Screening for Human Trafficking: Best Practice Guidelines and Recommendations for Health Care Providers

Author

Bernadette Portillo, University of St. Augustine for Health SciencesFollow

Date of Award

Winter 12-5-2021

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Mary Brann, DNP, RN

Second Advisor

Ahnnya A. Slaughter, DNP, RN, CNS-BC

Abstract

Human trafficking (HT) is a federal and international crime and is regarded as one of the most pressing human rights issues. Adult and minor victims are trafficked by force (rape, beatings, confinement), fraud, and coercion resulting in profound physical and psychological injuries (Chisolm-Straker et al., 2019, p. 72; Department of Homeland Security, 2020; Vera Institute of Justice, 2014, p. 6). Most clinicians fail to recognize HT victims (Egyud et al., 2017; Leslie, 2018; Mason, 2018; McDow & Dols, 2020; Mostajabian et al., 2019; Patient Safety Monitor Journal, 2017; Stevens & Dinkle, 2020). This policy brief’s purpose is to provide health care providers with a validated HT screening tool and best practice guidelines and recommendations to aid in victim identification. The strategies outlined are those published by the Vera Institute of Justice’s HT Victim Identification Tool and are endorsed by the Emergency Nurses Association and the International Association of Forensic Nurses (Chisolm-Straker et al., 2019; Egyud et al., 2017; Leslie, 2018; McDow & Dols, 2020; Mostajabian et al., 2019; Peck, 2020; Stevens & Dinkle, 2020, p. e1; Vera Institute of Justice, 2014). These proposals will increase the likelihood that patients experiencing sexual and labor exploitation will be identified (Chisolm-Straker et al., 2019; Egyud et al., 2017; Leslie, 2018; McDow & Dols, 2020; Mostajabian et al., 2019; Peck, 2020; Stevens & Dinkle, 2020, p. e1; Vera Institute of Justice, 2014)

Comments

Scholarly project submitted to the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice

Recommended Citation

Portillo, B. (2021). Screening for Human Trafficking: Best Practice Guidelines and Recommendations for Health Care Providers. [Doctoral project, University of St Augustine for Health Sciences]. SOAR @ USA: Student Scholarly Projects Collection. https://doi.org/10.46409/sr.LHWQ3714

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.