Date of Graduation

12-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Nursing

Advisor/Mentor

Ballentine, Hope

Committee Member/Reader

Franks, Lisa

Abstract

Human trafficking is the commercial trade of human beings for profit, and it is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. There are an estimated 40 million people that are trapped in this modern day slavery (National Human Trafficking Hotline, 2020). In the United States, over 86% of trafficking survivors reported accessing healthcare at some point during their trafficking situation (Lederer & Wetzel, 2014). Healthcare workers are on the front lines of battling this crime, as they have a vital role in identifying signs of trafficking in their patients. This review evaluates ways in which healthcare workers can screen for and identify patients trapped in this modern day slavery in order to utilize trauma-informed care and refer potential victims to the appropriate resources.

Keywords

human trafficking; modern-day slavery; healthcare; screening; trauma-informed care; referral

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