Description
By By Kris
As an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRNs), it is important to always be aware of potential warning signs and recognize situations that require more questioning and investigation while treating patient populations (Morris, 2023). APRNs who are employed within urgent cares, emergency rooms, or public health organizations are more likely to come across individuals who have been trafficked. Approximately 30 million individuals are trafficked annually, five million of which are children. These people are purchased, sold, and smuggled. Additionally, they are frequently abused, starved, forced into sexual acts, or put to work. As APRNs, we are in the best placed position to be able to screen, identify, and provide the necessary support to the victims and survivors. General signs to be aware of when these individuals have been previously identified include documentation is suspicious, they appear neglected, malnourished, poor self-esteem, display signs of physical abuse, have inconsistencies in their present story, poor eye contact, few personal possessions, untreated injuries and history is inconsistent. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center has compiled a list of health indicators for healthcare professionals to be more aware of, this way they can help identify victims easier. It is important that as healthcare professionals we are educated and up to date on the most current resources regarding the subject, practice trauma-informed care, and provide resources to aid in their removal. The Polaris Project has provided a direct response to this national crisis (Polaris, 2024). Data retrieved during the global COVID-19 pandemic revealed that housing instability and economic hardship led to a notable increase in human trafficking worldwide. The integration of proper training for individuals working within a healthcare role is critical to stopping this crisis.