Many of my pre-existing thoughts around Human Trafficking prior to our discussion surrounding sex trafficking and how to be aware of your surroundings. For months, I was on the self defense side of tik tok that warned many how to glance under your car, lock your doors, don’t wear 2 headphones, never take a zip tie off of your window, check your back seat before getting in and so many other things that just became second nature through years of being taught that from friends, family and online platforms. Honestly, I never considered human trafficking to be anything either than sex trafficking I thought they were interchangable words. Additionally, I really didn’t think sex trafficking was very prevalant in Maine. I guess that happens with so many things in this world; you never know it could be you until it happens around you or to you. 

After participating in this in class discussion my thoughts have absolutely changed. Human trafficking does include sex trafficking, however there are many other reasons that people are trafficked. To further my knowledge I’d love to know more about resources that are available 24/7 particularly to more vulnerable populations. It feels as though there are many resources during weekday business hours, but what’s available to anyone any hour of the night and on the weekend or even holidays?

There are many ways in which the knowledge I gained from this discussion will apply to my future practice as a registered nurse. I’ve always known how important body language is, more so from the scope of my mother telling me not to roll my eyes and from career advisors saying to be mindful of body language during interviews. However, I’ve never truly thought about how much it can impact a healthcare visit. There’s somewhat of a running joke, not really a joke but for those who have received a report from an ER nurse when your patient is transferring to your floor they almost never talk about a skin assessment. I’ve learned how drastically important a skin assessment is not only for the patients health but also now their safety. It’s so important to pay attention to the small details. Phrasing of your questions you ask patients too is crucial because provider to provider could ask the same questions over and over and over completely missing such a huge piece of information.