Strips of paper that say "human trafficking"

Understanding Human Trafficking and Texas Education Requirements for Nurses

Human trafficking remains a serious and often hidden threat to public health, impacting communities across Texas and the United States. Nurses, as front-line healthcare providers, are in a critical position to recognize, report, and respond to signs of trafficking. To equip healthcare professionals with the necessary knowledge, the state of Texas has implemented mandatory education requirements for nurses regarding human trafficking prevention and intervention.

Texas Education Requirement for Nurses

Under Texas law, all nurses (RNs, LVNs, and APRNs) are required to complete a human trafficking prevention course approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) prior to license renewal. This regulation is part of a broader initiative to enhance awareness and equip licensed professionals with tools to identify and intervene in suspected trafficking situations. The approved education must include trauma-informed care principles and be designed to assist healthcare providers in recognizing victims and understanding reporting protocols.

Types of Human Trafficking

There are two primary types of human trafficking:

  • Sex Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, or transportation of individuals for the purpose of commercial sex acts, typically through force, fraud, or coercion. Victims may be adults or minors and are often manipulated or controlled by traffickers.
  • Labor Trafficking: The exploitation of individuals for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Victims may work in agriculture, domestic service, construction, restaurants, or factories under exploitative and dangerous conditions.

Both types of trafficking can occur in rural and urban settings, and victims may come from diverse cultural, economic, and social backgrounds.

How Nurses Can Help

Nurses are often among the first professionals to interact with trafficking victims in healthcare settings. Victims may present with physical injuries, untreated medical conditions, mental health concerns, or signs of abuse. Nurses should be alert to red flags such as:

  • A patient being accompanied by a controlling individual
  • Signs of malnutrition, neglect, or repeated injuries
  • Lack of identification or financial control
  • Inconsistent or scripted medical histories
  • Fearful behavior or reluctance to speak freely

Through compassionate, trauma-informed care, nurses can create a safe space for victims, ask appropriate questions, and involve social workers or law enforcement when necessary.

Pedagogy Education’s Course: Human Trafficking Education for Texas Healthcare Professionals

To support Texas nurses in meeting the state requirement and deepening their knowledge, Pedagogy Continuing Nurse Education offers the HHSC-approved course:

Human Trafficking Education for Texas Healthcare Professionals

This course includes:

  • Definitions and types of human trafficking
  • Common signs and indicators of trafficking
  • Risk factors and populations most at risk
  • Trauma-informed strategies for approaching suspected victims
  • Legal reporting requirements for Texas healthcare providers
  • Real-life scenarios to reinforce learning
  • Resources and referral options for victims

Benefits of Online Continuing Education

Pedagogy’s course offers the flexibility and convenience of online learning, allowing nurses to complete the training at their own pace and on their own schedule. With mobile accessibility and immediate certificate generation upon completion, nurses can fulfill licensure requirements efficiently while gaining practical, evidence-based skills they can use in their everyday practice.

Take the next step in protecting your patients. Enroll today in Pedagogy’s Human Trafficking Education for Texas Healthcare Professionals and help be a voice for the voiceless.
👉 Click here to access the course

References:

  • Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Blue Campaign
  • National Human Trafficking Hotline
  • Pedagogy Continuing Nurse Education