R.E.D. Light: Putting a Stop to Human Trafficking by Assessing Nurses' Awareness and Knowledge in Pensacola, FL

Abstract

Session presented on Saturday, November 7, 2015 and Sunday, November 8, 2015: According to Dovydaitis (2010), it is estimated that traffickers bring 50,000 victims into the United States each year, adding to the 20 million victims who are already part of the trafficking trade worldwide (Kerry, 2014). The research is significant in the nursing field today because there is a lack of research on the topic of human trafficking, especially research assessing awareness and knowledge nurses have of human trafficking. Many nurses come into contact with trafficking victims without identifying them because they have neither the skills nor the knowledge to work with this population (Isaac, Solak, & Giardino, 2011, p. 2). The research project will assess the awareness and knowledge of nurses in Pensacola, FL. A pre-test and post-test questionnaire will be administered via Survey Monkey and/or in person at local health care settings. After the participants take the pre-test, a Powerpoint will be presented online and/or in person that was developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge of human trafficking for health care providers. Following the Powerpoint presentation, a post-test will be administered to assess awareness and knowledge of human trafficking. The data will be analyzed to assess whether the human trafficking Powerpoint presentation increased awareness and knowledge among nurses. An acronym will be developed for nurses to remember what to do when they suspect someone is a trafficking victim, and it will be handed out as a business card with the poster presentation of the research project. A fact sheet will be developed to hand out to explain the acronym more fully and to add details that will not fit on the card itself.