ABOUT FERNS
Forensic Education & Relief Nurse Staffing (FERNS) provides compassionate, expert forensic nursing services across the North Sound region of Washington State.
Our team offers on-call forensic care, educational programs, specialized consultation, and expert testimony—ensuring every survivor’s experience is heard and honored. FERNS empowers communities with knowledge and resources, creating safer paths to healing and recovery.
The idea for FERNS was born when local forensic nurses recognized the existing gaps in care for this vital service. Over-stretched healthcare systems and under-staffed hospitals have made providing rapid, reliable, and high quality care difficult — but not impossible.
FERNS is nurse-created and nurse-led. Our goal is to provide survivors of assault and abuse with the best care possible, and start them on the road to healing.
Who We Are
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Martha Phillips
BSN-RN, CEN, SANE-A, SANE-P
Co-Founder, Executive Director
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Chelsea House
BSN-RN, SANE-A
Co-Founder, Director of Operations & Marketing
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Jo Shelton
MSN-RN, CEN, SANE-A, SANE-P
Co-Founder, Regulatory & Compliance Director
Areas We Serve
We provide care in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties.
