Commentary: A global problem of human trafficking in need of transformational leaders

Aim The aim was to improve the knowledge and skill about human trafficking in nursing and to identify the key components to support nurses to learn the skills of screening, identifying and referral. Background Worldwide human trafficking is a hidden epidemic crossing all countries exploiting over 4.3 million people. Nurses have received inconsistent or nonexistent human trafficking education. Nurses need training to have the self‐efficacy, knowledge and skill to refer persons entrapped in human trafficking. Evaluation This novel online educational programme titled See, Pull, Cut the Threads of Human Trafficking Violence© was piloted with a small group of emergency nurses to study the variables of self‐efficacy, knowledge and skills as they related to performance of screening, identifying and referral of human trafficked persons. Conclusion Emergency nurses gained human trafficking knowledge after education that examined the nurses', self‐efficacy, knowledge and skills to perform screening, identification and referral. Implications for nursing management Transformational leadership style is an important model to introduce new nursing practices that educate and train staff about human trafficking. Nursing administrators and directors are in an ideal position to promote and secure human trafficking training for nurses. Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University Institutional Review Board (IRB) granted approval for this study on 24 January 2019, with EXEMPT Status, IRB # 13211.