A
· Describe the types of, risk factors for, and extent of human trafficking in the U.S., particularly in the DMV area. (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia)
· Which department or specialty of nursing do you want to work in after graduation? Discuss the role and responsibilities of nurses in that specialty in the recognition, assessment, and treatment of the victim of trafficking, including management of medical records and patient safety.
· Identify and recognize possible red flags and victims of human trafficking that may be seen in the clinical setting.
· Identify populations at risk for human trafficking. Assess the needs of individuals who have experienced human trafficking within the hospital setting. How would you coordinate services for them in the in-patient setting?
· Identify reporting and referral outpatient resources for victims of human trafficking in your local area. Be specific and include what type of services that resource provides and how patients can qualify for those services.
B.
Leslie, an 18-year-old white female, presents to the ED. She is triaged by a nurse, whom she tells she has some burning “down there.” Leslie is wearing a form-fitting top and an extremely short skirt, and she is accompanied by an older female, “Auntie.” Leslie says she ran away from home because her mother is a drug user and her stepfather made sexual advances toward her. As the nurse asks more questions, Leslie begins seeking approval from Auntie before answering. The nurse is concerned there may be something more to Leslie’s situation when Auntie refuses the nurse’s request to wait in the lobby of the ED. In giving report to the NP, the nurse shares some warning signs that need to be considered more closely. The NP escorts Leslie into the exam room with Auntie close behind. As the NP begins to collect Leslie’s health history, Auntie responds with answers, not Leslie. Before the physical exam, Auntie is asked to leave the room, but she declines and stays.
During the exam, Auntie’s phone rings, and she steps outside to answer. The NP notes that Leslie has bruising to her inner thighs, a mucopurulent vaginal discharge, and her cervix appears friable (bleeds easily without provocation). During the exam, Leslie asks if she has to “get another shot again.” The NP finishes the exam and steps out of the room. She begins to review Leslie’s record, which reveals that she has been positive for both chlamydia and gonorrhea several times in less than a year. The next steps depend on what, if anything, Leslie discloses, and how receptive she is to help.
Questions from the case study:
1. What are some risk factors for human trafficking?
2. What information that was provided from the case study leads you to a suspicion of trafficking? Explain
3. What are red flag indicators/behaviors that the nurse from the case study have witnessed?
4. If Leslie was your patient, what are the next steps that you would take? Explain. What would you chart in the EMR and who would you contact?
5. Why is it essential that all members of the healthcare team are informed about how to recognize, treat, and collaborate with one another regarding victims of human trafficking?
https://www.crisisprevention.com/Blog/Domestic-Violence-What-Can-Nurses-Do
https://jezebel.com/the-super-bowl-domestic-violence-ad-was-a-real-woman-ca-1683220170
https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/indicators-human-trafficking
https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/tools