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What do sex workers have in common with nannies, housekeepers, farmworkers, janitorial and restaurant staff, and factory and construction workers? They all work in settings where victims of human trafficking are commonly found.

Human trafficking is big business in the United States.

Our country is reported to be the second-largest market globally for women and children trafficked into sex work. Sex trafficking is the main form of trafficking among U.S. citizens, while forced labor trafficking is more common among foreign nationals living here.

Globally, human trafficking is second only to drug trafficking among criminal industries. Because nurses are “everywhere,” we are very likely to come into contact with human trafficking victims at some point. Would you know how to recognize one?

Possible indicators of human trafficking.

In a 2011 AJN article, Donna Sabella shares several possible indicators of human trafficking that warrant further investigation, including:

  • The person speaks little or no English and someone else is speaking for her or him.
  • The person has no ID or travel documents, or someone else is holding the documents.
  • The person can’t give you an address, or lives with an employer.
  • There are signs of malnutrition, dehydration, drug use, or poor personal hygiene.
  • There are signs of physical abuse or neglect: scars, bruises, burns, bald patches, or unusual tattoos (for example, “property of ____,”) or gang symbols.
  • The person appears depressed, frightened, or anxious.
  • The story about what the person does on the job doesn’t make sense.
  • The person’s companion clearly doesn’t want you to speak with that person alone.

Multiple resources to help nurses identify and aid victims.

In this month’s issue, Tracy Ortelli and Kathy Burlingame share an extensive list of resources to help nurses identify and assist victims of human trafficking. The list includes links to screening tools, online courses, 24-hour help lines, key organizations that fight human trafficking, and other resources. The human trafficking industry continues to grow, but there is much that we as nurses can do to combat it. Don’t miss “Breaking the Cycle of Human Trafficking” in the December issue of AJN (the article will be free until January 15).