Statement
WSNA responds to sexual assault of a patient at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham
Nurses repeatedly raised concerns about patients without appropriate long-term behavioral health resources.
May 28, 2026
•
less than 1 minute to read
The Washington State Nurses Association is deeply disturbed by the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old patient in the Specialized Emergency Care Unit (SECU) at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham by a 37-year-old patient.
Nurses have repeatedly raised concerns about safety conditions in the SECU, including the placement of vulnerable patients without appropriate long-term behavioral health resources and not being appropriately staffed by nurses with behavioral health training.
Patients, families, nurses, and healthcare workers all deserve a safe care environment.
WSNA is asking that the investigation surrounding this incident includes the following:
- Patient placement and supervision decisions.
- Security staffing and response protocols.
- Environmental and operational safety practices in the SECU.
- Whether prior safety concerns raised by frontline staff were appropriately addressed.