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THE EMPOWERED NURSE

The 2018 Gallup Poll ranked nurses as the most trusted pro- health care staff. The literature suggests health care profession-
fession based on honesty and ethical standards. Because nurses als use empowering and empathetic language that is respectful
are trustworthy, honest, and ethically sound, they are the most and nonjudgmental during care when communicating with HST
likely group of health care professionals that could gain the con- for the best outcomes (Hachey & Phillippi, 2017).
fidence of those who are victims of HST. Nurses must gain this Sabella (2011) findings support that after the patient and
confidence to assess the safety of their patient, have the patient health care professional have established a rapport, health care
be open and honest in their communication while not in the professionals ask the following questions when the patient is
presence of others. Traffickers may not allow the patient to alone: “Do you feel safe?” “Have you ever been made to do
speak and may not allow time for the patient to be alone with something that you did not want to do?” “ Are you able to freely