10/16/2025
Good evening, fellow Wisconsin forensic nurses, colleagues, and friends,
As many of you are aware, there have been many significant changes over the past few weeks that are affecting our forensic nursing specialty. Recent announcements that all chapters of forensic nursing were to be dissolved immediately, accessible and professional resources that were once at our fingertips are now not accessible, free documents which guided our practice are now able to be viewed only for a price, and financial investments that were raised to sustain the profession and help develop new nurses in Wisconsin are no longer available. To simply state, many in our state and surrounding communities are left confused, angry, sensing angst, and are unsure of the future of forensic nursing. These changes not only affect us as nurses, but most importantly, the patients that we serve.
Today’s announcement of the Helen Kelly Forensic Nursing Conference being canceled is additional difficult news to hear. This removal of such an important educational and networking event for our state adds additional layers to the emotional and professional tole that these changes have created. I am proud to be a Wisconsin Forensic Nurse. I am proud to follow in the footsteps of founding nurses in our state, many who still practice patient care today, or are connected to research and program development. Wisconsin has a rich history and many ties to the creation of Forensic Nursing and the creation of professional forensic nursing organizations, which occurred only 30+ years ago. When I think back to view the growth of our specialty, I can’t help but know that this was due to the passion, strength, courage, and dedication of all the nurses who have ever cared for a victim of violence. It’s because of our collective gathering, dissemination of information, sharing of resources, development of tools, availability to take a phone call at any hour of the day, offer a well needed hug, or wipe a tear after a shared experience that has assisted the forensic nurse and led our profession and skill set to be taken seriously. Forensic nurses provide life changing interventions to our victimized patients and family members, we act against social determinants of health, we create hope, we turn on a light in the darkness that can easily enclose on survivors. Its people like Helen Kelly and Coleen O’Brien who, regardless if you met them, called them a coworker, a friend, a forensic sister, or if this is your first time hearing their names, have been an inspiration to all of us. I must imagine that they would not be thrilled or in support of the current changes.
I refuse to stand by as one organization dictates the future of our profession, and more specifically the work that we do in our state, by creating such monumental, brash, and hurried actions, with little to no explanation, rational, or opportunity for input from the members who they set out to serve.
I understand that this organization has directed the immediate closing of chapter accounts- which has led the most recent Wisconsin state board members to make the decisions that were announced today.
I have received phone calls and messages on these issues from several of you. Many of you have been active participants within the chapter and I appreciate you trusting me to sharing your fears and experiences with. Our previous chapter has a long line of strong women who have lead change and guided the group to be one that is robust and vital to forensic nursing. I am honored and thankful to be in that line, and as the previous leaders before my time exhibited, I refuse to back down. I am asking that those of you who share a common purpose to serve patients of violence and support forensic nursing in Wisconsin, join me this November to lead and influence a path forward for forensic nurses in Wisconsin, outside of national organizations. There are many statewide organizations whose work aligns with us and have supported our mission in the past. When it comes to medical care and nursing practice, there is no one else besides medically trained individuals who can make those decisions, create those guidelines, and drive the seat that leads to change and improved outcomes for our patients than those who perform the work and have the experiences that we all do. Victims and survivors of violence need us nurses now more than ever.
I am attaching a link to a survey for you to indicate your willingness or interest in joining me this November to discuss options to create a Wisconsin Forensic Nurses Network/Organization. I know that many had November 12-14th open for educational purposes and I would like to propose those dates to meet, in a central location within Wisconsin. Depending on location and meeting space requirements, I will attempt to have a virtual meeting option for those who want to participate but are unable to attend. Please share this message and information with those who have supported our work, and you feel would benefit from joining us.
Please reach out to me with any questions, comments, concerns, ideas, etc. I hope you’ll consider joining us this November.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WMQCVR5
With gratitude and appreciation for all that you do,
Courtney
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