Human Trafficking in Healthcare

Course overview

Human trafficking has been present since the dawn of humanity and affects not only the victims but also their families, communities, and global society. This crime continues to evolve as technology and populations change. Nurses are uniquely positioned to interact with victims of human trafficking when they seek healthcare. As a result, nurses must understand the different types of human trafficking, be able to identify populations at greater risk for trafficking and factors that contribute to increased risk, and be able to recognize indicators of human trafficking that may be observed when interacting with patients. Upon completion of this course, learners will understand therapeutic communication techniques to use when interacting with potential victims of human trafficking. This course will review how to report a human trafficking case and when reporting is mandated. It will also outline human trafficking prevention strategies, as well as review recent and current legislation related to human trafficking. With increased knowledge, nurses play a vital role in the reduction of human trafficking.