If trafficking is suspected, psychiatric nurses should ask several key questions(Sabella,2011):
• Have you been threatened with violence should you want to leave your present living situation?
• Do you have your own identification?
• Do you feel forced to do the things that you are doing?
• Do you have to ask permission to eat or sleep?
• Are you paid for your work?
Despite skillful interviewing, it is still possible the young person who has been trafficked will deny the experience. Yet, nurses and other health care providers are not responsible for proving that trafficking is occurring. If trafficking is suspected, nurses should call the National Human Trafficking Resource center( NHTRC) hotline at 888-3737-888 or leave a tip at the NHTRC website: http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/national-human-trafficking-hotline/report-a-tip. Telephone lines are staffed 24 hours per day, and any situation can be discussed for an investigation to begin.
Another important resource is the USDHHS' Campaign to Rescue&Restore victims of Human Trafficking,found online at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking. This campaign's purpose is to increase awareness of trafficking, and nurses are encouraged to join their efforts to detect and deter trafficking. A special section of the website has information regarding child victims of human trafficking.