Portland Trail Blazers Nurse Night: Get Discount Tickets & Nurses To Be Honored
🏀About Portland Trail Blazers Nurse Appreciation Nights
Event Details:
- Sunday, December 14, 2025 – Trail Blazers vs. Golden State Warriors at 6:00 PM at the Moda Center
- Monday, January 5, 2026 – Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz at 7:00 PM at the Moda Center
The Portland Trail Blazers celebrated nurses with two Nurse Appreciation nights in their games against the Golden State Warriors and the Utah Jazz. These evenings of gratitude were studded with excitement, and a total of 12 nurse winners, selected via an online vote, were honored on the court before each game.
But the nurse honorees weren't the only winners here - each ticket purchased through a Nurse.org exclusive offer included a commemorative Trail Blazers badge holder and access to a post-game free throw experience on the Moda Center court! Needless to say, these were some of the most exciting, prize-packed Nurse Appreciation Nights, courtesy of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Nurses Honored On The Court
As a part of these slam-dunk celebrations, six nurses were recognized on the course before each game (that's 12 total honorees)! Selected via an online vote, our nurse honorees represent the essence of nursing: service, compassion, and care.
In addition to being honored on the court before each game, our winners received two free game tickets, Fabletics scrubs, Clove shoes, and other exciting prizes. Learn more about our winners below.
December 14th Honorees
Alisha Ngo
Alisha is an incredible nurse, she's always such a joy, and makes every client feel special!
Brooke Rivera Sarti
Brooke is owner of the Skin Suite Aesthetics, she's driven, accomplished and a genuinely lovely person! As an even bigger bonus, she's doing great things for the community and those affected by the government shutdown by collecting non-perishables for those families in need.
Jo Skeffington
Jo Skeffington has epitomized throughout her life the innate caring and thoughtfulness required of the nursing profession. Having been a nurse for 40+ years now, she has spent the majority of her career working in hospice, caring for people during oftentimes the most forgotten time of their lives—the end. She has dedicated years to proving the statement “It is not about the quantity of how many years you live, but the quality of them.”
Through her nursing care, she has ensured the last days, weeks, and months of many patients’ lives are pain-free, filled with joy, and full of lasting memories for their families. At most hospice agencies she worked at, she was the go-to pediatric hospice nurse, providing gentle care to many children and their families going through the horror of congenital conditions or childhood cancers. After providing the required care during her work hours, she would often give these families her personal number, providing emotional and physical support at the drop of a hat, showing up on Saturday nights during a pain crisis, and being there for their last breaths. She is still in touch with some of these mothers and families years after the patient’s passing, and is regarded as one of the most important people in their lives during such a transitional and heartbreaking time.
The last few years, she has settled into a new role at Providence ElderPlace, ensuring no patient is forgotten in our health system. She has been immediately loved by her coworkers and patients, and is able to help seniors get comprehensive medical care and maintain their independence as much as possible at home or wherever they’re living. If the nursing profession had a hall of fame, Jo Skeffington would definitely be elected into it.
I’m excited for her to be celebrated and more people to be exposed to the amazing human that she is. With nurses like her leading the charge, this profession will continue to be a life-changing influence in this world.
Christine Dada, RN, BSN
She's an amazing nurse injector, cares about her clients, and is such a fun person!
Daniel Radu
Daniel just completed his residency at the VA in Portland and has officially been offered a full-time position there. I’m so proud of all the hard work and dedication he’s shown throughout his medical training.
A true Portland native, Daniel is deeply rooted in the community and gives back through his care and compassion for patients. He’s also about to celebrate a big milestone—turning 30 this November—and next year he’s marrying his amazing fiancée, who happens to be a Physician Assistant!
Not only is Daniel an incredible healthcare professional, but he’s also one of the coolest, most genuine people you’ll ever meet. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this experience
Steve Waterbury
I am nominating one of my best friends of 13 years, Steve Waterbury. Steve and I met when we were in different careers as personal trainers. I was impressed with his empathy, easy-going nature, and ability to make his clients feel heard and seen.
We both left personal training, and I moved out of state. I don't remember the exact year, but Steve told me at some point he wanted to be a nurse. I could clearly see that he would make an amazing nurse. He went through nursing school during COVID, which was an incredibly difficult time to gain nursing experience.
Watching his passion for the profession and the patients inspired me, and I eventually went to nursing school, as well. Steve worked in the emergency department of a high acuity ED in Seattle and then travelled across the country as a travel nurse in other ED's. After 13 years of us living in separate states, we have now both taken jobs in Portland as ED nurses at different hospitals.
I want to show Steve what an incredible city Portland is and why he should make this his home. He is also a massive basketball fan. I think having this opportunity to go to a game and be recognized for his amazing work as an emergency department nurse may inspire him to make Portland home. Portland needs more nurses with his empathy, compassion, creativity, and joy. As an ED nurse myself, I can honestly say that there is no better nurse to have on your side, advocating for you and bringing you comfort than Steve.
January 5th Honorees
Elana Scharff
Elana is trustworthy, friendly, and passionate about providing the best care possible for her clients. She always goes above and beyond and deserves this recognition!
Sarah Norby
Becoming a nurse is one of the most selfless choices you can make. It's the choice to take care of people and put others before yourself. That's what Sarah has done for over 12 years. Throughout her nursing career, she has been locked in a room by a patient, peed on, kicked, threatened, etc., and continued to go back to work with a positive, calm attitude. Her patients and coworkers have always loved her!
Sarah has worked incredibly hard to get where she is today. She started as a nursing assistant, taking care of patients at the end of their lives. She then worked in the Salem Hospital cardiac unit for 8 years. Nurses always put their health at risk, but when COVID hit, the risk was even higher. She worked in the ICU, cardiac ICU, emergency department, and COVID unit throughout the entire pandemic. Taking care of patients wherever needed, including overflowing hallways. She's seen more death than most people will see in their entire lives.
But she's also saved so many lives. That's crazy to think about, saving someone's life. Someone's brother, mother, grandpa, best friend…. Along with the hard stuff, there's also the good stuff. Sarah has always said that nursing has allowed her to be there for people when they need her most, grow as an individual, learn a lot about herself, build lifelong friendships, and live a fulfilling life.
Sarah is now both a nurse and a family nurse practitioner. She works at a clinic in her community serving primarily low-income and underrepresented patients. The patients are so thankful for her attentive care and the way she advocates for them. She also volunteers at local events that are important to her, including Relay for Life and IRONMAN Oregon. She has been a HUGE Blazers fan for most of her life. Going to games with her husband is one of their favorite things to do together. They can't wait for their new baby girl to become the Blazers number 1 fan! And maybe a nurse someday, too.
So, whenever you hear a nurse say that nursing is one of the most challenging but rewarding things they will ever do, believe them. It's truly something you're called to do. Sarah answered that call and will continue to do so for many years. I could not be more proud of her!!!
Rachael Kim
Rachael brightens every room! She's not only an amazing nurse, but she also constantly proves to be a genuine person.
Selina Thamrong
I’d like to nominate the most amazing nurse in the world and biggest blazers fan, Selina Thamrong. Selina has served her community for over 10 years and works in the cardiac unit as a charge nurse on the night shift.
She puts her heart into service towards others and has taught me the deep lessons of what it means to hold compassion and care for those in need. From sundown to sunup, she’s saving lives and treating some of the most at-risk patients with her special brand of love and awareness. While we all sleep, she’s hard at work giving all she can to those who call.
She lost both of her parents early in life, who were season ticket holders to the Trail Blazers and lifelong fans. I know they’re proud of her nursing practice and her unconditional love for Rip City! So I nominate her for the recognition she truly deserves ❤️
Stefano West
Stefano is a joy to work with! He's compassionate and has a true caring nature.
Representative Travis Nelson
Travis Nelson is a great inspiration. He's not only a nurse but the Oregon State Representative, doing his best to help Portland become a better place for everyone.
👕Nurse-Themed Merch
As part of these nights of gratitude and appreciation, Mel's Crafty CoRNer teamed up with Nurse.org to offer basketball-themed t-shirts. These Nurse.org X Mel's Crafty CoRNer tees were an excellent way for Portland Trail Blazers fans to support nurses in style! Starting at $28, these limited-edition tees will be available only while supplies last.
Until Next Time
We want to extend a huge thanks to the Portland Trail Blazers, our nurse honorees, and everyone who came to these incredible Nurse Appreciation Nights - you made these games unforgettable, fun, and full of gratitude. We can't wait to do it again!
