the nurses honored on the court, chosen by an online vote:
Tori Gortmaker: I am nominating Tori because I think she is so deserving of this recognition. During COVID, she tirelessly cared for patients with blood cancer undergoing bone marrow transplants in the ICU. She advocated for them and treated them like her family when their own family couldn’t be there due to the restrictions in place. When she decided to leave the ICU, she went straight into high-risk labor and delivery where she cared for moms from across several states. She would sit with her patients celebrating the (big) little milestones like staying pregnant another week and give them support when things were difficult or they had to deliver early (some as early as 24 weeks). She now works on an LDRP floor where she can be there for her patients during their pregnancy, labor, and recovery. She loves being able to see them through the entire journey and help teach new parents. Tori has been a nurse for 5 years, and she has always put her patients and loved ones first, even before herself. She loves her job and she loves the Denver Nuggets (she even went to a game two nights before her own baby was born) and I think this would be a great way to show her some appreciation for all the amazing things she does!
Maggie Sheehan: Maggie has been recognized by multiple patients and providers for her excellent patient care and dedication to their needs. She is an amazing nurse navigator and makes a difference in patients’ lives every day.
Jaylese Alissa Guerrero: Jaylese is one of the most selfless people I have ever met not just as a nurse but as an individual inside and outside of the hospital, Jaylese will go above and beyond to ensure you are taken care of.
Marcia Jolly: Marcia is an amazing person both inside and outside of work. In addition to being a bedside nurse, taking care of patients every day (including through covid, despite having an autoimmune disease), in her free time she also serves as a respite foster parent for abused/neglected children from across the Denver metro area. Even with all of that, she still makes time for family and friends, and her other true passion - DENVER SPORTS TEAMS!
It's a once-in-a-lifetime moment for these amazing nurses, and we invite you to be part of the celebration.
Awards and Prizes:
- The 4 nurses with the most votes were honored on the court!
- The 4 nurse winners each received 2 game tickets, courtesy of Nurse.org, a pair of Clove shoes, and a prize bundle from NuWest!
2024 Event Recap
FOUR nurses were recognized on the court in a pre-game ceremony, including a delivery of the game ball. Each winner received 2 game tickets, Clove shoes, and a NuWest prize bundle! Plus, 50 nurses were invited to watch the pregame warm-ups from the VIP section!
4 Nurses Honored at the Game!
Here are the four nurses who were chosen by an online vote:
Marty Turner
- Nomination: It is my esteemed honor to introduce you to Martha “Marty” Turner. Marty, a Colorado native, has worked in the Burn Center at University of Colorado hospital for 34 YEARS and is finally retiring after a career of tireless caring, educating, and advocating. Many of us know someone who has experienced a heart attack, cancer, stroke, a broken bone, but a major burn injury is rare and extremely specialized. Marty is with the patient from day one of their injury in the ICU all the way through their recovery in the outpatient clinic once they return home. She is the calm, reassuring voice on the worst day of their life, losing not only their skin but sometimes loved ones, pets and belongings. These patients are the sickest of the sick in the hospital and Marty has been training new nurses and doctors for over 30 years on how to best care for our patients, inspiring a whole community of burn center staff and helping create one of the best Burn Centers in the country. Her impact is exponential. The number of patients she has cared for over the years is in the thousands but add to that all the people she has trained, and that number becomes incalculable. Marty teaches our advanced classes locally, along with training others to teach all over the country as a National Faculty for the American Burn Association. The list doesn’t end there, Marty is an instructor for our Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum (TNCC) class, she volunteers in the Recharge Room helping all hospital staff have a moment of respite in the middle of a crazy day at the hospital, and is an active member in her church leading book and discussion clubs. She has presented at national conferences, sharing her knowledge with new generations of nurses and healthcare staff. Whenever there is a question that cannot be answered, we all look to Marty to give us guidance. She tried retiring once a few years ago, but we didn’t really see much of a change in how much impact Marty has made on all of us and our patients. A breast cancer survivor, Marty barely missed a step as she trudged through treatment and surgeries, still showing up however she could for everyone. You may ask yourself, where is the proof of all of Marty’s great work; pics or it didn’t happen, right? Well, the vast majority of Marty’s work happened before the proliferation of social media. And even if it was around, Marty would be too busy to show off her amazing work. She also makes a difference every day, at the bedside, where social media still can’t touch (for privacy purposes). Marty is one of those nurses that you just know is going to take care of you, whether you are a patient or a new nurse. Many burn patients feel scared and lost in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges until Marty comes along.
Ritchie Hernandez
- Nomination: All of the residents love him. He is so caring to the people he takes care of. He is always making light of tough situations and knows how to make everyone laugh and deserves appreciation.
Amy Kent
- Nomination: Amy Kent worked the Covid ICU through the shutdown and far after. She never missed her shifts. She has now become a charge nurse and is literally running around making sure everyone is taken care of! I would trust her with my life anyday! She’s smart, kind, empathetic, and loves her job!!
Nicole Retana
- Nomination: Nicole works as an RN at North Suburban Medical Center as the nurse educator. She is very present in our facility and knows everyone by name. She comes to every floor asking how she can help and provides education in all areas of our hospital. She goes above and beyond to help us provide quality care to our patients. Nicole is such a positive person and is a shining light at NSMC. Our facility would not be the same without her! I always look forward to seeing her during my shifts. She love being an RN and she truly loves the Nuggets also!!
Event Photos
