Toney-Butler et al ., 2023 ). As such , with nurses comprising the largest portion of HCPs in the country and working in all aspects on the healthcare continuum , they serve as the “ eyes and ears ” and “ boots on the ground ” to promptly identify and respond to this most vulnerable population .
Educational Preparation on HT For Healthcare Professionals
Data show that HCPs routinely fail to recognize these trafficked patients and fail in mandatorily reporting cases involving minors ( Bono-Neri & Toney-Butler , 2023 ). Identification failures occur due to victim nondisclosure and , more importantly , from providers failing to recognize the indicators of trafficking ( Chisolm-Straker et al ., 2016 ). In one study looking at HCPs working in an ED , nearly all ( 97.8 %) reported never having received formal training on the clinical presentation of trafficking victims , and 95 % reported never having received training on treating a trafficking victim ( Chisolm-Straker et al ., 2012 ). A study conducted by Donahue et al . ( 2019 ) found that 89 % of ED staff reported not having received previous HT training . These statistics highlight missed opportunities for identifying victims of HT and illustrate the need to improve anti-HT education in HCPs ( Bono-Neri & Toney-Butler , 2023 ).
Prelicensure RN Students ’ Exposure to HT Content
In a nationwide study , National Student Nurses ’ Association ( NSNA ) members were electronically contacted to participate in research that explored nursing students ’ knowledge of and exposure to HT content in the prelicensure RN curricula ( Bono-Neri & Toney-Butler , 2023 ). The inclusion criteria for participation included current NSNA membership , current RN student status ( Diploma , Associate , or Baccalaureate degree programs ), and RN students who graduated within a year of the survey ’ s distribution . Using the Student Nurse Human Trafficking Education Assessment Tool ( SNHTEAT ), created by the researchers ( Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.828 ), the data were collected . A total sample of n = 644 was used to run analyses with distribution and representation noted from across the country .
Results showed that 91.4 % ( n = 589 ) of respondents reported minimal to no HT content being taught . Also examined was the amount of HT content for which participants were held responsible in a self-directed manner . The findings showed that 92.9 % ( n = 598 ) reported minimal to no self-directed HT learning content . A perceived HT knowledge sum score was calculated , revealing approximately 80 % ( n = 527 ) had little to no HT knowledge . As simulation is a widely used and efficacious teaching methodology in prelicensure nursing programs , the use of a HT-based simulation as a learning method to teach on HT was explored . Of the n = 542 who responded they had experienced the use of simulation in their RN program , 96.3 % ( n = 522 ) reported never having had a HT-based simulation .
Two outcome variables were explored to ascertain level of confidence in 1 ) identifying signs and symptoms / red flags / clinical presentations of a victim of HT , and 2 ) executing the role as a current / future HCP in intervention and response to a victim of HT . The results showed that less than 1 % ( n = 3 ) reported full confidence in identifying a victim of HT and less than 5 % ( n = 25 ) reported full confidence in their role as a current / future HCP in intervening and responding to a victim of HT ( Bono-Neri & Toney-Butler , 2023 ).
High Indicators of Suspicion for Human Trafficking
Many contributing factors make individuals vulnerable to being trafficked . The following are some of those vulnerabilities that can lead to falling prey to a trafficker . They include , but are not limited to :
• Homelessness or “ couch surfing ”
• Substance use / abuse
• Runaway youth
• Those of the LGBTQI community
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